Temperature feedback algorithm for efficient electron beam heating of titanium melt

Abstract

High-quality electron beam melting of titanium requires a uniform heating of the melt in the intermediate container of the electron beam unit and an efficient distribution of the power of the electron beam guns. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of different algorithms to control the electron beam trajectory. Three-dimensional transient heat transfer in the intermediate container was simulated using finite element method. It was shown that the standard algorithm, with a zigzag trajectory provides uniform heating of the melt in the absence of unmelted furnace charge. A temperature feedback algorithm allows heating the melt within the required temperature range in the presence of the furnace charge, but it doesn’t provide temperature distribution uniformity. Based on the mentioned algorithms, a combined algorithm was proposed which allows efficient heating of the melt regardless of the presence or absence of the furnace charge. The implementation of the combined algorithm into the technological process allows a substantial increase in the productivity of titanium melting.