Abstract
The paper aims to optimize niobium reactor electrical heating in deep vacuum conditions towards to original process of titanium production using vapour-phase reduction. The study aims to explore optimal electrical heating power of tungsten heater surrounded by molybdenum reflectors to reach temperature of niobium reactor up to 1200 [C] located in the vacuum chamber. Numerical modelling approach has been used to solve heat radiation problem using OpenFOAM solver coupled with Hemicube algorithm in a 3D, transient, parametric study varying electrical power and unknown emissivity coefficient of reflectors. The experiment in the same power range has been conducted obtaining temperature measurements of 8 thermocouples across the system. The paper provides a comparison and analysis of temperature distribution in the system obtained by numerical and experimental studies, which allowed to calibrate unknown emissivity coefficient of reflectors. The study also revealed necessity of systems geometry modification to achieve desired temperature profile.
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