Control of Hydrogen During ESR Process

Experimental and numerical studies were carried out for the behavior of hydrogen in a three-phase electroslag furnace using double electrode series technique during electroslag remelting (ESR) process. The effect of water vapor content of furnace gas on the hydrogen content of ingots was studied through the “gas-slag-metal” osmosis experiment. Based on the experimental results, a mathematical model was set up for the behavior of hydrogen pick-up during ESR process. Then the flow of furnace gas during ESR process was studied through a commercial code FLUENT, and the relationship between the water vapor content of furnace gas and argon gas flux in practical production was derived. Finally, the desired reasonable argon gas flow for controlling the hydrogen content of ingots below 2×10−6 in practice was obtained.