The production capacities of plants for metal pulverisation are frequently
rated according to the minimum throughput of melt flowing from the distribu
tor crucible to pulverisation. Especially in the case of high-melting point
metals and their alloys deficiencies occur in the thermal balance of the c
rucible in the exit section as a result of gas expansion at the pulverisati
on gas jets, which act as heat sinks, Minimum throughputs and associated li
miting values of the convective heat transfer of the melt are stipulated in
order to prevent "freezing" (solidification of the melt) in the crucible,
The pertinent situation is illustrated for copper and steel melts and techn
ical possibilities for compensating for heat deficiencies by inductive heat
ing of the distributor exit are presented. In addition, the demand for mini
mum throughputs can be abandoned, and there result possibilities of scaling
-down and energy conservation as well as improvement of powder discharge.