CALCULATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE EXPLOSION OF HYDROGEN-AIR MIXTURES ON THE SAFETY DEVICES OF A VACUUM-ARC FURNACE USED TO PRODUCE TITANIUM

An analysis is made of the hazards associated with the production of titanium in electric-arc furnaces. It is shown that hydrogen can be released at high rates as a result of depressurization of the walls of the mold and the entry of water into the titanium melt. The parameters of the explosion of a hydrogen-air mixture are determined and a method is proposed for calculation of the design parameters of safety devices for vacuum-arc furnaces used to make titanium.