Department of Mining Machines and Machine-Building Technology, Saint-Petersburg State Mining University

V. I. Bolobov, Professor

Science and Technology Centre “Gidrometallurgiya” Ltd

Ya. M. Shneerson, General Director
A. Yu. Lapin, Technical Director

It is considered an issue of titanium alloys usage as structural materials of autoclaves which operates using gaseous oxygen. An analysis of the instruction for safe operation of titanium alloys in autoclave processes in non-ferrous metallurgy is made along with studying the scientific background to the establishment of the limit values of oxygen partial pressures in gas-vapor mixtures, which prevent ignition of titanium autoclave elements, even when they are destroyed. It is concluded that the set values of oxygen partial pressures are valid only for autoclaves without moving parts, as for autoclaves with moving parts (mixers) it is possible that the emergency destruction of structures may be added by another accident situation, when contribution to the temperature Т* of the juvenile surface will be made also by the force of friction. In such circumstances, a possibility of spontaneous combustion of materials in the place of contact will be determined by the temperature Т**, up to which the surfaces of the rubbing elements are heated. In this case, the latter (Т**) may significantly exceed the temperature (Т*) that is caused by the failure of structure only. It is concluded that the exclusion of titanium alloys spontaneous combustion in oxygen in the autoclaves with stirring devices may be provided by elaboration of technical measures preventing the warming of potential locations of titanium structures friction up to the alloys' spontaneous combustion temperature Т* for the given partial pressures of gaseous agents.

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