General Electric Company
Powder Reclamation System and Operating Method

Abstract:

A powder sieving system is provided. The powder sieving system includes a filter housing including a filter for separating powder into a first portion larger than a predetermined size and a second portion smaller than a predetermined size, the powder being a reactive metal powder; a network of passageways configured to move the powder through the powder sieving system, the network of passageways located upstream of the filter housing and downstream of the filter housing, the network of passageways comprising one or more carrier gas passageways for primarily transporting a carrier gas flow and one or more powder passageways for transporting a mixture flow of carrier gas and the powder; and a first sensor in communication with a portion of the powder sieving system, the first sensor configured to monitor an amount of oxygen within the network of passageways, wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.