Courtyard Houses: The Great Masters of a Nation Hidden Within

Gao Jianguo, the main figure behind the training program, has no idea that he is about to establish his own school of thought.

He was busy with another matter—conducting prototype testing of the ESR consumable electrode insertion control system.

The ESR power supply isn't complicated; everyone already figured it out.

The sliding crystallizer has been built, but there are no plans to make it work for the time being. So, for now, the only thing tied to the control system is the electrode insertion control.

Gao Jianguo had already made arrangements for the electroslag remelting process.

He didn't use the calcium fluoride-alumina binary high-fluoride slag system that everyone is currently working on. That stuff has a calcium fluoride content of up to 70%, and the advantage is that it has the lowest hydrogen permeability, but the problems are also obvious—severe fluoride pollution and high power consumption.

He directly adopted the quaternary slag system of calcium fluoride-calcium oxide-aluminum oxide-magnesium oxide, which was only popularized later, replacing some of the calcium fluoride with calcium oxide and magnesium oxide.

If the alloy being refined does not contain titanium, aluminum, or boron, then some silicon dioxide can be added to further reduce the hydrogen permeability.

The advantages of this slag system are threefold: reduced power consumption, minimal increase in hydrogen in the alloy, and significantly reduced fluorine emissions.

In the ESR testing workshop, after everyone was in their positions and the safety check was completed, Gao Jianguo glanced at his watch, noted the time, and uttered two words: "Power on."

As soon as the switch is turned on, the distinctive buzzing sound of the power supply fills the ears.

At the point where the consumable electrode is next to the electroslag, a flash of electricity appears, and the molten pool gradually stabilizes.

Gao Jianguo directed everyone to adjust the working voltage and current parameters to the correct positions, and then stared at the instrument to start recording the changes in the data.

Contrary to popular belief, the voltage used in electroslag remelting is actually not high, usually no more than 100 volts, but the operating current is frighteningly high, often several thousand amperes.

The 200-millimeter-thick consumable electrode moved up and down slowly in the electroslag for a while, and the working current gradually stabilized at the set value.

The electrode melts as it moves downwards, and the downward speed becomes increasingly uniform.

Fang Xiufang led a group of people to conduct experiments and began to fine-tune the working voltage.

If there is any change in voltage, the rate at which the electrode descends will also change, and in some cases, the electrode may even need to be pulled back.

The operating current fluctuates slightly around the set value, and the fluctuations are all within the expected range.

Gradually, the experiment came to an end.

Gao Jianguo raised his wrist again; enough time had passed to meet the requirements of the experimental plan. He decisively ordered, "Stop the experiment."

The testers worked efficiently and methodically, executing the shutdown procedures one by one.

Once the last switch was turned off, all the test records were handed over to Gao Jianguo.

Everyone present stopped what they were doing and stared intently at Gao Jianguo flipping through the records.

After carefully reviewing all the records, Gao Jianguo raised his head, looked at everyone, held up the stack of experimental record books, and announced in a loud voice: "I hereby declare the ESR self-consuming electrode control system joint debugging test a complete success!!"

That shout nearly lifted the roof off the building with applause and cheers.

"It's a success!!"

"It's a success!!"

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!"

"Haha! Haha! Good! Good!"

If it weren't for the rules governing this restricted area, these people would have really started running and dancing right there.

The ESR self-consuming electrode control system has passed the joint debugging test, which means that not only the electrode control and current and voltage working states are working properly.

This also means that the trial production of the entire power supply line, from the power source to the short network, has been completed.

At the same time, the most basic working principle of electroslag remelting was also verified in this experiment.

Next comes the next stage of work.

After everyone had vented their emotions, Gao Jianguo pressed his hands down lightly, and the room fell silent before he spoke again.

"I know everyone is happy, and I am too, but let's not get too carried away. There are still a series of challenges ahead: droplet formation, molten pool formation, metallography, electroslag optimization, selection of working electrical parameters, and sliding crystallization. Comrades, do you have confidence?"

A chorus of shouts erupted from below: "Yes!!"

The noise was so loud it made people's ears ring.

Gao Jianguo laughed heartily: "Good, that's the spirit we've been looking for. I believe that with our skills, we can definitely develop an even better ESR process. Of course, we have to work, but we also have to eat. I've already asked the leaders, and today, the factory canteen has prepared a 'decent' overtime meal for us. When it's lunchtime, our entire ESR team will go over and devour it."

When he said the words "not bad," Gao Jianguo's tone became a bit louder, and he even winked at the whole group.

Everyone understood what it meant, and the workshop erupted in laughter again.

Seeing that the commotion had subsided, Gao Jianguo instructed Liang Jianguo to handle the aftermath of the experiment and the preparations for the next step, before heading back to his office.

Someone came to deliver a message: two people were waiting for him in the office.

The first person was a messenger sent by the 17th Ministry of Machinery Industry to talk to Gao Jianguo about the training and preparation for the book "Project Management Methods".

After receiving the notification, Gao Jianguo considered his time and finalized the training date with the communications officer, then put the rest aside for the time being.

Preparations naturally take time, and it will also take some effort for the 17th Ministry of Machine Building to organize things; this cannot be rushed.

In any case, the teaching material was the book he compiled himself. He had thoroughly digested the content during the adaptation process, and he could go on stage after a little preparation before the training.

Besides, Liang Jianguo, Fang Xiufang, and Liu Weiguo, the three people in the research lab who helped with proofreading, could be recruited as teaching assistants if they have some free time.

At least they can lend a hand when it comes to training and assessment.

By doing this, they can gain recognition and build their reputation among the trainees, lighten their own burden, and receive more practical guidance from the trainees. They benefit from this arrangement, making everyone's path bright and promising.

After the communications officer from the department left, the second person waiting was Lin Jianguo, whom he hadn't seen for a while.

He had been there for a while. He heard that Gao Jianguo was working in the test workshop. He knew the rules there. It was a sensitive area for testing, and he would never go there if he wasn't supposed to. So he didn't go over there and waited in Gao Jianguo's office.

Gao Jianguo poured him a glass of water and joked, "Jianguo, you come here every few days, has your company deducted all your salary? Haha."

Lin Jianguo chuckled: "Thanks to you, I came to see you on official business. It's only because you live nearby that I'm here. If you lived further away, my company would have to give me extra travel allowance."

Gao Jianguo sensed something important was going on and sat down to ask, "Official business? Do you need me to help contact the factory?"

Lin Jianguo waved his hand: "No need, I'll come directly to you."

He was at his wit's end; he couldn't make a phone call to Gao Jianguo about what he wanted to discuss due to confidentiality requirements.

Since the matter was not yet open to the public, and there was no way to apply for access through the confidential channel, I had to run errands myself.

Gao Jianguo took out paper and pen and said without further ado, "Oh, okay, what is it?"