EP0803579A1 - Process for the vacuum refining of metal and associated device - Google Patents

Process for the vacuum refining of metal and associated device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0803579A1
EP0803579A1 EP94909359A EP94909359A EP0803579A1 EP 0803579 A1 EP0803579 A1 EP 0803579A1 EP 94909359 A EP94909359 A EP 94909359A EP 94909359 A EP94909359 A EP 94909359A EP 0803579 A1 EP0803579 A1 EP 0803579A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ejector
gas
nozzle
mixing channel
metal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94909359A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0803579A4 (en
Inventor
Jury Sergeevich Komratov
Anatoly Alexandrovich Kirichkov
Viktor Pavlovich Novolodsky
Mikhail Andreevich Tretyakov
Gennady Viktorovich Burlaka
Viktor Andreevich Spirin
Alexandr Arkhipovich Fetisov
Vladimir Borisovich Alexandrov
Stanislav Ivanovich Zhigach
Anatoly Mikhailovich Sizov
Vladimir Evgenievich Nikolsky
Valery Vladimirovich Kabluka
Andrei Valerievich Savin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AKTSIONERNOE OBSCHESTVO "NIZHNETAGILSKY METALLURGICHESKY KOMBINAT"
Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Zakrytogo Tipa Kontsern" Struinye tekhnologii"
Original Assignee
AKTSIONERNOE OBSCHESTVO "NIZHNETAGILSKY METALLURGICHESKY KOMBINAT"
Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Zakrytogo Tipa Kontsern" Struinye tekhnologii"
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AKTSIONERNOE OBSCHESTVO "NIZHNETAGILSKY METALLURGICHESKY KOMBINAT", Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Zakrytogo Tipa Kontsern" Struinye tekhnologii" filed Critical AKTSIONERNOE OBSCHESTVO "NIZHNETAGILSKY METALLURGICHESKY KOMBINAT"
Publication of EP0803579A1 publication Critical patent/EP0803579A1/en
Publication of EP0803579A4 publication Critical patent/EP0803579A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21CPROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
    • C21C7/00Treating molten ferrous alloys, e.g. steel, not covered by groups C21C1/00 - C21C5/00
    • C21C7/10Handling in a vacuum
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22BPRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B9/00General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
    • C22B9/04Refining by applying a vacuum
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27DDETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D27/00Stirring devices for molten material
    • F27D27/005Pumps
    • F27D27/007Pulsating pumps

Definitions

  • This invention relates to ferrous metallurgy and, moreparticularly, the invention relates to methods of vacuum refining of metal and to devices for performing these methods.
  • the prior art method features inadequate refining of the molten metal, because the effect of pressure pulsation does not penetrate to a required depth, from which the growth of gas bubbles of a necessary size is provided.
  • this method does not realize the process of rectified diffusion, which also contributes to the growth of the bubbles and has no effect on the "buffer" surface layer of fine gas bubbles in the melt.
  • This device realizing the above mentioned method does not allow one to maintain stable conditions of the treatment with variable gas evolution from the metal and cannot operate with heating by high-temperature gases being evacuated from the container.
  • Also known in the art is a method of vacuum refining of metal, in which the pressure of a gas mixture above the metal surface is reduced to a valuesufficient for producing partial pressures of the gases above the melt, said pressure being lower than the partial pressure of the gases in the melt, and the metal is acted on by pressure pulsations (RU, A, 1441809).
  • a vacuum is produced above the melt surface, said vacuum pulsating in a high frequency range.
  • This method does not provide a required degree of metal refining, because the depth of treatment is inadequate.
  • this method does not realize the rectified diffusion process, while the process of floating up and fragmentation of the bubbles features low intensity and generally does not allow a metal of a required quality to be obtained.
  • This device realizing the above method also includes a tuyere for blowing the melt with an inert gas.
  • This device inconvenient, and unreliable in operation and has relatively low efficiency.
  • the basic object of the invention was to provide a method of vacuum refining of metal having such regimes of pressure pulsations that would enable one to obtain a metal of a required quality, and to provide a device for vacuum refining of metal effecting the above method that would be convenient and reliable in operation and have the maximum possible efficiency.
  • This object is attained by providing a method of vacuum refining of metal, in which the pressure of a mixture of gases above the molten metal is reduced to a pressure sufficient for producing the partial pressures of the gases above the melt lower than the partial pressures of the gases in the melt, and the metal is treated by pressure pulses; according to the invention, the pressure above the melt surface is varied with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 MPa in a low-frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz and, in addition, the pressure is simultaneously varied in a medium-frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005-0.01 MPa, and in a high-frequency range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of 0.0001-0.001 MPa.
  • the same method is suitable for treatment of individual portions of metal periodically taken from the total volume of metal.
  • a device for vacuum refining of metal effecting the said method comprising a vacuum-tight container, having a gas-exhaust nipple, and an ejector, having a housing, a nozzle and a mixing channel and mounted on the gas-exhaust nipple;
  • the device is equipped with a unit for producing low-frequency pulsations of the working gas flow rate in the ejector nozzle, a unit for producing medium-frequency pulsations of gas flow rate at the inlet of the gas-exhaust nipple, and a unit for producing high-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of the gas evacuated from the container made as a controller varying the flow section of the nozzle and/or mixing channel of the ejector according to the following expression:
  • F a K 1 ⁇ F c 2 /F where F a is the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel; K 1 is the coefficient frown 0.5 to 0.7;
  • F a K 1 ⁇ F
  • the regulator for varying the flow section of the ejector nozzle can be made as a set of nozzles.
  • the regulator for varying the flow section of the nozzle and/or mixing channel of the ejector can also be made in the form of an insert mounted on the inner surface of the nozzle and/or mixing channel of the ejector.
  • the insert of the regulator varying the flow section of the ejector mixing channel can be made as a conical member with a taper angle of 1-3° whose narrowing part extends towards the mixing channel outlet.
  • the advantages of the claimed method consist in that its realization allows one to significantly reduce the content of residual dissolved gases and nonmetallic inclusions in the metal due to an increase of the depth of treatment of the melt in the container, organization of a rectified diffusion process, intensification of the floating function of the bubbles, reduction of the resistance to the evolution of gases from the metal and passing them through a slag layer, all these facts allowing the metal of a preset quality to be obtained.
  • the claimed device effecting the method, according to the invention makes it possible to obtain all regimes of pressure pulsations corresponding to the physical and chemical characteristics of the melt being treated.
  • the device utilizes the working gas energy with maximum efficiency due to minimization of losses by selecting optimum geometry along the gas-dynamic duct and using the automatic adjustment phenomenon following the changes in the evolution of the gas from the melt.
  • the claimed device is long-life and reliable in operation, because the basic units have no contact with the high temperature gases evacuated from the vacuum chamber and has maximum possible efficiency.
  • the claimed method of vacuum refining of metal consists in that supplied into a container with molten metal is a working gas having predetermined parameters, the pressure of gaseous mixture above the melt surface is reduced within 2-5 seconds to a pressure sufficient for producing partial pressures of the gases in the melt, and the metal is treated by pressure pulsations.
  • the pressure above the melt surface is varied with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 MPa in a low-frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz and, at the same time, the pressure is varied in a medium-frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005- 0.01 MPa, and in a high-frequency range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of 0.0001-0.001 Hz.
  • the low-frequency component in a range of 0.03-5 Hz with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 Mpa leads to such a phenomenon that during the pressure decrease the bubbles of CO or inert gas expand and during the pressure increase they compress.
  • the diffusion flow is directed into the bubbles while during the compression it is directed to outside, however, the former process is much more intensive and leads to a fast growth of the bubble.
  • the bubble pulsation results in permanent renewal of the melt in its boundary layer; when the bubble reaches the resonance size, it disintegrates into smaller bubbles which start grow as well.
  • the low-frequency pulsations of the pressure above the melt surface generate vacuum and pressure waves in the melt itself.
  • a frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz is selected, overlapping the band of resonance frequencies of the containers with the melt having a depth of 0.5 to 4 m with a gas content from 0 to 50%, the amplitude of pulsations below 0.02 MPa does not result in significant intensification of the process of rectified diffusion of gas in the molten metal, whereas the amplitude above 0.08 MPa increases the energy consumption and reduces the resistance of the vacuum-tight container.
  • the pressure pulsation component in a frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005-0.02 MPa generates in (the region of the container walls intensive microflows which break the formed and newly forming bubbles.
  • this component affects the oscillation and fragmentation of the bubbles resonant to the given frequency range.
  • the parameters of the pressure pulsation at the medium frequencies are associated with the velocity of the melt microflows near the walls, which correspond to the rate of roughness of the walls, and the rate of cavitation strength of the melt associated with its temperature and composition.
  • the high frequency pressure pulsations in a range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of pressure 0.0001-0.001 MPa result in oscillation and fragmentation of the bubbles of a different diameter having already floating on the metal surface and forming the so called "buffer layer" preventing the hydrogen diffusion from the upper metal layer due to a low pressure above the metal surface.
  • the hydrogen diffusion from the upper layer when realizing the method, has a significant effect on the total intensity of refining the entire metal, because a high amplitude of the CO bubbles under the pressure pulsation acting through the whole volume of the melt produces intensive ascending streams delivering the metal from the deep layers to the surface, i.e. the hydrogen-free layers are being replaced continuously.
  • This device comprises a vacuum-tight container 1 (Fig. 1) having a gas-exhaust nipple 2, an ejector 3 having a housing 4, a nozzle 5 and a mixing channel 6 and mounted on the gas-exhaust nipple 2.
  • the operation of the ejector 3 depends on such characteristic geometric parameters as the cross-sectional area F a of the mixing channel 6, the critical section area F b of the nozzle 5 and the output cross-sectional area F c of the nozzle 5.
  • the device At the inlet of the nozzle 5 of the ejector 3 the device is provided with a unit 7 for producing low-frequency pulsations of the working gas flow rate through the nozzle 5, a unit 8 for producing medium-frequency pulsations of the gas flow rate at the inlet of the gas-discharge branch pipe 2 through the nozzle 9, and a unit 10 for producing high-frequency pulsations of the flow rate of the gas being evacuated from the container 1.
  • the regulator for varying the flow section of the nozzle 5, 11 ( Figure 2) of the ejector 3 is made in the form of a set of nozzles 5 and 11, where in Figure 1 the nozzle 5 has a greater flow section than the nozzle 11 in Figure 2.
  • the unit 7 is secured to the ejector 3 by a fastener 14, the elements of the ejector 3 are secured by means of fasteners 15, 16, 17, and the unit 8 is secured to the nozzle 9 by means of a fastener 18.
  • the regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle 19 is made in the form of an insert 20 mounted on the internal surface of the nozzle 19, as shown in Figure 3.
  • the regulator varying the flow section of the mixing channel 6 of the ejector 3 is made in the form of an insert 21 mounted on the internal surface of the mixing channel 6.
  • the varying the flow section of the nozzle 19 and mixing channel 6 of the ejector 3 is made in the form of two inserts 20 and 22 mounted, respectively, on the internal surface of the nozzle 19 and mixing channel 6.
  • the insert 22 is conical with a taper angle of 1-3°, the narrowing portion 23 of the insert 22 extending towards the outlet 24 of the channel 6.
  • the embodiment of the claimed device shown in Figure 6 performs one version of effecting the method, according to the invention, in which there are treated individual portions of metal periodically taken from the total volume of metal 26 placed in the container 27.
  • the vacuum-tight container 28 is immersed into the metal 26.
  • Figure 6 shows a device according to Figure 1 partially immersed into the metal 26.
  • any device according to Figures 2-5 can successfully be used for this purpose.
  • the unit 7 providing low-frequency pulsations changes the flow rate of the working gas through the nozzle 5 so that the ejection of the gases from the container 1 and, therefore, the pressure therein.
  • the unit 8 is used for producing the medium-frequency pulsations of the gas flow rate, and a gas jet is periodically blown into the gas-exhaust nipple 2 resulting in pressure pulsations in the container 1.
  • the flow section of the nozzle 5 is adjusted so that, when the working gas is supplied, the nozzle 5 forms a jet which interacts with the mixing channel 6 and performs the ejection of gases from the container 1. In so doing the flow rate of the gases ejected from the container 1 pulsates with a high frequency. Then the stream of a mixture of the working and ejected (passive) gas flow from the mixing channel 6 into the cylindrical channel 12.
  • the gas jet interacts with the walls of the channel 12 and with its throat 13 having an area of F c , a reduced pressure is produced at the output of the mixing channel 6 increasing the productivity and, therefore, efficiency of the claimed device effecting the method according to the invention.
  • the device of Figure 6 effecting the method, according to the invention, in a portion regime allows the metal 26 to be treated not in bulk but by separate portions of metals 25 within 10-300 seconds. During this period the processes originated by the proposed sequence of operations are over completely, while some nucleus of the bubbles remaining in this portion are discharged into the whole volume, in which intensive gas release and removal of non-metallic inclusions are initiated. Then a new portion of metal is sucked and the process is repeated.
  • the treatment is terminated upon reaching the required characteristics of the melt.
  • the processing time is determined in the run of experimental melts or by the express-analysis results.
  • the convenient and reliable device claimed for effecting the method according to the invention having maximum possible efficiency, enable one to produce a metal of a required quality.
  • the invention can be used in non-ferrous metallurgy when casting metals and alloys.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
  • Exposure And Positioning Against Photoresist Photosensitive Materials (AREA)

Abstract

1. A method of vacuum refining of metal, in which the pressure of a mixture of gases above the molten metal surface is reduced to a pressure sufficient for generating partial pressures of the gases above the melt below the partial pressures of the gases in the melt, and the metal is treated by pressure pulsations with an amplitude of 0.02-0.8 MPa in a low-frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz and, and at the same time, in addition, the pressure in the medium-frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005-0.01 MPa and the pressure in the high frequency range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of 0.0001-0.001 MPa are varied. For this purpose, the device for vacuum refining of metal realizing the above method comprises a vacuum-tight container (1) having a gas-exhaust nipple (2), an ejector (3), having a housing (4), a nozzle (5) and a mixing channel (6), a unit (7) to produce low-frequency pulsations of the working gas through the nozzle (5) of the ejector (3), a unit (8) to produce medium-frequency pulsations of the gas flow rate at the inlet of the gas-exhaust nipple (2), and a unit (10) to produce high-frequency pulsations of the flow rate of the gas being evacuated from the container (1), said regulator being made in the form of a regulator of varying, in a particular case, the flow section of the nozzle (5) and consisting of an insert (20).

Description

  • This invention relates to ferrous metallurgy and, moreparticularly, the invention relates to methods of vacuum refining of metal and to devices for performing these methods.
  • Prior Art
  • Known in the art is a method of out-of-hearth refining of molten metal, in which a vacuum is produced above the melt surface, said vacuum being continuously varied from 0.03 to 0.07 MPa. Superimposed on this vacuum is an additional pulsed vacuum of 0.02 to 0.05 MPa with a frequency from 5 to 50 Hz and from 200 to 250 Hz (RU, A, 1,547,323).
  • The prior art method features inadequate refining of the molten metal, because the effect of pressure pulsation does not penetrate to a required depth, from which the growth of gas bubbles of a necessary size is provided.
  • Furthermore, this method does not realize the process of rectified diffusion, which also contributes to the growth of the bubbles and has no effect on the "buffer" surface layer of fine gas bubbles in the melt.
  • Know in the art is a device for out-of-hearth refining of molten metal effecting the above method and consisting of a Known in the vacuum-tight container in which vacuum pulsations are produced by means of a vacuum pump (cf. the same reference).
  • This device realizing the above mentioned method does not allow one to maintain stable conditions of the treatment with variable gas evolution from the metal and cannot operate with heating by high-temperature gases being evacuated from the container.
  • Also known in the art is a method of vacuum refining of metal, in which the pressure of a gas mixture above the metal surface is reduced to a valuesufficient for producing partial pressures of the gases above the melt, said pressure being lower than the partial pressure of the gases in the melt, and the metal is acted on by pressure pulsations (RU, A, 1441809).
  • According to this method, a vacuum is produced above the melt surface, said vacuum pulsating in a high frequency range.
  • This method does not provide a required degree of metal refining, because the depth of treatment is inadequate.
  • Furthermore, this method does not realize the rectified diffusion process, while the process of floating up and fragmentation of the bubbles features low intensity and generally does not allow a metal of a required quality to be obtained.
  • Known in the art container with a gas-exhaust nipple and an ejector having a housing, a nozzle and a mixing channel and mounted on the gas-exhaust nipple (cf. the same reference).
  • This device realizing the above method also includes a tuyere for blowing the melt with an inert gas.
  • This device inconvenient, and unreliable in operation and has relatively low efficiency.
  • Disclosure of the Invention
  • The basic object of the invention was to provide a method of vacuum refining of metal having such regimes of pressure pulsations that would enable one to obtain a metal of a required quality, and to provide a device for vacuum refining of metal effecting the above method that would be convenient and reliable in operation and have the maximum possible efficiency.
  • This object is attained by providing a method of vacuum refining of metal, in which the pressure of a mixture of gases above the molten metal is reduced to a pressure sufficient for producing the partial pressures of the gases above the melt lower than the partial pressures of the gases in the melt, and the metal is treated by pressure pulses; according to the invention, the pressure above the melt surface is varied with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 MPa in a low-frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz and, in addition, the pressure is simultaneously varied in a medium-frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005-0.01 MPa, and in a high-frequency range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of 0.0001-0.001 MPa.
  • The same method is suitable for treatment of individual portions of metal periodically taken from the total volume of metal.
  • This object is attained by providing a device for vacuum refining of metal effecting the said method and comprising a vacuum-tight container, having a gas-exhaust nipple, and an ejector, having a housing, a nozzle and a mixing channel and mounted on the gas-exhaust nipple; according to the invention, the device is equipped with a unit for producing low-frequency pulsations of the working gas flow rate in the ejector nozzle, a unit for producing medium-frequency pulsations of gas flow rate at the inlet of the gas-exhaust nipple, and a unit for producing high-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of the gas evacuated from the container made as a controller varying the flow section of the nozzle and/or mixing channel of the ejector according to the following expression: F a = K 1 ·F c 2 /F
    Figure imgb0001
       where
       Fa is the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel;
       K1 is the coefficient frown 0.5 to 0.7;
       Fb, Fc are the areas of the critical and output sections of the nozzle, respectively;
        F b = K 2 ·F c
    Figure imgb0002
    , where K2 is the coefficient from 0.5 to 0.02.
  • The regulator for varying the flow section of the ejector nozzle can be made as a set of nozzles.
  • The regulator for varying the flow section of the nozzle and/or mixing channel of the ejector can also be made in the form of an insert mounted on the inner surface of the nozzle and/or mixing channel of the ejector.
  • The insert of the regulator varying the flow section of the ejector mixing channel can be made as a conical member with a taper angle of 1-3° whose narrowing part extends towards the mixing channel outlet.
  • At the mixing channel outlet the ejector can have a cylindrical channel with a cross-sectional area of F d = (2-5)·F a
    Figure imgb0003
    a and a length of L a = 9(7-12)D a
    Figure imgb0004
    , where Da is the cylindrical channel diameter, and an output throat with an area of F c = (1.2-2.5) F a
    Figure imgb0005
    .
  • The advantages of the claimed method consist in that its realization allows one to significantly reduce the content of residual dissolved gases and nonmetallic inclusions in the metal due to an increase of the depth of treatment of the melt in the container, organization of a rectified diffusion process, intensification of the floating function of the bubbles, reduction of the resistance to the evolution of gases from the metal and passing them through a slag layer, all these facts allowing the metal of a preset quality to be obtained. The claimed device effecting the method, according to the invention, makes it possible to obtain all regimes of pressure pulsations corresponding to the physical and chemical characteristics of the melt being treated. In so doing the device utilizes the working gas energy with maximum efficiency due to minimization of losses by selecting optimum geometry along the gas-dynamic duct and using the automatic adjustment phenomenon following the changes in the evolution of the gas from the melt. The claimed device is long-life and reliable in operation, because the basic units have no contact with the high temperature gases evacuated from the vacuum chamber and has maximum possible efficiency.
  • Brief Description of the Drawings
  • The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • Figure 1 shows a general diagram of the claimed device for vacuum refining of metal to perform one of the embodiments of the method according to the invention (a partial longitudinal section);
    • Figure 2 is a general diagram of another embodiment of the device of Figure 1 (a partial longitudinal section);
    • Figure 3 is still another embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1 (a partial longitudinal section);
    • Figure 4 is yet another embodiment of the claimed device shown in Figure 1 (a partial longitudinal section);
    • Figure 5 is an embodiment of the device of Figs. 3 and 4 (a partial longitudinal section);
    • Figure 6 shows a general diagram of the claimed device effecting another embodiment of the method according to the invention (a partial longitudinal section).
    Best Embodiments of the Invention
  • The claimed method of vacuum refining of metal consists in that supplied into a container with molten metal is a working gas having predetermined parameters, the pressure of gaseous mixture above the melt surface is reduced within 2-5 seconds to a pressure sufficient for producing partial pressures of the gases in the melt, and the metal is treated by pressure pulsations.
  • The pressure above the melt surface is varied with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 MPa in a low-frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz and, at the same time, the pressure is varied in a medium-frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005- 0.01 MPa, and in a high-frequency range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of 0.0001-0.001 Hz.
  • Since the pressure is continuously varied, the resultant value of this pressure is summed up from the components of different frequency and amplitude. The low-frequency component in a range of 0.03-5 Hz with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 Mpa leads to such a phenomenon that during the pressure decrease the bubbles of CO or inert gas expand and during the pressure increase they compress. During the expansion the diffusion flow is directed into the bubbles while during the compression it is directed to outside, however, the former process is much more intensive and leads to a fast growth of the bubble. The bubble pulsation results in permanent renewal of the melt in its boundary layer; when the bubble reaches the resonance size, it disintegrates into smaller bubbles which start grow as well. The low-frequency pulsations of the pressure above the melt surface generate vacuum and pressure waves in the melt itself. In view of the fact that a frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz is selected, overlapping the band of resonance frequencies of the containers with the melt having a depth of 0.5 to 4 m with a gas content from 0 to 50%, the amplitude of pulsations below 0.02 MPa does not result in significant intensification of the process of rectified diffusion of gas in the molten metal, whereas the amplitude above 0.08 MPa increases the energy consumption and reduces the resistance of the vacuum-tight container.
  • The pressure pulsation component in a frequency range of 55-195 Hz with an amplitude of 0.005-0.02 MPa generates in (the region of the container walls intensive microflows which break the formed and newly forming bubbles.
  • Furthermore, this component affects the oscillation and fragmentation of the bubbles resonant to the given frequency range.
  • The parameters of the pressure pulsation at the medium frequencies are associated with the velocity of the melt microflows near the walls, which correspond to the rate of roughness of the walls, and the rate of cavitation strength of the melt associated with its temperature and composition.
  • The high frequency pressure pulsations in a range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of pressure 0.0001-0.001 MPa result in oscillation and fragmentation of the bubbles of a different diameter having already floating on the metal surface and forming the so called "buffer layer" preventing the hydrogen diffusion from the upper metal layer due to a low pressure above the metal surface. The hydrogen diffusion from the upper layer, when realizing the method, has a significant effect on the total intensity of refining the entire metal, because a high amplitude of the CO bubbles under the pressure pulsation acting through the whole volume of the melt produces intensive ascending streams delivering the metal from the deep layers to the surface, i.e. the hydrogen-free layers are being replaced continuously.
  • An increase of the radius of capture of the bubbles during the processes of coagulation and flotation taking place deep in the melt has a significant effect on the high-frequency pulsations. The range of high-frequency pulsations of the bright-line spectra is connected to the resonance characteris-tics of the bubbles reaching the surface and was obtained on the basis of experimental data by realizing the maximum evolution of gas from the melt, flow rate of the active gas and the well known ejection coefficient under the given operating conditions. The gas release from the melt during the evacuation is given in the table below. Table
    Melt No. spectrum band Volume flow rate of gas release, m3/s Frequency Hz
    2250 0.031 50-1000
    2671 0.094 350-3500
    2680 0.949 1000-3000
    3112 0.043 50-500
    3120 0.167 350-3500
    3215 0.070 1000-3000
  • In another embodiment of realisation of the claimed method individual portion of metal periodically taken from the whole volume of metal are treated.
  • Described below in detail is the claimed device for vacuum refining of metal effecting the method under consideration.
  • This device comprises a vacuum-tight container 1 (Fig. 1) having a gas-exhaust nipple 2, an ejector 3 having a housing 4, a nozzle 5 and a mixing channel 6 and mounted on the gas-exhaust nipple 2. The operation of the ejector 3 depends on such characteristic geometric parameters as the cross-sectional area Fa of the mixing channel 6, the critical section area Fb of the nozzle 5 and the output cross-sectional area Fc of the nozzle 5.
  • At the inlet of the nozzle 5 of the ejector 3 the device is provided with a unit 7 for producing low-frequency pulsations of the working gas flow rate through the nozzle 5, a unit 8 for producing medium-frequency pulsations of the gas flow rate at the inlet of the gas-discharge branch pipe 2 through the nozzle 9, and a unit 10 for producing high-frequency pulsations of the flow rate of the gas being evacuated from the container 1.
  • The unit 10 is made in the form of a regulator varying the cross sectional area of the nozzle 5 and/or mixing channel 6 of the ejector 3 according to the following expression: F a = K 1 ·F c 2 /F b ,
    Figure imgb0006
       where
       Fa is the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel;
       K1 is the coefficient from 0.5 to 0.7;
       Fb, Fc are the areas of the critical and output sections
       of the nozzle, respectively;
        F b = K 2 ·F c
    Figure imgb0007
    , where K2 is the coefficient from 0.5 to 0.02.
  • In the above described embodiment of the claimed device realizing the method, according to the invention, the regulator for varying the flow section of the nozzle 5, 11 (Figure 2) of the ejector 3 is made in the form of a set of nozzles 5 and 11, where in Figure 1 the nozzle 5 has a greater flow section than the nozzle 11 in Figure 2.
  • The ejector 3 has at the outlet of the mixing channel 6 a cylindrical channel 12 with a cross-sectional area F d = (2-5)F a
    Figure imgb0008
    , a length L a = (7-12)D a
    Figure imgb0009
    , where Da is the diameter of the cylindrical channel 12, and with an output throat 13 having an area F c = (1.2-2 . 5)F a
    Figure imgb0010
    .
  • The unit 7 is secured to the ejector 3 by a fastener 14, the elements of the ejector 3 are secured by means of fasteners 15, 16, 17, and the unit 8 is secured to the nozzle 9 by means of a fastener 18.
  • In another embodiment of the claimed device effecting the method, according to the invention, the regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle 19 is made in the form of an insert 20 mounted on the internal surface of the nozzle 19, as shown in Figure 3.
  • In the embodiment of the claimed device shown in Figure 4 the regulator varying the flow section of the mixing channel 6 of the ejector 3 is made in the form of an insert 21 mounted on the internal surface of the mixing channel 6.
  • In the embodiment of the claimed device shown in Figure 5 regulator The varying the flow section of the nozzle 19 and mixing channel 6 of the ejector 3 is made in the form of two inserts 20 and 22 mounted, respectively, on the internal surface of the nozzle 19 and mixing channel 6. The insert 22 is conical with a taper angle of 1-3°, the narrowing portion 23 of the insert 22 extending towards the outlet 24 of the channel 6.
  • The embodiment of the claimed device shown in Figure 6 performs one version of effecting the method, according to the invention, in which there are treated individual portions of metal periodically taken from the total volume of metal 26 placed in the container 27. For this purpose, the vacuum-tight container 28 is immersed into the metal 26.
  • Figure 6 shows a device according to Figure 1 partially immersed into the metal 26. However, it should be noted that any device according to Figures 2-5 can successfully be used for this purpose.
  • The principle of operation of the claimed device for effecting the method according to the invention is as follows.
  • Fed into the vacuum-tight container 1 (Figure 1) filled with molten metal 25 is a working gas having predetermined parameters, and ejection evacuation of the gas from the vacuum-tight container 1 is started. The unit 7 providing low-frequency pulsations changes the flow rate of the working gas through the nozzle 5 so that the ejection of the gases from the container 1 and, therefore, the pressure therein. The unit 8 is used for producing the medium-frequency pulsations of the gas flow rate, and a gas jet is periodically blown into the gas-exhaust nipple 2 resulting in pressure pulsations in the container 1.
  • The flow section of the nozzle 5 is adjusted so that, when the working gas is supplied, the nozzle 5 forms a jet which interacts with the mixing channel 6 and performs the ejection of gases from the container 1. In so doing the flow rate of the gases ejected from the container 1 pulsates with a high frequency. Then the stream of a mixture of the working and ejected (passive) gas flow from the mixing channel 6 into the cylindrical channel 12. When the gas jet interacts with the walls of the channel 12 and with its throat 13 having an area of Fc, a reduced pressure is produced at the output of the mixing channel 6 increasing the productivity and, therefore, efficiency of the claimed device effecting the method according to the invention.
  • The principle of operation of the device shown in Figures 2-5 is similar to that of the device in Figure 1. The difference consists in that here use is made of the flow section of the nozzle 11 (Figure 2), or nozzle 19 (Figure 3), or mixing channel 6 (Figure 4), or nozzle 19 (Figure 5) and mixing channel 6.
  • The device of Figure 6 effecting the method, according to the invention, in a portion regime allows the metal 26 to be treated not in bulk but by separate portions of metals 25 within 10-300 seconds. During this period the processes originated by the proposed sequence of operations are over completely, while some nucleus of the bubbles remaining in this portion are discharged into the whole volume, in which intensive gas release and removal of non-metallic inclusions are initiated. Then a new portion of metal is sucked and the process is repeated.
  • The treatment is terminated upon reaching the required characteristics of the melt. The processing time is determined in the run of experimental melts or by the express-analysis results.
  • Therefore, the convenient and reliable device claimed for effecting the method according to the invention, having maximum possible efficiency, enable one to produce a metal of a required quality.
  • Industrial Applicability
  • The invention can be used in non-ferrous metallurgy when casting metals and alloys.

Claims (12)

1. A method of vacuum refining of metal, in which the pressure of a mixture of gases above the molten metal surface is reduced to a value sufficient for producing partial pressures of the gases above the melt below the partial pressures of the gases in the melt, and the metal is treated by pressure pulsations, characterized in that the pressure above the melt surface is varied with an amplitude of 0.02-0.08 MPa in a low-frequency range of 0.03-5 Hz and, in addition and at the same time, the pressure in the medium-frequency range of 55-195 Hz is varied with an amplitude of 0.005-0.01 MPa and in the high-frequency range of 350-3500 Hz with an amplitude of 0.0001-0.001 MPa.
2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in that subjected to the treatment are individual portions of metal periodically taken from the total volume of metal.
3. A device for vacuum refining of metal comprising a vacuum-tight container (1) having a gas-exhaust nipple (2) and an ejector (3) having a housing, a nozzle (5) and a mixing channel (6) , said ejector (3) being mounted on said gas-exhaust nipple (2), characterized in that the device has a unit (7) to produce low-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of working gas through the nozzle (5) of the ejector (3), a unit (8) to produce medium-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of gas at the inlet of the gas-exhaust nipple (2), and a unit (10) to produce high-frequency pulsations of the flow rate of gas having evacuated from the container (1) made in the form of a regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle (5) of the ejector (3) in accordance with the following expression: F a = K 1 ·F c 2 /F b ,
Figure imgb0011
   where Fa is the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel (6);
   K1 is the coefficient from 0.5 to 0.7;
   Fb, Fc are the areas of the critical and output sections of the nozzle (5), respectively;
    F b = K 2 ·F c
Figure imgb0012
, where K2 is the coefficient from 0.7 to 0.02.
4. A device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle (5,11) of the ejector (3) is made in the form of a set of nozzles (5,11).
5. A device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle (19) of the ejector (3) is made in the form of an insert (20) mounted on the internal surface of the nozzle (19) of the ejector (3).
6. A device for vacuum refining of metal comprising a vacuum-tight container (1) having a gas-exhaust nipple (2) and an ejector (3) having a housing (4), a nozzle (5) and a mixing channel (6), said ejector (3) being mounted on said gas-exhaust nipple (2), characterized in that the device has a unit (7) to produce low-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of working gas through the nozzle (5) of the ejector (3), a unit (8) to produce medium-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of gas at the inlet of the gas-exhaust nipple (2), and a unit (10) to produce high-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of gas being evacuated from the container (1) made in the form of a regulator varying the flow section of the mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3) in accordance with the following expression: F a = K 1 ·F c 2 /F b ,
Figure imgb0013
   where Fa is the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel (6);
   K1 is the coefficient from 0.5 to 0.7;
   Fb, Fc are the areas of the critical and output sections
of the nozzle (5), respectively;
    F b = K 2 · F c
Figure imgb0014
, where K2 is the coefficient from 0.7 to 0.02.
7. A device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the regulator varying the flow section of the mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3) is made in the form of an insert (21) mounted on the internal surface of the mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3).
8. A device for vacuum refining of metal comprising a vacuum-tight container (1) having a gas-exhaust nipple (2) and an ejector (3) having a housing (4), a nozzle (19) and a mixing channel (6), said ejector (3) being mounted on said gas-exhaust nipple (2), characterized in that the device has a unit (7) to produce low-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of working gas through the nozzle (19) of the ejector (3), a unit (8) to produce medium-frequency pulsation of the flow rate of gas at the inlet of the gas-exhaust nipple (2), and a unit (10) to produce high-frequency pulsations of the flow rate of gas being evacuated from the container (1) made in the form of a regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle (19) and mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3) in accordance with the following expression: F a = K 1 ·F c 2 /F b ,
Figure imgb0015
   where Fa is the cross-sectional area of the mixing channel (6);
   K1 is the coefficient from 0.5 to 0.7;
   Fb, Fc are the areas of the critical and output sections of the nozzle (19), respectively;
    F b = K 2 ·F c
Figure imgb0016
, where K2 is the coefficient from 0.7 to 0.02.
9. A device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the regulator varying the flow section of the nozzle (19) and mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3) is made in the form of inserts (20,21)) mounted on the internal surface of the nozzle (19) and mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3) respectively.
10. A device according to Claim 7 or Claim 9, characterized in that the insert (22) of the regulator varying the flow section of the mixing channel (6) of the ejector (3) is made conical with a taper angle of 1-3° and with a narrowing portion (23) extending towards the outlet (24 of the mixing channel (6).
11. A device according to Claim 3, or Claim 4, or Claim 5, or Claim 6, or Claim 7, or Claim 8, or Claim 9, characterized in that the ejector (3) at the outlet of the mixing channel (6) has a cylindrical channel (12) with a cross-sectional area of F d = (2-5)F a
Figure imgb0017
, a length of L a = (7-12)D a
Figure imgb0018
, where Da is the diameter of the cylindrical channel (12) with a cross-sectional area F d = (2-5)F a
Figure imgb0019
, a length L a = (7-12)D a
Figure imgb0020
, where Da is the diameter of the cylindrical channel (12), and with an output throat (13) with an area F c = (1.2-2.5)F a
Figure imgb0021
.
11. A device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the ejector (3) at the outlet of the mixing channel (6) has a cylindrical channel (12) with a cross-sectional area of F d = (2-5)F a
Figure imgb0022
, a length of L =(7-12)D a
Figure imgb0023
, where Dais the diameter of the cylindrical channel (12), and with an output throat (13) having an area F c = (1.2-2.5)F a
Figure imgb0024
.
EP94909359A 1994-01-19 1994-02-24 Process for the vacuum refining of metal and associated device Withdrawn EP0803579A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
RU94000727 1994-01-19
RU9494000727A RU2046149C1 (en) 1994-01-19 1994-01-19 Method of vacuum refining of metal and apparatus for performing the same
PCT/RU1994/000034 WO1995020057A1 (en) 1994-01-19 1994-02-24 Process for the vacuum refining of metal and associated device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0803579A1 true EP0803579A1 (en) 1997-10-29
EP0803579A4 EP0803579A4 (en) 1998-04-22

Family

ID=20151322

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94909359A Withdrawn EP0803579A4 (en) 1994-01-19 1994-02-24 Process for the vacuum refining of metal and associated device

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0803579A4 (en)
JP (1) JPH09508671A (en)
KR (1) KR970700781A (en)
CN (1) CN1145642A (en)
FI (1) FI962894A (en)
RU (1) RU2046149C1 (en)
WO (1) WO1995020057A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0922363B1 (en) * 1996-08-30 2007-01-31 Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) System and method for incoming and outgoing interrogations for store-and-forward services
WO2001098549A1 (en) * 2000-06-22 2001-12-27 Hoei Shokai Co., Ltd Method of producing and supplying aluminum alloy and device for producing aluminum alloy
US8623114B2 (en) * 2010-02-16 2014-01-07 Praxair Technology, Inc. Copper anode refining system and method
RU2490341C1 (en) * 2011-12-15 2013-08-20 Евгений Владимирович Андреев Method for purifying copper or nickel alloys or copper, and plant for method's implementation

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE753613C (en) * 1943-02-03 1953-02-23 Ig Farbenindustrie Ag Process for degassing liquids and metal melts
GB823419A (en) * 1955-09-27 1959-11-11 Siemens Ag Improvements in or relating to the de-gassing of molten metal by vibration or acoustic irradiation
US3162908A (en) * 1956-08-02 1964-12-29 William J Ruano Apparatus for applying vacuum and super-sonic vibrations in castings steels

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1236541B (en) * 1958-02-25 1967-03-16 Friedrich Kocks Dr Ing Device for continuous degassing of steel
US3798025A (en) * 1971-12-29 1974-03-19 Allegheny Ludlum Ind Inc Vacuum decarburization in rh and dh type degassing systems
US4057421A (en) * 1974-10-22 1977-11-08 Sumitomo Metal Industries Limited Process for vacuum decarburization of steel
CA1216430A (en) * 1984-01-20 1987-01-13 Joseph A. Mulcahy Vacuum treating steels

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE753613C (en) * 1943-02-03 1953-02-23 Ig Farbenindustrie Ag Process for degassing liquids and metal melts
GB823419A (en) * 1955-09-27 1959-11-11 Siemens Ag Improvements in or relating to the de-gassing of molten metal by vibration or acoustic irradiation
US3162908A (en) * 1956-08-02 1964-12-29 William J Ruano Apparatus for applying vacuum and super-sonic vibrations in castings steels

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9520057A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1145642A (en) 1997-03-19
JPH09508671A (en) 1997-09-02
WO1995020057A1 (en) 1995-07-27
FI962894A0 (en) 1996-07-18
RU2046149C1 (en) 1995-10-20
EP0803579A4 (en) 1998-04-22
FI962894A (en) 1996-09-18
KR970700781A (en) 1997-02-12

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0225081B1 (en) Method and apparatus for producing microfine frozen particles
EP0803579A1 (en) Process for the vacuum refining of metal and associated device
US5650120A (en) Bubble-operated recirculating pump for metal bath
EP0745018B1 (en) Blast system
JP3320105B2 (en) Nozzle for cavitation jet
US2521199A (en) Method of and apparatus for high-speed, high-pressure oxygen cutting of metals
US5011531A (en) Method and apparatus for degassing molten metal utilizing RH method
US4226705A (en) Method of producing microbubbles for treating a suspension
US4049248A (en) Dynamic vacuum treatment
JP2579734B2 (en) Floating type deinking device
RU2100082C1 (en) Grinding of materials in energy carrier flow and device of vortex grinding for effecting the same
KR102241751B1 (en) Apparatus for treating molten steel and method for reating molten steel
RU94000727A (en) METHOD OF VACUUM REFINING OF METAL AND DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION
RU2092579C1 (en) Method of circulation degassing of metal in ladle
RU2162411C1 (en) Method for working and processing materials
JPS60222136A (en) Dissolving of gas in liquid
SU1096285A1 (en) Apparatus for circulatory vacuum treatment of steel
EP1765480B1 (en) Smoke generator
RU2376390C2 (en) Blowing-off method of liquid metal
RU2098225C1 (en) Device for in-line degassing of metal in continuous casting
CN110331256B (en) Vacuum circulation degassing refining device capable of improving decarburization rate
RU2074896C1 (en) Method and aggregate of out-of-furnace refining of metal smelt
SU1670196A1 (en) Method for generation of nonlinear vibrations and hydromechanical pulsator
RU2651097C2 (en) Device for vacuuming metal
JPH04325621A (en) Method for smelting extremely low carbon steel

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960819

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE DE ES FR GB IT LU SE

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 19980305

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): AT BE DE ES FR GB IT LU SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 19981210