EP1287169B1 - Method and apparatus for delivering metallurgically improved molten metal - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for delivering metallurgically improved molten metal Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1287169B1
EP1287169B1 EP00930801A EP00930801A EP1287169B1 EP 1287169 B1 EP1287169 B1 EP 1287169B1 EP 00930801 A EP00930801 A EP 00930801A EP 00930801 A EP00930801 A EP 00930801A EP 1287169 B1 EP1287169 B1 EP 1287169B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ladle
molten metal
specific gravity
metal
refractory
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00930801A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1287169A1 (en
Inventor
Robert J. Koffron
Ross A. Jacobs
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.)
Tetron Inc
Original Assignee
Tetron Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetron Inc filed Critical Tetron Inc
Publication of EP1287169A1 publication Critical patent/EP1287169A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1287169B1 publication Critical patent/EP1287169B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D43/00—Mechanical cleaning, e.g. skimming of molten metals
    • B22D43/001—Retaining slag during pouring molten metal
    • B22D43/002—Retaining slag during pouring molten metal by using floating means
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
    • C21C5/00—Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
    • C21C5/28—Manufacture of steel in the converter
    • C21C5/42—Constructional features of converters
    • C21C5/46—Details or accessories
    • C21C5/4653—Tapholes; Opening or plugging thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
    • F27D3/15—Tapping equipment; Equipment for removing or retaining slag
    • F27D3/1509—Tapping equipment
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
    • F27D3/15—Tapping equipment; Equipment for removing or retaining slag
    • F27D3/1545—Equipment for removing or retaining slag
    • F27D3/159—Equipment for removing or retaining slag for retaining slag during the pouring of the metal or retaining metal during the pouring of the slag

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for enhanced metallurgical processing of molten metal compositions during transfer and delivery of molten metal, and specifically to a method of improving metal pouring processes.
  • the ingredients for making a predetermined composition of metal are introduced to a furnace such as a basic oxygen furnace or an electric arc furnace, in which the constituents liquify and mix to form a molten metal pour.
  • a layer of slag including impurities and catalysts is carried at the top of the molten metal layer.
  • the molten metal is then discharged to a ladle for transport to an intermediate processing station or another production facility such as strand or sheet processing.
  • the metal is discharged from the ladle to a vessel such as a tundish. While the processing stations may be provided with heat sources to maintain a liquid mixture once the pour has reached the processing destination, a substantial amount of heat was lost from the previously known open-topped ladles.
  • refractory bodies for controlling discharge from meta pouring vessels are described in US 4854550 , JP 540042305 .
  • These comprise stoppers for automatically close and block off a discharge orifice of the pouring vessel.
  • These stoppers comprise spheres which have a metallic core coated in a refractory material and are arranged to have densities such that the stoppers are lighter than the molten metal but heavier than the slag.
  • DE 4025605 discloses a further similar ball used as a stopper, and which is thrown into the pouring vessel at the appropriate time to close the discharge opening.
  • JP 63180350 in contrast discloses a vortex inhibitor, as opposed to a stopper, comprising a dish shaped heat resistant refractory body, for floating on the molten metal to prevent the development of a free vortex in the molten metal.
  • An embodiment of the present invention addresses the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a method of improving metal pouring processes which allows for extended processing of the molten metal and improves the amount of improved quality metal discharging from a vessel after enhanced processing.
  • the process of metallurgically improving metal pouring processes is combined together with enhanced delivery involving closing the metal pouring vessel with a cover, preferably after initiating intermediate refining, such as by introducing a balancing composition to achieve a target equilibrium composition in the vessel.
  • the method comprises introducing a vortex inhibitor which is a specially constructed refractory body, and maintaining the metal pour, preferably with the balancing composition, and a refractory body in the vessel, until discharge of molten metal is terminated.
  • a prolonged period of refractory body maintenance is enabled by the specially constructed vortex inhibitor in which a refractory composition body shaped to fit within a ladle is formed from a mixture of a steel ballast, refractory material, and a penetration inhibitor, and has an adjusted specific gravity, the adjusted specific gravity having a reduced steel ballast to refractory material ratio less than the ratio for a specific gravity required to buoyantly support the body in the molten metal at the interface of slag and molten metal in the ladle.
  • the ratio is also preferably greater than the ratio for a specific gravity required to support the body entirely in the slag layer.
  • the penetration inhibitory comprises at least one of a particulate carbonaceous material, silica, and silica based glass, and increases resistance to penetration and resistance to deterioration of the body throughout the residence time in the metal.
  • the refractory body resists deterioration throughout the prolonged exposure to the molten metal, to the slag and to the retained heat.
  • the refractory body has a substantially more robust structure that maintains integrity of the body so as to provide vortex reduction in pouring operations previously inhospitable to the previously known slag controlling or yield-improving technologies.
  • the covered ladle provides an improved transfer mechanism and an enhanced metallurgy production system that permit greater precision in the production of alloys, improved production or utilization quantities of high quality metals and greater energy efficiency than previously known production systems.
  • a metal production system 10 comprising a formation facility 12, a transfer mechanism 14 and a processing facility 16.
  • the formation facility 12 may include a basic oxygen furnace, an electric arc furnace or other alloy melting facility, at which the basic raw materials for metal production are introduced to a furnace and heated to melt and intermix the raw materials for production of a particularly desired composition of metal.
  • the quality and particular composition of the metal formed at the furnace 13 is consistent with the original raw materials introduced to the furnace, impurities in each of the ingredients may cause variations between the desired metal composition and the requirements of metal to be used in a processing facility 16.
  • the processing facility 16 may be a bulk production facility, for example, a strand-making facility including a tundish that receives molten metal for delivery as a strand, or a sheet or other shaped commodity of molten metal that hardens for subsequent reheating, shaping, forming or processing operations. Nevertheless, the complexity, size and functional differences between the equipment 12 and 16 renders it necessary to use a transfer mechanism 14 by which the molten metal is unloaded from the formation facility 12 and delivered to an intermediate processing station 15 or to the processing facility 16 or between the station and the facility.
  • the invention is also well adapted for systems 10 in which an intermediate processing station 15, such as a secondary refining facility, may be included between the production facility 12 and the processing facility 16.
  • an intermediate processing station 15 such as a secondary refining facility
  • the furnace produces steel to a target chemistry and temperature range. That steel is then poured into a ladle and transported to a ladle refining furnace, stirring station, or degassing station - each can be described as an intermediate processing station - useful in adjusting the chemistry of the metal.
  • the chemistry and temperature are then adjusted to a far more exact, narrow range based upon the desired grade that is being produced, which is generally driven by customer orders. Accordingly, when preferred, every heat (pour) discharged from the furnace may be basically to the same chemistry range.
  • the ladle refining furnace all chemical adjustments for the various grades to be produced are made at the ladle refining furnace.
  • adding such material as Ca, Mn, Al, MgO, Si and Calcium Carbide; bubbling Argon through the steel; and re-heating it with electrodes or other re-heating processes may be used to improve content compliance with specifications.
  • the intermediate processing occurs before introduction of a refractory body when the body is not restrained in position over a discharge nozzle by extrinsic means.
  • the transfer mechanism. 14 includes a displacer 18 for transferring a molten metal load.
  • the displacer 18 includes a ladle 22 carried by a crane 20 or other conveyance, and can include as well a crane 24 for a lid 90 for the ladle 22.
  • the crane 20 delivers the ladle to the formation facility 12 so that the open top 26 of the ladle 22 receives discharge from a nozzle or other discharge opening of a furnace 13 at the facility 12.
  • the ladle includes a discharge nozzle 28 that enables the contents to be discharged to a tundish or other receiving vessel at the processing facility 16.
  • the nozzle 28 includes a gate valve 30.
  • the gate valve 30 is responsive to a control 32:
  • the control 32 may include a sensor at the nozzle for detecting when the flow through the nozzle is throttled, i.e., reduced in volume by a vortex inhibitor or other plug, to terminate discharge of metal from the ladle, preferably before slag floating on top of the molten metal mixes with the molten metal layer.
  • a vortex inhibitor or other plug to terminate discharge of metal from the ladle, preferably before slag floating on top of the molten metal mixes with the molten metal layer.
  • the throttling effect, or the transition from metal to slag flow, can be observed by workers or otherwise automatically sensed.
  • the response of the control 32 may be manually or automatically initiated in response to the detection of the throttling or the detection of slag content.
  • the response of terminating flow may be handled by hydraulic-mechanical mechanisms responsive to the detection of throttling.
  • a hydraulic cylinder 40 whose piston 42 is coupled with a guide piece 44 engages a slide case 46.
  • the slide case 46 includes a recess carrying a slide plate 48 made of refractory.
  • the slide plate 48 slides adjacent to a bottom plate 50, also made of refractory and carried in the brick setting metal 52.
  • the brick setting metal 52 includes four side supports for the plate and an adjustment mechanism with a set bolt 54 to adjust the position of the bottom plate 50 with respect to the nozzle inserts when the brick setting metal is mounted to the ladle, so that the bottom plate opening 56 is aligned with the opening 58 in a nozzle insert 60.
  • a bottom plate supporter 62 is mounted or welded to the ladle shell and is engaged with slide plate housing 64 bolted to the bottom plate supporter 62.
  • Opening 66 in the slide plate 48 is displaced by the slide case in response to operation of the hydraulic cylinder 40 in a well known manner.
  • the slide case is supported in a clamp 68 by a clamp arm 76 (Fig. 3) for retaining a chute nozzle 70 within a chute nozzle case.
  • Chute nozzle 70 also includes an opening 74 which may be aligned with the openings 66 in the slide plate 48, 56 in the bottom plate 50, and the nozzle opening 58 in the insert nozzle 60.
  • the chute nozzle case 72 is slid into and rotated into position with bayonet locks into the slide case 46.
  • a clamp arm 76 includes an over center toggle which moves in response to a clamp lever 80 to retain the chute nozzle 70 in alignment with the insert nozzle 60 and the gate valve opened by displacement of the slide plate 48 with respect to the bottom plate 50.
  • a coil spring 82 mounted on a least thermally influenced position of the gate supports facial load on the sliding brick 48.
  • the open top 26 of the ladle is closed by a lid or cover 90 which may be made of a refractory material or a refractory coated shell.
  • the cover 90 is carried and positioned by a crane 24.
  • the cover 90 maybe positioned or it may be hinged to the vessel to enclose the internal chamber 23 of the ladle between the closed nozzle 28 and the open top 26.
  • Such covers have previously been known for use in retaining heat within the chamber 23.
  • enhanced metallurgy adjustments could be made to the contents of the ladle during the transport time.
  • the cover 90 before the cover 90 is positioned on the open top 26 of a ladle 22, additional alloys constituents and catalysts can be introduced to the chamber 23 so that the contents can be refined.
  • the molten metal composition in the chamber 23 may be maintained within a desired alloy or combination range while the slag layer continues to provide catalysts that remove impurities from the molten metal and avoids reintroduction of impurities to the molten metal content.
  • adjustments are not made during the transport time, but rather while the ladle is at the intermediate processing station 15 or secondary refining facility.
  • the ladle is not released from the intermediate processing station 15 or secondary refining facility for transport to the production facility until the steel chemistry and temperature have reached a narrow target range.
  • the refractory body is inserted into the ladle after all adjustments have been made at the intermediate processing station 15 or secondary refining facility.
  • the intermediate processing occurs before the cover 90 is put on top and more preferably, before the introduction of the refractory body, either at the refining facility, during transport to the production facility or at the production facility.
  • the chamber 23 is inaccessible to additional enhancements, such as the use of a vortex inhibitor to control the intermixture of the slag layer with the molten metal layer when discharge of the metal is desired.
  • additional enhancements such as the use of a vortex inhibitor to control the intermixture of the slag layer with the molten metal layer when discharge of the metal is desired.
  • the cover 90 may not be opened until the pouring of molten metal has been substantially or entirely completed. In some plants, the cover is removed from the ladle when the ladle is almost empty. This maybe done when the discharging ladle is nearly empty, and the next full ladle is brought to the continuous caster uncovered.
  • the introduction of a vortex inhibitor to a ladle that is to be covered represents a substantially different time period during which the refractory body is subjected to contact with the molten metal and the slag layer than in previously known uses.
  • the specific gravity and refractoriness of the refractory body is adjusted to provide proper results at the pouring step which occurs substantially after filling, and after an extended time of enclosed transport.
  • the pour occurs after intermediate processing.
  • the pouring step can range from 35-180 minutes in duration, the refractory body must provide proper results during the last portion, for example, 10 minutes, of the pouring step.
  • refractory bodies with specific gravity ranges of 4.8 to 5.2 were commonly used to maintain separation between the slag layer and the molten metal layer in furnaces during a period of about two to ten minutes for inhibiting formation of a vortex at the critical height level of molten metal in the furnace until the throttling or other termination point used to terminate the flow from the discharged nozzle, such bodies were ineffective in the closed ladle environment.
  • alumina Al 2 O 3
  • the constituents were mixed with high temperature cement, such as 1% to 2% by weight of a, for example, calcium aluminate cement or equivalent high strength or low water cement.
  • the ratio of steel ballast to refractory material was reduced to give a specific gravity, preferably of about 3.7, but preferably within the range of substantially 2.7-4.5.
  • a non-wetting agent preferably in the form of a particulate carbonaceous material was introduced to the refractory mixture to reduce the amount the body would be penetrated by molten metal or slag and deteriorated, eroded, corroded, broken down, or dissolved by the slag or the molten metal, during the extended steel and slag contact periods.
  • silicates, borosilicates and other silicate based glass could be added as penetration inhibitors.
  • the refractory body includes a mixture of steel ballast and refractory material and has an adjusted specific gravity from previously known refractory body inhibitors. Adjustment may include changes due to desired Target chemistry of the metal, for example, stainless steel fibers, silicon carbide, magnesite refractories, chrome refractories, zircon refractories, zirconia refractories, tabular alumina refractories or mallite refractories may be included. Adjustment may also be determined by bulk density specifications and life expectancy in molten steel.
  • Preferred ranges of steel ballast with a per cubic foot weight of 300-400# preferably in a range of 30% to 80 % by weight, and 30 % to 80 % by weight refractory material of the types disclosed above
  • a binder of high temperature cement at least capable of withstanding 1000°F (538°C), but preferably capable of withstanding 2400°F to 3300°F (1315°C to 1815°C) without substantial deterioration may be included, preferably 2%-12% by weight.
  • the reduced steel ballast to refractory material ratio has a specific gravity less than that required to buoyantly support the body in the molten metal at the slag layer interface in the ladle, but preferably greater than that required to buoyantly support the body in the slag layer.
  • the specific gravity and refractoriness (ability to withstand or survive in a liquid metal environment) adjustments have resulted in refractory bodies that are still maintained in workable shape to perform vortex inhibition and throttling functions even after the end of a prolonged time exposure to the enclosed environment of a ladle transferring molten metal from a furnace to a receptacle vessel.
  • the change in the specific gravity of the body may also ensure that the body is not sucked to the discharge nozzle too early.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Steel In Its Molten State (AREA)
  • Carbon Steel Or Casting Steel Manufacturing (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
  • Furnace Charging Or Discharging (AREA)
  • Casting Support Devices, Ladles, And Melt Control Thereby (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
EP00930801A 2000-05-17 2000-05-17 Method and apparatus for delivering metallurgically improved molten metal Expired - Lifetime EP1287169B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2000/013621 WO2001088209A1 (en) 2000-05-17 2000-05-17 Method and apparatus for delivering metallurgically improved molten metal

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06015281 Division 2006-07-21

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1287169A1 EP1287169A1 (en) 2003-03-05
EP1287169B1 true EP1287169B1 (en) 2007-08-29

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ID=21741393

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00930801A Expired - Lifetime EP1287169B1 (en) 2000-05-17 2000-05-17 Method and apparatus for delivering metallurgically improved molten metal

Country Status (12)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1287169B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2003533355A (ja)
CN (1) CN100365136C (ja)
AT (1) ATE371751T1 (ja)
AU (2) AU4856000A (ja)
BR (1) BRPI0015873B1 (ja)
CA (1) CA2409520C (ja)
DE (1) DE60036228T2 (ja)
ES (1) ES2288856T3 (ja)
TR (1) TR200300213T2 (ja)
TW (1) TW555860B (ja)
WO (1) WO2001088209A1 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018114713A1 (en) * 2016-12-19 2018-06-28 Umicore Ag & Co.Kg Bottom drain

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005024069A2 (de) * 2003-08-29 2005-03-17 Stopinc Aktiengesellschaft Abstichvorrichtung für ein schmelzgefäss, insbesondere für einen konverter
CN113105561B (zh) 2021-04-30 2021-12-03 江南大学 一种双靶点融合蛋白的制备方法和应用

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4720803B1 (ja) * 1968-10-31 1972-06-13
JPS604244B2 (ja) * 1977-09-10 1985-02-02 住友金属工業株式会社 溶滓流出防止用ストツパの製造方法
US4471950A (en) * 1982-10-22 1984-09-18 Labate M D Expandable, consumable stopper plug for steel making and handling vessels
FR2606689B1 (fr) * 1986-11-13 1989-06-02 Daussan & Co Bouchon de retenue des scories et procede pour sa mise en oeuvre et sa fabrication
JPS63180350A (ja) * 1987-01-22 1988-07-25 Nkk Corp 溶鋼の連続鋳造方法
DE4025605A1 (de) * 1990-08-13 1992-02-20 Foseco Int Verfahren und vorrichtung zum selbsttaetigen abschliessen der auslaufoeffnung eines behaelters fuer geschmolzenes metall
JP2530978Y2 (ja) * 1991-03-11 1997-04-02 大同特殊鋼株式会社 溶融金属出湯装置のスライドゲート
JPH08267223A (ja) * 1995-03-28 1996-10-15 Nisshin Steel Co Ltd 取鍋内スラグの流出防止方法および装置
JP3430360B2 (ja) * 1997-03-07 2003-07-28 黒崎播磨株式会社 ガス吹込み用ポーラスプラグ

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018114713A1 (en) * 2016-12-19 2018-06-28 Umicore Ag & Co.Kg Bottom drain

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1452666A (zh) 2003-10-29
ES2288856T3 (es) 2008-02-01
CA2409520C (en) 2008-11-25
DE60036228D1 (de) 2007-10-11
ATE371751T1 (de) 2007-09-15
EP1287169A1 (en) 2003-03-05
BR0015873A (pt) 2003-08-19
AU2000248560B2 (en) 2005-06-16
WO2001088209A1 (en) 2001-11-22
AU4856000A (en) 2001-11-26
JP2003533355A (ja) 2003-11-11
TW555860B (en) 2003-10-01
BRPI0015873B1 (pt) 2016-05-31
CA2409520A1 (en) 2001-11-22
CN100365136C (zh) 2008-01-30
TR200300213T2 (tr) 2003-09-22
DE60036228T2 (de) 2007-12-27

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