EP1752726B1 - Transfer system for liquid metals - Google Patents
Transfer system for liquid metals Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1752726B1 EP1752726B1 EP05107410A EP05107410A EP1752726B1 EP 1752726 B1 EP1752726 B1 EP 1752726B1 EP 05107410 A EP05107410 A EP 05107410A EP 05107410 A EP05107410 A EP 05107410A EP 1752726 B1 EP1752726 B1 EP 1752726B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- liquid metal
- conduit
- level
- furnace
- plc
- 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.)
- Not-in-force
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Classifications
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- 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
- F27D21/00—Arrangements of monitoring devices; Arrangements of safety devices
- F27D21/0028—Devices for monitoring the level of the melt
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
- B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
- B22D11/06—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into moulds with travelling walls, e.g. with rolls, plates, belts, caterpillars
- B22D11/0637—Accessories therefor
- B22D11/064—Accessories therefor for supplying molten metal
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
- B22D41/00—Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like
- B22D41/04—Casting melt-holding vessels, e.g. ladles, tundishes, cups or the like tiltable
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
- C21B—MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL
- C21B7/00—Blast furnaces
- C21B7/14—Discharging devices, e.g. for slag
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
- F27B3/00—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces
- F27B3/06—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces with movable working chambers or hearths, e.g. tiltable, oscillating or describing a composed movement
- F27B3/065—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces with movable working chambers or hearths, e.g. tiltable, oscillating or describing a composed movement tiltable
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
- F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS, OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
- F27B3/00—Hearth-type furnaces, e.g. of reverberatory type; Tank furnaces
- F27B3/10—Details, accessories, or equipment peculiar to hearth-type furnaces
- F27B3/28—Arrangement of controlling, monitoring, alarm or the like devices
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- 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
- F27D19/00—Arrangements of controlling devices
-
- 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
- F27D3/14—Charging or discharging liquid or molten material
- F27D3/145—Runners therefor
-
- 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
- F27D19/00—Arrangements of controlling devices
- F27D2019/0084—Controlling closure systems, e.g. doors
Definitions
- the invention relates to a transfer system for liquid metals such as aluminum, zinc and magnesium.
- the invention also refers to a method of transferring liquid metals using the transfer system.
- canals in the transfer of liquid metals from the furnace to the casting machine are widely known and used.
- these canals were made of refracting concrete but the use of such material generated a great loss of temperature in the liquid metal during its transfer.
- the first condition that a chosen material chosen must comply is that the loss of temperature of the liquid metal when transferred from the furnace to the casting machine must be minimum.
- the second condition that a chosen material must meet is the resistance to chemical attack deriving from the molten metal transferred.
- the maintenance schedule to follow in order to continue with the normal casting procedure requires several stopping times, which is inadmissible in continuous casting process.
- the average temperature of the liquid metal is sometimes greater than 100°C which is more that the normal temperature needed for casting. This represents a loss of 5° to 10°C by meter in the length of the canal. This loss of temperature can also generate the reduction or even the loss of the casting process.
- the interruption of a casting process due to parametrical miscalculations in the process can generate an important economic damage.
- transferring canals are made of ceramic fibers and the same are placed in a metal cradle which is used to support the canal and abut the canal with an adjacent one by means of a bridle in order to conform a full canal for transferring the liquid metal.
- Another important factor to consider is the great difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of the canal and the metal cradle, which generates metal leaks in the junction between abutting canals increasing the leakage during several casting processes.
- the present invention relates to a transfer system for liquid metal from a furnace to a casting machine wherein the system lengthens the life term of the transfer canal while used on several casting process.
- the present invention also relates to
- the transfer system of the present invention comprises a central operation panel 2 which controls and commands a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) 3.
- the PLC controls the performance of a hydraulic central 4 which commands the movement of a balanced valve 5.
- This balanced valve actuates on a hydraulic cylinder 6 controlling the tilt of a casting furnace 7.
- a laser sensor 8 detects the liquid metal level in the conduit 9 when the liquid metal is poured from the furnace 7 towards the casting machine 22 ( FIG. 3 ).
- the data acquired by the laser sensor 8 is sent to the PLC 3 to adjust the furnace's tilting.
- the sensor 8 must be configured to detect the presence of liquid metal at a pre settled level bearing that the level 0 is the base of the canal. Said level can be settled according to the specific configuration of the casting process.
- the laser sensor 8 should be placed near the outlet of the furnace 7 but said sensor 8 can be used in any available position where it can be determined the level of the liquid metal in the conduit 9.
- the conduit 9 is build based on a plurality of adjacent canals 10 abutted each other by means of nuts and bolts. Between every abutment a compressible gasket I made of ceramic fiber is placed in order to reduce the leakage of the liquid metal once is transferred from the furnace 7 towards the casting machine 22.
- a compressible gasket I made of ceramic fiber is placed in order to reduce the leakage of the liquid metal once is transferred from the furnace 7 towards the casting machine 22.
- any skilled in the art could notice that the use of bolts and nuts as a mean for abutting several canals 10 in order to make the conduit 10 is just an example and that any means for joining two or more canals such as welding, riveting, clinching and so, can be used without leaving the scope of the present invention. However, it is preferable to use any means to adjoin two or more canals that will allow performing a fast replacement of the damaged canals and thus maintaining the modular condition of the conduit 9.
- the canal 10 showed in FIG. 2 comprises a first U shape profile 12 in which a second U shape profile 14 is placed, being separated both profiles by an insulate layer 13.
- the profile 14 defines a path for the liquid metal to be transferred from the furnace 7 to the casting machine 22.
- the first profile 12 is made of a steel alloy while the second profile 14 is made of a refracting ceramic material.
- the insulated layer 13 can be made of any insulate material such as fiber glass, ceramic fiber, microporous insulation panels, asbestos, refracting mud or the combination thereof.
- a lid 15 is placed on top of first and second profiles protecting the edges of such profiles from breakage when cleaning the conduit 10 once the casting process is over.
- a cover 17 is attached with a hinge 18 to the first profile 12.
- the cover is actuated by pneumatic or hydraulic means (not shown) controlled by said PLC 3.
- Said cover includes heat generating means 16 attached to the internal portion of the cover by an insulate layer 19.
- the insulate layer 19 can be made of the same material as the insulated layer 13.
- Said heat generating means 16 are defined by electric resistance heating elements 20 enclosed in metal tubes that emit heat in the form of infrared rays. Even though the number of electrical resistance heating elements 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 are only two, the number of such heating elements 20 can be as many as needed depending on the particular casting process.
- the transfer system of the present invention comprises at least two heat sensors 23. Said sensors 23 are placed preferably one near the outlet of the furnace 7 and the other near the inlet of the casting machine 22. This sensor deployment allows the system to strictly control any differential of temperature along the total transfer of the liquid metal over the conduit 10.
- the heat sensors 23 can be any sensor commercially available such as laser beam sensor, thermocouple or a combination of both.
- the transfer system includes a complex electrical wiring (not shown) including current and voltage detectors that controls any variation such as in the heating elements 20 or heat sensors 23, allowing the operator of the casting line to control the temperature process.
- canals 9 are placed over a double T beam 21.
- Such beam 21 is used as a strong and firm support platform for the total length of the conduit 10.
- the laser sensor 8 controls the level of the metal poured and acquires data about the minimum and maximum levels and sends them to the PLC unit 3.
- the PLC unit verifies that said data sent by the sensor 8 is within the parameters already configured in the PLC unit. In the event that the data sent by the sensor 8 is either over or below the parameters configured, the PLC unit sends the instructions to the hydraulic central 4 to command, by means of the balanced valve 5, the corresponding hydraulic cylinder 6 to either increase or decrease the tilt degree of the furnace 7. Once the data sent by the sensor 8 is within the parameters configured in the PLC unit, the tilting of the furnace 7 stops.
- sensors 23 gather the temperature in both places and each one sends the information to the PLC unit.
- the PLC unit compares the data received with the parameters previously configured. In the event that the temperature drops a few degrees, the PLC unit sends the instructions to a hydraulic center (not shown) which commands the closing of the covers 17 in order to reduce the loss of temperature. If the temperature keeps dropping the sensors 23 detect such drop and send the information to the PLC unit. Afterwards, the PLC unit processes the information and controls the ignition of the heating elements 20 in order to rise and maintain the heat of the liquid metal within the temperature parameters. In order to keep the temperature as homogenous as possible in the total length of the conduit 10, the PLC unit can individually control the ignition of the heat elements 20 in each canal 9, thus keeping a stricter control on the temperature range.
- the maintenance routine commences.
- This routine comprises the complete checking and control of each and every canal 9.
- one or more canals 9 show any sign of major attrition such canal can be easily replaced by a new one thanks to the modular construction concept that the conduit 10 has.
- one or more canals 9 shows any small sign of ware, such as cracks in the ceramic fiber surface in the second profile, the same can be replaced in situ.
- each canal has an easy construction configuration which allows the replacement of any part involved in the construction of the canal 9.
- the second profile is the part which suffers greater deterioration between several casting processes. Fixing in situ or replacing such second profile reduces the costs of maintenance of the casting process.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Vertical, Hearth, Or Arc Furnaces (AREA)
- Extraction Or Liquid Replacement (AREA)
- Casting Support Devices, Ladles, And Melt Control Thereby (AREA)
- Waste-Gas Treatment And Other Accessory Devices For Furnaces (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to a transfer system for liquid metals such as aluminum, zinc and magnesium. The invention also refers to a method of transferring liquid metals using the transfer system.
- The use of canals in the transfer of liquid metals from the furnace to the casting machine is widely known and used. In the past, these canals were made of refracting concrete but the use of such material generated a great loss of temperature in the liquid metal during its transfer. Due to the enormous amount of materials available nowadays, there are at least two conditions that must comply when choosing the correct material in the process of making the canals. The first condition that a chosen material chosen must comply is that the loss of temperature of the liquid metal when transferred from the furnace to the casting machine must be minimum. The second condition that a chosen material must meet is the resistance to chemical attack deriving from the molten metal transferred.
- Most of the processes that in the past where made inside the furnace were converted into continuum process incorporating specific equipments for filtering and removing contaminating gases for the metal. Due to this modification, the length of the canals transporting the melted metal had to be lengthened, increasing therefore the loss of temperature during the transfer of liquid metal. In order to reduce such loss of temperature, the common solution was to increase the temperature of the liquid metal at the furnace, rendering a reduced loss of temperature of the liquid metal during its transfer. However, this obvious solution made the liquid metal to oxidize at a faster rate, rendering it to a more chemical aggressive material hence reducing the life of the canals. It is also important to mention that the increase of temperature in the liquid metal generated the incorporation of several contaminants such as hydrogen which solubility increased with the rise of the temperature.
- At the late 70's, ceramic fibers were incorporated into the world of technological material. By using ceramic fibers in the construction of canals, the results of durability were surprisingly increased. However, the use of such canals was only useful in short casting process usually lasting between 4 to 5 hours. After that period the canals had to be replaced. As the use of aluminum was increased over time, the industry developed new equipments known as continuous casting machines, where the duration of the casting process can last up to several days.
- The problem encountered, when using the canals made of ceramic fiber in the continuous casting process, was that after every casting period the canals had to be replaced, therefore generating an increase in the final cost of the product. A partial solution to such problem was to develop canals using materials with increased resistance to the chemical attack but the problem encountered then was that using such materials also increased the loss of temperature in the liquid metal. Therefore, the canals included improved thermal insulation in order to obtain a satisfactory result. However, at the beginning of the continuum casting process the use of gas burners had to be applied in such process. Gas burners are widely known and use in the casting process, but it is also widely known that the expose of a material to a constant and powerful flame stream reduced the life term of such material producing cracks and clefts. Alternatively, in the near zones of the burners it could be found a temperature difference within several hundreds of degrees which generates tensions and micro cracks shortening the life term of the canal. In order to avoid the use of gas burners to maintain the temperature with in the canal, the use of electrical heaters were implemented reducing the deterioration of the canal.
- Due to the constant deterioration of the canals and the casting equipment where the liquid metal passes through, the maintenance schedule to follow in order to continue with the normal casting procedure requires several stopping times, which is inadmissible in continuous casting process. By using conventional canals, the average temperature of the liquid metal is sometimes greater than 100°C which is more that the normal temperature needed for casting. This represents a loss of 5° to 10°C by meter in the length of the canal. This loss of temperature can also generate the reduction or even the loss of the casting process. In the event that the casting process includes several hours, the interruption of a casting process due to parametrical miscalculations in the process can generate an important economic damage.
- As stated before, transferring canals are made of ceramic fibers and the same are placed in a metal cradle which is used to support the canal and abut the canal with an adjacent one by means of a bridle in order to conform a full canal for transferring the liquid metal. Another important factor to consider is the great difference between the thermal expansion coefficient of the canal and the metal cradle, which generates metal leaks in the junction between abutting canals increasing the leakage during several casting processes.
- Another important factor to consider is the level of the liquid metal during the transfer between the furnace and the casting machine. When the liquid metal gets in contact with the mould a thin layer of solid is formed which contains the remaining of the liquid metal. This is a dynamic process where the solid layer generated is removed at constant speed and the new liquid metal arrives at the mould. The quality of the obtained piece depends mostly on the stability of the solid/liquid interaction and its contact with the mould in the process of solidification. The variation in the metal level at the feeding system of the moulds modifies the liquid pressure and disarrays the contact between the thin solid layer and the mould. The final result becomes a noticeable reduction in the length of the casting process
- The present invention relates to a transfer system for liquid metal from a furnace to a casting machine wherein the system lengthens the life term of the transfer canal while used on several casting process.
- The present invention also relates to
- a method for controlling the liquid metal transfer between a furnace and a casting machine allowing to automatically maintaining the liquid metal level during said liquid metal transfer.
- The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed discussion and drawings.
- Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:
-
FIG. 1 a schematic view of the system in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, partly in cross-section, of a canal in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the use of the method of the present invention with the system ofFIG. 1 . - Referring initially to
FIG. 1 the transfer system of the present invention comprises acentral operation panel 2 which controls and commands a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) 3. As stated onFIG. 1 , the PLC controls the performance of ahydraulic central 4 which commands the movement of abalanced valve 5. This balanced valve actuates on ahydraulic cylinder 6 controlling the tilt of acasting furnace 7. - A
laser sensor 8 detects the liquid metal level in theconduit 9 when the liquid metal is poured from thefurnace 7 towards the casting machine 22 (FIG. 3 ). The data acquired by thelaser sensor 8 is sent to thePLC 3 to adjust the furnace's tilting. Thesensor 8 must be configured to detect the presence of liquid metal at a pre settled level bearing that the level 0 is the base of the canal. Said level can be settled according to the specific configuration of the casting process. Thelaser sensor 8 should be placed near the outlet of thefurnace 7 but saidsensor 8 can be used in any available position where it can be determined the level of the liquid metal in theconduit 9. - Making reference to
FIG. 3 , theconduit 9 is build based on a plurality ofadjacent canals 10 abutted each other by means of nuts and bolts. Between every abutment a compressible gasket I made of ceramic fiber is placed in order to reduce the leakage of the liquid metal once is transferred from thefurnace 7 towards thecasting machine 22. Any skilled in the art could notice that the use of bolts and nuts as a mean for abuttingseveral canals 10 in order to make theconduit 10 is just an example and that any means for joining two or more canals such as welding, riveting, clinching and so, can be used without leaving the scope of the present invention. However, it is preferable to use any means to adjoin two or more canals that will allow performing a fast replacement of the damaged canals and thus maintaining the modular condition of theconduit 9. - The
canal 10 showed inFIG. 2 comprises a firstU shape profile 12 in which a secondU shape profile 14 is placed, being separated both profiles by aninsulate layer 13. Theprofile 14 defines a path for the liquid metal to be transferred from thefurnace 7 to thecasting machine 22. In the present embodiment, thefirst profile 12 is made of a steel alloy while thesecond profile 14 is made of a refracting ceramic material. Moreover, theinsulated layer 13 can be made of any insulate material such as fiber glass, ceramic fiber, microporous insulation panels, asbestos, refracting mud or the combination thereof. Alid 15 is placed on top of first and second profiles protecting the edges of such profiles from breakage when cleaning theconduit 10 once the casting process is over. - As seen on
FIG. 2 , acover 17 is attached with ahinge 18 to thefirst profile 12. The cover is actuated by pneumatic or hydraulic means (not shown) controlled by saidPLC 3. Said cover includes heat generating means 16 attached to the internal portion of the cover by an insulatelayer 19. The insulatelayer 19 can be made of the same material as theinsulated layer 13. Said heat generating means 16 are defined by electricresistance heating elements 20 enclosed in metal tubes that emit heat in the form of infrared rays. Even though the number of electricalresistance heating elements 20 illustrated inFIG. 2 are only two, the number ofsuch heating elements 20 can be as many as needed depending on the particular casting process. On the other hand, even if it is possible to replace saidheating elements 20 with gas burners, the use of such gas burners can compromise the safety of the whole casting line. However, the use ofheating elements 20 as means for generating heat in thecanals 9 cannot be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, since it will be obvious to any skilled in the art replacing theheating elements 20 by any other heating source available. As seen onFIG 3 , the transfer system of the present invention comprises at least twoheat sensors 23. Saidsensors 23 are placed preferably one near the outlet of thefurnace 7 and the other near the inlet of the castingmachine 22. This sensor deployment allows the system to strictly control any differential of temperature along the total transfer of the liquid metal over theconduit 10. It can be appreciated that the use of more than two heat sensors is included within the bound of the scope of the invention, since it will be obvious to any skilled in the art to notice that the greater the number of heat sensors the better the result in maintaining the temperature level would be. On the other hand, theheat sensors 23 can be any sensor commercially available such as laser beam sensor, thermocouple or a combination of both. - From the safety point of view, the transfer system includes a complex electrical wiring (not shown) including current and voltage detectors that controls any variation such as in the
heating elements 20 orheat sensors 23, allowing the operator of the casting line to control the temperature process. As it is shown inFIG. 2 ,canals 9 are placed over adouble T beam 21.Such beam 21 is used as a strong and firm support platform for the total length of theconduit 10. - For a better comprehension of the present invention, an explanation of the use and functionality of the whole system will be explained in detail using all the figures mentioned before. As every casting process, the same begins at the
furnace 7. The metal in liquid form is placed inside saidfurnace 7 kept at a melting point until it is ready to be poured in theconduit 10. For the present embodiment, the casting process will be explained using aluminum as the metal to be transferred. The aluminum in liquid form is kept in the furnace at approximately 720 °C. Once thefurnace 7 is tilted the pouring of the liquid metal in theconduit 10 occurs. This pouring method is based on a gravity pouring and the tilting degree is graduated and maintained by thehydraulic cylinder 6. Once thefurnace 7 is tilted and the pouring begins, thelaser sensor 8 controls the level of the metal poured and acquires data about the minimum and maximum levels and sends them to thePLC unit 3. The PLC unit then verifies that said data sent by thesensor 8 is within the parameters already configured in the PLC unit. In the event that the data sent by thesensor 8 is either over or below the parameters configured, the PLC unit sends the instructions to the hydraulic central 4 to command, by means of thebalanced valve 5, the correspondinghydraulic cylinder 6 to either increase or decrease the tilt degree of thefurnace 7. Once the data sent by thesensor 8 is within the parameters configured in the PLC unit, the tilting of thefurnace 7 stops. - Once the liquid metal starts flowing through the
conduit 10 in order to reach the casting machine, the breach in the temperature from the furnace's outlet and from the casting machine's inlet is increased proportionally to the length of theconduit 10. Therefore,sensors 23 gather the temperature in both places and each one sends the information to the PLC unit. The PLC unit compares the data received with the parameters previously configured. In the event that the temperature drops a few degrees, the PLC unit sends the instructions to a hydraulic center (not shown) which commands the closing of thecovers 17 in order to reduce the loss of temperature. If the temperature keeps dropping thesensors 23 detect such drop and send the information to the PLC unit. Afterwards, the PLC unit processes the information and controls the ignition of theheating elements 20 in order to rise and maintain the heat of the liquid metal within the temperature parameters. In order to keep the temperature as homogenous as possible in the total length of theconduit 10, the PLC unit can individually control the ignition of theheat elements 20 in eachcanal 9, thus keeping a stricter control on the temperature range. - Once the casting procedure is finished, which as stated before it could last several days, the maintenance routine commences. This routine comprises the complete checking and control of each and every
canal 9. In the event that one ormore canals 9 show any sign of major attrition such canal can be easily replaced by a new one thanks to the modular construction concept that theconduit 10 has. On the other hand, if one ormore canals 9 shows any small sign of ware, such as cracks in the ceramic fiber surface in the second profile, the same can be replaced in situ. This is possible since each canal has an easy construction configuration which allows the replacement of any part involved in the construction of thecanal 9. As experience shows, the second profile is the part which suffers greater deterioration between several casting processes. Fixing in situ or replacing such second profile reduces the costs of maintenance of the casting process. - Finally, it is important to mention that even though the length of the
canals 9 was not mentioned, the same can vary depending on the casting line to be used and also said canals can be formed in different shapes, not only straight line canals, but also Y shaped canal, curves or any desirable form needed to evade any obstacle in the process of building a casting line.
Claims (17)
- A method for controlling the transfer of liquid metal from a furnace to a casting machine wherein comprises the steps of:a) tilting the furnace to a degree until the liquid metal is poured into a conduit;b) obtaining the level information in said conduit by means of a level sensor (8);c) sending the data obtained by said level sensor to a programmable logic controller (3);d) controlling the tilt degree of the furnace by comparing the data sent by the level sensor and the data already pre programmed;e) controlling the temperature of the liquid metal near inlet and near outlet of the conduit and sending the temperature data to the PLC (3);f) activating a hinged covers (17) in case the differential temperature is below a level pre settled in the programmable logic controller;g) igniting heat generator means (16) in the event that the temperature is still below the pre settled level even after the hinged cover was activated;h) regulating the temperature by activating individually said hinged covers and said heat generator means.
- The method according to claim 1 wherein comprise the additional steps of:a) increasing the tilt degree of the furnace in the event that said level detector detects a decrease in the level of the liquid metal in the conduit.b) decreasing the tilt degree of the furnace in the event that said level detector detects an increase in the level of the liquid metal in the conduit.
- The method according to claim 1 wherein the activation of said hinged cover is strictly related to data supplied by the heat sensor to the programmable logic controller.
- A system for performing the method of claim 1 comprising:- a PLC (3) controlled by a central operation panel (2);- a hydraulic central system (4) operatively connected to a balanced valve (5) acting on a hydraulic cylinder (6) on command of the PLC (3) for tilting the furnace to a degree so that the liquid metal is poured into a conduit (10);- a laser level sensor (8) for detecting the level of the liquid metal running through the conduit, said' level sensor (8) being connected to said PLC (3) for sending the level information in said conduit;- said PLC (3) being able to verify that said level information is within parameters already configured in the PLC (3) and being able to send instructions to the hydraulic central system (4) for commanding said hydraulic cylinder (6) for adjusting the tilt degree of the furnace (7);- at least two heat sensors (23) for determining the differential temperature of the liquid metal along the conduit (10) and sending the temperature data to the PLC (3);- a cover (17) actuated by pneumatic or hydraulic means controlled by said PLC (3) for being closed in case the detected differential temperature is below a level pre settled in the PLC (3);- said cover (17) including heat generating means (16) attached to the internal portion of the cover by an insulate layer (19);- said PLC (3) being able to process the temperature data for igniting the heat generator means (16) in order to rise and maintain the heat of the liquid metal within preset parameters.
- The system according to claim 4 wherein said a conduit (9) comprises at least a canal (10) containing a first profile (12) and a second profile (14) within said first profile (12).
- The system according to claims 4 and 5 wherein a plurality of said canals (10) is abutted each other by attaching means such as nuts and bolts, welding, bridle, defining a modular conduit.
- The system according to claim 4 wherein said at least one level sensor (8) is placed in the vicinity of the furnace's outlet.
- The system according to claim 5 wherein the first profile (12) and the second profile (14) of the canal (10) are U shaped, said two profile (12, 14) being separated by an insulate layer (13), said second u shaped profile (14) defining a path fro the liquid metal to be transferred from the furnace (7) to the casting machine, said cover (17) being attached with a hinge (18) to the first U shaped profile (12).
- The system according to claim 8 wherein said first U shaped profile (12) is attached to a double T beam.
- The system according to claim 8 wherein the insulate layer (13) is made of fiber glass, ceramic fiber, microporous insulation panels, asbestos, refracting mud or the combination thereof.
- The system according to claim 8 wherein said first U shaped profile (12) is made of a steel alloy.
- The system according to claim 8 wherein said second U shaped profile (14) is made of any of fiber glass, ceramic fiber, microporous insulation panels, asbestos, refracting mud or the combination thereof.
- The system according to claim 4 wherein said heating generator means (16) are electric resistance heating elements (20) enclosed in metal tubes that emit heat in the form of infrared rays.
- The system according to claim 8 wherein a lid (15) is placed on top of first and second profiles (12, 14) protecting the edges of such profiles from breakage.
- The system according to claim 8 wherein said hinged cover (17) attached to said first U shaped profile (12) is actuated by hydraulic means.
- The system according to claim 8 wherein the canal (10) comprises said heat sensors (23) placed on either ends of the canal.
- The system according to claim 16 wherein said heat sensors (23) are one of a laser beam sensors, a thermocouples or a combination of both.
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP05107410A EP1752726B1 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | Transfer system for liquid metals |
AT05107410T ATE465379T1 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR LIQUID METALS |
SI200531051T SI1752726T1 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | Transfer system for liquid metals |
DE602005020774T DE602005020774D1 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | Transfer system for liquid metals |
ES05107410T ES2343465T3 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR LIQUID METALS. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP05107410A EP1752726B1 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | Transfer system for liquid metals |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1752726A1 EP1752726A1 (en) | 2007-02-14 |
EP1752726B1 true EP1752726B1 (en) | 2010-04-21 |
Family
ID=35463661
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP05107410A Not-in-force EP1752726B1 (en) | 2005-08-11 | 2005-08-11 | Transfer system for liquid metals |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1752726B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE465379T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE602005020774D1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2343465T3 (en) |
SI (1) | SI1752726T1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8303890B2 (en) | 2007-02-23 | 2012-11-06 | Alotech Ltd. Llc | Integrated quiescent processing of melts |
US20080202644A1 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2008-08-28 | Alotech Ltd. Llc | Quiescent transfer of melts |
WO2010068113A1 (en) * | 2008-12-11 | 2010-06-17 | Oshaug Metall As | A method of casting metals in a mould |
FI125181B (en) | 2012-02-09 | 2015-06-30 | Outotec Oyj | METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THE MELTING CURRENT AND FORMING THE MELTING CURED BY THE METHOD |
CN103162539B (en) * | 2013-03-27 | 2015-07-15 | 湖南巴陵炉窑节能股份有限公司 | Method of transferring and pouring aluminum liquid in process of preparation of electrician round aluminum rod |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4531717A (en) * | 1984-03-22 | 1985-07-30 | Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation | Preheated trough for molten metal transfer |
-
2005
- 2005-08-11 DE DE602005020774T patent/DE602005020774D1/en active Active
- 2005-08-11 EP EP05107410A patent/EP1752726B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2005-08-11 SI SI200531051T patent/SI1752726T1/en unknown
- 2005-08-11 AT AT05107410T patent/ATE465379T1/en active
- 2005-08-11 ES ES05107410T patent/ES2343465T3/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
SI1752726T1 (en) | 2010-11-30 |
DE602005020774D1 (en) | 2010-06-02 |
ATE465379T1 (en) | 2010-05-15 |
EP1752726A1 (en) | 2007-02-14 |
ES2343465T3 (en) | 2010-08-02 |
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