EP1957681B1 - Snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel - Google Patents

Snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1957681B1
EP1957681B1 EP05814356A EP05814356A EP1957681B1 EP 1957681 B1 EP1957681 B1 EP 1957681B1 EP 05814356 A EP05814356 A EP 05814356A EP 05814356 A EP05814356 A EP 05814356A EP 1957681 B1 EP1957681 B1 EP 1957681B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
snorkel
steel
snorkels
recirculating
vacuum
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.)
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EP05814356A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1957681A1 (en
Inventor
Zbigniew Czapka
Wlodzimierz Cesarz
Marian Darlak
Jozef Siwiec
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.)
Zaklady Magneztowe "Ropczyce" SA
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Zaklady Magneztowe "Ropczyce" SA
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    • 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
    • C21C7/00—Treating molten ferrous alloys, e.g. steel, not covered by groups C21C1/00 - C21C5/00
    • C21C7/10—Handling in a vacuum
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
    • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
    • C22B9/00—General processes of refining or remelting of metals; Apparatus for electroslag or arc remelting of metals
    • C22B9/04—Refining by applying a vacuum

Definitions

  • the subject of his invention are the snorkels for recirculating vacuum-degassing of steel.
  • the process of vacuum degassing of steel in steel ladle has the purpose of reducing the content harmful gasses dissolved in steel as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, as well as decarbourizing and raising steel purity, thus improving its mechanical properties.
  • the vacuum-chamber throat located in its lower section, consists of separate ceramic rings connected to the metal-drawing and recirculating snorkels, located coaxially to each other and their internal refractory lining is made of several layers of ceramic blocks arranged next to each other in one circumferential line.
  • liquid steel is drawn from the ladle to the vacuum chamber of the RH unit, whereby the steel is circulated due to inert gas, preferably argon, being supplied through metal-drawing snorkel.
  • inert gas preferably argon
  • the inert gas pumps liquid steel into vacuum chamber through the metal-drawing snorkel, wherefrom, after its degassing, the steel returns to the ladle through the other, recirculating snorkel.
  • Liquid steel is drawn only up to the level of the barometric pressure column which depends on external pressure and the pressure in the vacuum chamber.
  • the US patent 5024421 reveals a steel degasser snorkel for circulating molten metal from a ladle to a vacuum vessel that has a two-part steel casing in form of a sleeve with external flange, with its internal surface provided with flanged keystones, on which pressure grout and refractory bricks, connected with the grout, are supported.
  • These ceramic blocks form the internal lining of the steel casing and are arranged in annular layers, connected with each other so as to create a monolithic set of steel degassing snorkel only to the level of the steel casing, whereas the monolith does not cover the rings of the throat of the vacuum chamber of degasser unit.
  • Patents JP51253318A , JP08218113A and US 3521873 disclose also the methods of cooling of snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel consisting in blowing air or gas through a gap created between two steel casings of those snorkels.
  • the external refractory lining of snorkels has a relatively short service life because of concrete-dissolving chemical corrosion that takes place in their service as a result of direct contact with the liquid layer of slag and having a destructive effect on the refractory lining of snorkels.
  • the concrete surface is sprayed with alkaline mass during time breaks between consecutive steel melting cycles. Thus, a layer of material that protects the concrete against direct contact with liquid slag is created.
  • the above mentioned snorkels have a steel casing, which holds the internal and external parts of ceramic working lining.
  • the temperature increments of that casing after each degassing add up during the sequence and the consequential excessive rise of casing temperature leads to its significant expansion and deformation.
  • the expansion of casing as a result of high temperature causes clearly noticeable cracks in monolithic lining.
  • the above described phenomena have also a negative effect on the internal working lining of the snorkel because its steel casing holds the internal part of its working lining.
  • High-temperature deformation of steel casing causes a loosening of the lining of magnesia-chromite blocks, thus accelerating the erosion at the joints between those blocks and the rings formed of them.
  • the purpose of his invention was to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks and inconveniences of known metal-drawing and recirculating snorkels and those of the cooperating vacuum-chamber throat rings.
  • the essence of the novel snorkels for recirculating vacuum-degassers of steel consists in manufacturing of metal-drawing and recirculating snorkels, as well as vacuum-chamber throat rings in degassers, as monolithic sets, in which ceramic blocks of the internal lining are made of several layers of rings bound together with similar overlapping blocks, with perforation being made in the external refractory concrete lining of those monolithic sets.
  • the steel casings of both snorkels are provided with cooling system(s), preferably gas cooling system(s).
  • fig. 1 is a perspective view of either metal-drawing or recirculating snorkel with perforated surface of external refractory lining of the recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel
  • fig. 2 is a perspective view of the steel casing of the snorkel shown in fig. 1 with an arrangement/system of cooling pipes
  • fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of vacuum chamber of the recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel in axial cross-section.
  • the throat 1 of the vacuum chamber 2 of the recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel is provided with metal-drawing snorkel 3 and recirculating snorkel 4 .
  • Each of these snorkels, 3 and 4 is made as the monolith, 5 and 6 , consisting of steel casing 7 with refractory lining 8 on its external surface and a sleeve element 9 of refractory ceramic blocks 10 located inside of that casing, so that the sleeve element 9 covers a set of pipes of the gas cooling system 11 mounted on the internal surface of the steel casing 7 and projecting above its upper face by a dimension L which is equal to approx. 40 % of its total height H.
  • external refractory lining 8 of the steel casing 7 is provided with perforation 12 all over its surface, whereas the refractory ceramic blocks 10 of the sleeve element 9 are arranged alternately next to each other so that they form overlaps 13 with the neighboring ceramic blocks 10 .

Description

  • The subject of his invention are the snorkels for recirculating vacuum-degassing of steel.
  • The process of vacuum degassing of steel in steel ladle has the purpose of reducing the content harmful gasses dissolved in steel as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, as well as decarbourizing and raising steel purity, thus improving its mechanical properties.
  • Many methods of vacuum degassing of steel are known, among them the RH recirculating vacuum-degassing process consisting in metal circulation through a vacuum chamber of an RH degasser equipped with a ladle for liquid steel, provided with a metal-drawing snorkel that contains an inert gas supply pipe and a recirculating snorkel. During the steel degassing process both snorkels are inserted into liquid steel in the ladle that is situated below the chamber of the degasser unit. Besides, the RH degasser is equipped with chute for alloying additions, a burner hole and, in its upper section, a gas-suction duct and a pipe for vacuum creation in the chamber.
  • The vacuum-chamber throat, located in its lower section, consists of separate ceramic rings connected to the metal-drawing and recirculating snorkels, located coaxially to each other and their internal refractory lining is made of several layers of ceramic blocks arranged next to each other in one circumferential line.
  • Once the snorkels are inserted in molten steel, liquid steel is drawn from the ladle to the vacuum chamber of the RH unit, whereby the steel is circulated due to inert gas, preferably argon, being supplied through metal-drawing snorkel. By raising up and expanding, the inert gas pumps liquid steel into vacuum chamber through the metal-drawing snorkel, wherefrom, after its degassing, the steel returns to the ladle through the other, recirculating snorkel. Liquid steel is drawn only up to the level of the barometric pressure column which depends on external pressure and the pressure in the vacuum chamber.
  • The US patent 5024421 reveals a steel degasser snorkel for circulating molten metal from a ladle to a vacuum vessel that has a two-part steel casing in form of a sleeve with external flange, with its internal surface provided with flanged keystones, on which pressure grout and refractory bricks, connected with the grout, are supported. These ceramic blocks form the internal lining of the steel casing and are arranged in annular layers, connected with each other so as to create a monolithic set of steel degassing snorkel only to the level of the steel casing, whereas the monolith does not cover the rings of the throat of the vacuum chamber of degasser unit.
  • Patents JP51253318A , JP08218113A and US 3521873 disclose also the methods of cooling of snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel consisting in blowing air or gas through a gap created between two steel casings of those snorkels.
  • The external refractory lining of snorkels, as used in known equipment for vacuum-degassing of steel, has a relatively short service life because of concrete-dissolving chemical corrosion that takes place in their service as a result of direct contact with the liquid layer of slag and having a destructive effect on the refractory lining of snorkels. In order to reduce the corrosive wear of monolithic Al2O3-base concrete layer of snorkels the concrete surface is sprayed with alkaline mass during time breaks between consecutive steel melting cycles. Thus, a layer of material that protects the concrete against direct contact with liquid slag is created.
  • The above mentioned snorkels have a steel casing, which holds the internal and external parts of ceramic working lining. However, in case of long times of the process and short time periods between consecutive degassings, the temperature increments of that casing after each degassing add up during the sequence and the consequential excessive rise of casing temperature leads to its significant expansion and deformation. The expansion of casing as a result of high temperature causes clearly noticeable cracks in monolithic lining. The above described phenomena have also a negative effect on the internal working lining of the snorkel because its steel casing holds the internal part of its working lining. High-temperature deformation of steel casing causes a loosening of the lining of magnesia-chromite blocks, thus accelerating the erosion at the joints between those blocks and the rings formed of them.
  • The purpose of his invention was to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks and inconveniences of known metal-drawing and recirculating snorkels and those of the cooperating vacuum-chamber throat rings.
  • The essence of the novel snorkels for recirculating vacuum-degassers of steel consists in manufacturing of metal-drawing and recirculating snorkels, as well as vacuum-chamber throat rings in degassers, as monolithic sets, in which ceramic blocks of the internal lining are made of several layers of rings bound together with similar overlapping blocks, with perforation being made in the external refractory concrete lining of those monolithic sets. Favorably, the steel casings of both snorkels are provided with cooling system(s), preferably gas cooling system(s).
  • Connecting the throat ring with snorkel to form a single monolith, in which ceramic blocks of the external lining overlap each other has caused a significant raising of mechanical strength of those monoliths compared to separate rings of throats and snorkels with ceramic blocks arranged one next to the other in several ring-shaped layers.
  • Making of perforation in external refractory concrete surface of snorkel has enlarged the contact surface for the sprayed protective mass with concrete surface, thus providing the potential for applying a thicker protective layer onto external concrete lining of snorkel(s) for vacuum degassing of steel while ensuring also good adherence and holding of sprayed alkaline mass on the external surface of the snorkel. On the other hand, introducing of (pipe) cooling system into steel casing of snorkel, constituting a monolith with the throat ring, prevented excessive temperature increments and consequential cracks of the protective mass.
  • The object of his invention is shown in examples of its embodiments in the drawing where fig. 1 is a perspective view of either metal-drawing or recirculating snorkel with perforated surface of external refractory lining of the recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel, fig. 2 is a perspective view of the steel casing of the snorkel shown in fig. 1 with an arrangement/system of cooling pipes, and fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of vacuum chamber of the recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel in axial cross-section.
  • The throat 1 of the vacuum chamber 2 of the recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel is provided with metal-drawing snorkel 3 and recirculating snorkel 4. Each of these snorkels, 3 and 4, is made as the monolith, 5 and 6, consisting of steel casing 7 with refractory lining 8 on its external surface and a sleeve element 9 of refractory ceramic blocks 10 located inside of that casing, so that the sleeve element 9 covers a set of pipes of the gas cooling system 11 mounted on the internal surface of the steel casing 7 and projecting above its upper face by a dimension L which is equal to approx. 40 % of its total height H. Besides, external refractory lining 8 of the steel casing 7 is provided with perforation 12 all over its surface, whereas the refractory ceramic blocks 10 of the sleeve element 9 are arranged alternately next to each other so that they form overlaps 13 with the neighboring ceramic blocks 10.

Claims (3)

  1. Snorkels of recirculating vacuum-degasser of steel installed in the lower section of the vacuum chamber of the degasser unit, one of which is the metal-drawing snorkel equipped with a pipe supplying inert gas to ladle and the other is a recirculating snorkel, the upper section of said vacuum chamber being provided with chute for alloying additions, burner hole as well as a duct for gas-suction and for vacuum creation in the chamber, internal and external linings of said snorkels being held by steel casings cooled with air or gas, the ceramic blocks of internal lining being made of several layers of rings interconnected with similar overlapping blocks, wherein said metal-drawing snorkel (3) and said recirculating snorkel (4) and rings of the throat (1) of said vacuum chamber (2) of said degasser unit are made as monolithic sets (5) and (6).
  2. Snorkels as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the external refractory lining (8) of the metal-drawing snorkel (3) and the recirculating snorkel (4) in both of monolithic sets (5) and (6) are provided with perforation (12).
  3. Snorkels as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the steel casings (7) of the metal-drawing snorkel (3) and the recirculating snorkel (4) in both monolithic sets (5) and (6) are provided on their internal surface with pipe cooling system (11) for cooling them preferably with gas.
EP05814356A 2005-08-16 2005-11-21 Snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel Active EP1957681B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL376633A PL204157B1 (en) 2005-08-16 2005-08-16 Connector pipes of the device for the vacuum degassing of steel
PCT/PL2005/000078 WO2007021207A1 (en) 2005-08-16 2005-11-21 Snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1957681A1 EP1957681A1 (en) 2008-08-20
EP1957681B1 true EP1957681B1 (en) 2013-02-20

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EP05814356A Active EP1957681B1 (en) 2005-08-16 2005-11-21 Snorkels for vacuum degassing of steel

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP1957681B1 (en)
PL (1) PL204157B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007021207A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102009039260A1 (en) * 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Sms Siemag Ag Apparatus for degassing a molten steel with an improved spout
US9644246B2 (en) 2011-05-11 2017-05-09 Tyk America, Inc. Degasser snorkel with serpentine flow path cooling
MX348038B (en) 2011-05-11 2017-05-24 Tyk America Inc Degasser snorkel with serpentine flow path cooling.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3521873A (en) * 1966-04-28 1970-07-28 Nippon Steel Corp Passing tube for vessel for vacuum-degassing molten steel
BE879518A (en) * 1979-10-19 1980-02-15 Desaar Rene PLUNGER TUBE FOR A VACUUM DEGASSING A STEEL BATH
JPH0629454B2 (en) * 1985-05-04 1994-04-20 新日本製鐵株式会社 Immersion tube cooling method
US5024421A (en) * 1990-05-08 1991-06-18 Usx Corporation Interlocking snorkel refractory
JP3665378B2 (en) * 1995-02-08 2005-06-29 新日本製鐵株式会社 Setting method of dip tube cooling condition
DE19511640C1 (en) * 1995-03-30 1996-05-23 Veitsch Radex Ag Trunk for a degassing vessel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007021207A1 (en) 2007-02-22
EP1957681A1 (en) 2008-08-20
PL376633A1 (en) 2007-02-19
PL204157B1 (en) 2009-12-31
WO2007021207A9 (en) 2007-06-28

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