OVERFLOW MOLTEN METAL TRANSFER PUMP WITH GAS AND FLUX INJECTION

• US 20160116216A1
• Filed: 05/14/2014
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Henderson, Richard S., Lutes, Lennard, Schlicht, David, Horsfall, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,415,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 1/005 Injection assemblies therefor features relating to gas injection, provided on closures of the sliding gate type B22D41/42; provided on pouring nozzles B22D41/58; provided on closures of the stopper-rod type B22D41/186
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 1/007 Treatment of the fused masses in the supply runners B22D1/002, B22D1/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/05 Refining by treating with gases, e.g. gas flushing also refining by means of a material generating gas in situ
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 9/103 Methods of introduction of solid or liquid refining or fluxing agents
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 7/065 for liquid metal
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 19/00 Arrangements of controlling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/0054 Means to move molten metal, e.g. electromagnetic pump
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/0083 Means for stirring the charge
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 21/0028 Devices for monitoring the level of the melt
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/08 Screw feeders; Screw dischargers
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/10 Charging directly from hoppers or shoots
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/14 Charging or discharging liquid or molten material
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/16 Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge porous elements for gas flushing of molten metals B22D1/005

Abstract

A method of fluxing or degassing a molten metal residing as a bath in a furnace. The bath of molten metal includes a bath surface height and the method provides at least one rotating impeller in the molten metal bath to initiate a flow of the molten metal. The flow in the molten metal results in elevating a portion of the molten metal above the bath surface height where at least one of a fluxing agent and an inert gas is introduced into the elevated portion of the molten metal.

Claims

1. A method for fluxing or degassing a molten metal residing as a bath in a furnace, said bath of molten metal having a bath surface height, the method comprises providing a means to elevate at least a portion of the molten metal above said bath surface height and introducing at least one of a fluxing agent and an inert gas to the elevated portion of the molten metal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises introducing a fluxing agent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said fluxing agent is comprised of magnesium and potassium chloride and flouride.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said elevated portion of the molten metal is confined within at least one of an elongated pumping chamber, a volute chamber, an elevation chamber, and a launder.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said elevated portion is in a launder.

6. An apparatus for introducing flux to molten metal residing as a bath in a furnace, said bath of molten metal having a bath surface height, the apparatus comprising at least one rotating impeller in the molten metal bath to initiate a flow of said molten metal, said flow of molten metal elevating a portion of the molten metal above said bath surface height, and a device introducing a fluxing agent to the elevated portion of the molten metal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said flux introduction device comprises a hopper, at least one feed mechanism, and at least one delivery conduit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said feed mechanism comprises one of a wheel and a screw conveyor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said feed mechanism comprises a dual screw conveyor.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a flux level sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, said controller monitoring at least one of molten metal flow, flux level, flux feed rate, and molten metal pump speed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said controller is programmed to discontinue flux introduction substantially simultaneously or prior to cessation of molten metal impeller rotation.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said elevated portion of the molten metal resides in a launder and wherein said controller is programmed to discontinue flux introduction substantially simultaneously or prior to cessation of molten metal flow through said launder.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said controller is programmed to initiate flux introduction after the initiation of the molten metal impeller rotation.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said delivery conduit comprises a first horizontal component in communication with the feed mechanism, an elbow in communication with the first horizontal component, and a second vertical component in communication with the elbow.

17. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said elevated portion of the molten metal is confined within at least one of an elongated pumping chamber, a volute chamber, an elevation chamber, and a launder.

18. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said device introducing flux includes a support member secured to a motor mount, said motor mount supporting a motor providing rotation of the impeller.

19. An apparatus for introducing gas to molten metal residing as a bath in a furnace, said bath of molten metal having a bath surface height, the apparatus comprising a means for elevating at least a portion of the molten metal above said bath surface height, and a device introducing a gas to the elevated portion of the molten metal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said elevated portion of the molten metal is confined within at least one of an elongated pumping chamber, a volute chamber, an elevation chamber, and a launder.