Gas treatment of molten metals

• US 5,660,614 A
• Filed: 06/05/1995
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcan Incorporated (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Alcan Incorporated (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Inventors: Dumont, Robert, Lavoie, Serge Eugene, Dube, Ghyslain, Waite, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ANDREWS, MELVYN J
• Application Number:
  US08/462,011
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 75/680, 75/681, 75/708
• US Class Current: 75/680
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 7/072 Treatment with gases C21C7/06, C21C7/064, C21C7/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/064 using inert or reactive gases C22B21/066 and C22B21/068 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

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for treating molten metal to achieve effective removal of such unwanted inclusions as gases, alkali metals, entrained solids, and the like. The method comprises continuously introducing molten metal into a container forming a trough or trough section, such as the trough provided between a melting furnace and a casting machine, providing at least one mechanically movable gas dispenser submerged within the metal in the container and introducing a gas into the metal adjacent to the gas disperser in a part of the trough forming a treatment zone such that the gas is broken into smaller bubbles by the gas dispenser and dispersed through the treatment zone. The trough or trough section is such that it exhibits a static to dynamic metal holdup of less than 50%.

Claims

1. A method of treating a molten metal with a treatment gas, comprising:

continuously introducing the molten metal into a container having a bottom wall and opposed side walls which form a section of a trough;

providing at least one mechanically moveable gas disperser within the metal in the container;

introducing a gas into the metal adjacent to said gas disperser in a part of said trough forming a treatment zone such that said gas is broken into smaller bubbles by said gas disperser and is dispersed through the treatment zone;

said trough section being such that said section exhibits a static to dynamic metal holdup of less than about 50%.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said gas is introduced via a fixed gas dispenser having a gas outlet below said gas disperser.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said trough section exhibits a static to dynamic metal hold up of less than 35%.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said trough section exhibits zero static to dynamic metal holdup.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein additional treatment gas is introduced via said gas disperser.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the said treatment gas and said additional treatment gas consists of different compositions.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein one of said compositions includes a reactive gas.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the said reactive gas forms part of the said treatment gas.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the said reactive gas is chlorine.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the said treatment gas is entrained in the form of bubbles in said molten metal before said treatment gas and molten metal come in contact with said mechanically movable gas disperser.