Yield metal pouring system

• US 6,280,499 B1
• Filed: 06/19/1996
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koffron, Robert J.
• Original Assignee: Koffron, Robert J.
• Inventors: Koffron, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US08/665,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 266/236, 266/44, 266/90, 266/275, 266/45, 753/75
• US Class Current: 75/375
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 2005/468 Means for determining the weight of the converter
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/4673 Measuring and sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27B 3/065 tiltable
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 19/00 Arrangements of controlling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/1509 Tapping equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 3/159 for retaining slag during the pouring of the metal or retaining metal during the pouring of the slag

Abstract

Clean metal pour form a tilting, side-tapped furnace containing metal and slag is maximized by determining metal residuum remaining in the furnace from measuring the liquid metal poured into the receiving ladle and adjusting the furnace tilt angle to minimize vortex formation and minimize slag entrainment. Measurement of the necessary parameters avoids the use of operator judgment. In a preferred embodiment, adjustment of the tilt angle is computerized based on data received from appropriate sensing devices, avoiding both operator judgment as well as operator control.

Claims

1. A method of maximizing clean metal pour from a side-tapped tilting furnace during the last about 20% of metal pour, substantially avoiding operator judgment, comprising:

a) providing means for measuring the angle of tilt of said furnace while discharging liquid metal from said side tap into a ladle;

b) measuring the amount of metal contained in said furnace before said discharge into said ladle;

c) measuring the volume of metal discharged into said ladle;

d) determining the amount of metal residuum remaining in said furnace from said volume of metal discharged into said ladle;

e) adjusting said angle of tilt of said furnace to an optimal angle which provides for minimal slag entrainment in liquid metal pouring through said side tap, said optimal angle calculated as a function of the furnace geometry and historical data of furnace lining wear, for said amount of metal residuum.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the amount of metal residuum is calculated by a computer from said volume of metal contained in said furnace before said discharging and from said volume of metal discharged into said ladle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining of said volume of metal discharged to said ladle comprises the use of a sensing means which provides an output which is mathematically related to said volume of metal discharged.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting of said angle of tilt of said furnace is controlled by the output of a computer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring the height of slag within said furnace, and adjusting the angle of tilt of said furnace in response thereto to an optimal angle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising alerting an operator to said tilt angle measurement and at least one of said determinations (c) and (d), said operator adjusting said angle of tilt of said furnace in response to said determination(s).

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said computer calculates an optimal tilt angle based on an algorithm utilizing an equation of closest fit, said equation based on historical data from previous furnace runs, and having at least one independent variable and at least one dependent variable, said at least one independent variable corresponding to said amount of metal poured, said dependent variable corresponding to said optimal tilt angle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said equation contains a further independent variable, said further independent variable corresponding to the slag height in said furnace.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

f) introducing into said furnace a vortex inhibitor at a time determined from said amount of metal residuum.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said computer further determines the time at which a vortex inhibitor is introduced into said furnace.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein a vortex inhibitor is introduced into said furnace, the introduction of said vortex inhibitor controlled by the output of said computer.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein an operator is alerted to said time determined for introduction of said vortex inhibitor, and introduction of said vortex inhibitor is initiated by said operator.

13. An apparatus for the pouring of clean metal from a furnace containing metal and slag, comprising:

a) a side-tapped, tilting furnace;

b) tilt adjusting means for adjusting the tilt angle of said side-tapped tilting furnace;

c) tilt measuring means producing an output which is mathematically related to said tilt angle;

d) charge measuring means providing an output mathematically related to the charge of raw materials to said furnace;

e) a receiving vessel adapted to receive liquid metal from said side tap of said side-tapped tilting furnace;

f) metal pour measuring means providing an output mathematically related to the amount of metal received by said receiving vessel;

g) operator independent means for determining an optimal tilt angle for said side-tapped tilting furnace;

said optimal tilt angle providing for minimal slag entrainment in liquid metal pouring from said side tap, said optimal tilt angle calculated as a function of furnace geometry, and historical data of furnace lining wear for the metal residuum remaining in said furnace, said metal residuum calculated from the amount of metal initially contained in said furnace and the output of said metal pour measuring means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tilt measuring means, said charge measuring means, and said metal pour measuring means outputs comprise data components inputted to a computer, said computer calculating from said data an optimal tilt angle for said side-tapped tilting furnace.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said computer provides an output causing said tilt adjusting means to tilt said furnace to said optimal tilt angle.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tilt measuring means, said charge measuring means, and said metal pour measuring means each provide a visible output such that an operator may cause said tilt adjusting means to tilt said side-tapped tilting furnace to an optimal tilt angle determined by the outputs of said charge measuring means and said metal pour measuring means.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising slag height measuring means for measuring the height of slag in said side-tapped tilting furnace.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said slag height measuring means provides an output mathematically related to said slag height, said output comprises a further data component input to said computer, said computer utilizing said further data to calculate said optimal tilt angle.