Inline degassing apparatus

• US 6,887,424 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2003
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pyrotek Japan Limited, Tounetsu Kabushikikaisha
• Original Assignee: Pyrotek Japan Limited, Tounetsu Kabushikikaisha
• Inventors: Ohno, Yoshikazu, Mochizuki, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): KASTLER, SCOTT R
• Application Number:
  US10/365,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 266/217, 756/80
• US Class Current: 266/217
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 21/066 Treatment of circulating aluminium, e.g. by filtration C22B21/068 takes 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: F27D 11/02 Ohmic resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/167 the fluid being a neutral gas
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2003/168 through a lance
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2019/0003 Monitoring the temperature or a characteristic of the charge and using it as a controlling value
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2027/002 Gas stirring
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/78 Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating

Abstract

An inline degassing apparatus for removing solid solution gases as well as nonmetallic inclusions from molten metal in a degassing container, to which the molten metal is continuously introduced for degassing operation and from which the degassed molten metal is continuously removed. A rotary diffusing device is arranged in the degassing container for generating bubbles of inert gas diffused into the molten metal, thereby entrapping solid solution gases as well as nonmetallic inclusions into the bubbles, which are then floated and separated. Heaters are provided, which extend, in a cantilever fashion, from a side wall of container at a position adjacent the bottom wall of the container substantially parallel to the bottom wall.

Claims

1. An inline degassing apparatus for a continuous flow of nonferrous molten metal, said apparatus comprising:

an inline degassing container having a side wall and a bottom wall for defining a chamber for storing therein nonferrous molten metal;

an inlet provided on one side of the container for receiving said continuous flow of the nonferrous molten metal into said container for a degassing treatment of the material in the container;

an outlet provided on the other side of the container for discharging the continuous degassed flow of the nonferrous molten material from the container;

a rotary gas diffusing device for inert gas provided in the container, the rotating movement of the rotary gas diffusing device generating bubbles of inert gas diffused into the nonferrous molten metal stored in the container for removing continuously solid solution gas or nonmetallic inclusions from the nonferrous molten material in the containers;

at least one heater extending from said side wall of said container at a location adjacent the bottom wall substantially parallel with respect to said bottom wall of the container, said at least one heater being configured to be substantially entirely located in the molten metal stored in said container; and

a plurality of baffle plates extending substantially vertically along an inner surface of said side wall of said degassing container, said at least one heater being located substantially under the gas diffusing device, which is surrounded by the baffle plates.

2. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of baffle plates are arranged so that the baffle plates surround the rotary diffusing device.

3. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one heater extends in a cantilever fashion from a first portion of the side wall toward a second portion of the side wall opposite the first portion, and said at least one heater has a free end spaced from the opposite inner wall of the side wall of the container at a distance greater than a predetermined value.

4. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said side wall of the container at said second portion is formed with an outwardly recessed portion for obtaining an increase in the volume of the container at a vertical location corresponding to a supported height of said heater to the side wall of the container.

5. An inline degassing apparatus for a continuous flow of nonferrous molten metal, said apparatus comprising:

an inline degassing container having a side wall and a bottom wall for defining a chamber for storing therein nonferrous molten metal;

an inlet provided on one side of the container for receiving said continuous flow of the nonferrous molten metal into said container for a degassing treatment of the material in the container;

an outlet provided on the other side of the container for discharging the continuous degassed flow of the nonferrous molten material from the container;

a rotary gas diffusing device for inert gas in the container, the rotating movement of the rotary gas diffusing device generating bubbles of inert gas diffused into the nonferrous molten metal stored in the container for removing continuously solid solution gas or nonmetallic inclusions from the nonferrous molten material in the containers;

at least one heater extending in a cantilever fashion from said side wall of said container, so that said at least one heater in the molten metal in the container is located under the rotary gas diffusing device; and

a plurality of baffle plates provided on said side wall and projecting from a surface of said side wall toward the rotary gas diffusing device.

6. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said baffle plates extend integrally and vertically along an inner surface of said side wall of the degassing container.

7. An inline degassing apparatus for a continuous flow of nonferrous molten metal, said apparatus comprising:

an inline degassing container having a side wall and a bottom wall for defining a chamber for storing therein nonferrous molten metal;

an inlet provided on one side of the container for receiving said continuous flow of the nonferrous molten metal into said container for a degassing treatment of the material in the container;

an outlet provided on the other side of the container for discharging the continuous degassed flow of the nonferrous molten material from the container;

a rotary gas diffusing device for inert gas provided in the container, the rotating movement of the rotary gas diffusing device generating bubbles of inert gas diffused into the nonferrous molten metal stored in the container for removing continuously solid solution gas or nonmetallic inclusions from the nonferrous molten material in the containers; and

at least one heater extending from said side wall of said container at a location adjacent the bottom wall substantially parallel with respect to said bottom wall of the container, said at least one heater being configured to be substantially entirely located in the molten metal stored in said container,

wherein said at least one heater extends in a cantilever fashion from a first portion of the side wall toward a second portion of the side wall opposite the first portion, and said at least one heater has a free end spaced from the opposite inner wall of the side wall of the container at a distance greater than a predetermined value, and

wherein said side wall of the container at said second portion is formed with an outwardly recessed portion for obtaining an increase in the volume of the container at a vertical location corresponding to a supported height of said heater to the side wall of the container.

8. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of baffle plates extending substantially vertically along an inner surface of said side wall of said degassing container.

9. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of baffle plates are arranged so that the baffle plates surround the rotary diffusing device.

10. An inline degassing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said at least one heater is located substantially under the gas diffusing device, which is surrounded by the baffle plates.