EP0230124A1 - Preventing undissolved alloying ingredient from entering continuous casting mold - Google Patents
Preventing undissolved alloying ingredient from entering continuous casting mold Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0230124A1 EP0230124A1 EP86309716A EP86309716A EP0230124A1 EP 0230124 A1 EP0230124 A1 EP 0230124A1 EP 86309716 A EP86309716 A EP 86309716A EP 86309716 A EP86309716 A EP 86309716A EP 0230124 A1 EP0230124 A1 EP 0230124A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- vessel
- outlet opening
- alloying ingredient
- molten steel
- molten
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
- B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
- B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
- B22D11/10—Supplying or treating molten metal
- B22D11/11—Treating the molten metal
- B22D11/116—Refining the metal
- B22D11/118—Refining the metal by circulating the metal under, over or around weirs
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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
- C21C7/04—Removing impurities by adding a treating agent
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to the continuous casting of molten steel and more particularly to preventing undissolved alloying ingredient denser than steel from entering the continuous casting mold.
- a stream of molten steel is poured from a ladle into an intermediate vessel known as a tundish having a bottom containing outlet openings through which molten steel flows into a continuous casting mold.
- Free machining steels contain lead and/or bismuth to improve the machinability of the steel. Typical contents for each are about 0.04-0.40 wt.% bismuth and 0.05-0.50 wt.% lead.
- Lead or bismuth may be added to the stream of molten steel entering the tundish.
- Lead and bismuth have a relatively low solubility in molten steel, compared to other alloying ingredients added to molten steel, and lead and bismuth are denser than molten steel. Because of these properties, substantial amounts of undissolved lead and bismuth tend to accumulate at the bottom of the tundish. If these accumulations of undissolved lead and bismuth are allowed to flow out through the outlet openings in the bottom of the tundish, they will do so as relatively large globules, and this will be manifest in the solidified steel as large, localized concentrations of lead or bismuth, which is undesirable.
- Lead and bismuth each have a lower melting point than steel.
- Molten lead or bismuth is less viscous than molten steel at the temperature prevailing in the tundish, and molten lead or bismuth has a lower surface tension than does molten steel.
- the present invention provides a method and structure for preventing undissolved molten lead or bismuth from flowing through the outlet openings in the tundish into the continuous casting mold.
- the present invention also provides a method and structure for withdrawing accumulations of undissolved lead or bismuth from the tundish without simultaneously removing the molten steel.
- Molten steel is conventionally introduced into the tundish at an entry location spaced linearly along the vessel bottom from each of the outlet openings, and the molten steel normally flows along the bottom of the tundish downstream from the entry location to an outlet opening.
- a method and structure in accordance with the present invention prevents molten metal from flowing along a continuous descending or horizontal path along the tundish bottom from the entry location to an outlet opening.
- the top of the outlet opening is raised above at least that part of the tundish or vessel bottom adjacent the outlet opening.
- the outlet opening is surrounded with an annular refractory dam located between the entry location and the outlet opening and extending upwardly from the vessel bottom.
- Another alternative is to slope at least part of the vessel bottom portion which is upstream of the outlet opening, upwardly to the outlet opening.
- a further alternative comprises interposing at least one non-annular refractory dam between the entry location and the outlet opening. This dam extends upwardly from the vessel bottom and is devoid of flow passageways to a height greater than the thickness of the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on the vessel bottom.
- Undissolved alloying ingredient can be prevented from accumulating at the upstream side of the dam by sloping the vessel bottom portion at the upstream side of the dam, upwardly to the dam.
- undissolved alloying ingredient can be prevented from accumulating around the outside of the annular dam by sloping the vessel bottom portion around the outside of the dam upwardly to the dam.
- the dams described in the preceding paragraph usually rest atop the surface of the tundish bottom, and sloping the vessel bottom upwardly to the dam, in the manner described above, prevents undissolved alloying ingredient from seeping or otherwise flowing underneath the dam to the downstream side thereof and into the outlet opening.
- Each of the expedients described above prevents undissolved alloying ingredient in the molten steel from entering an outlet opening and causes the undissolved alloying ingredient to accumulate on the vessel bottom at a location spaced from the outlet opening while dissolved alloying ingredients of the same and other compositions are allowed to enter the outlet opening.
- This alternative comprises flowing the molten metal along a serpentine path, e.g., downwardly, upwardly and then downwardly from the entry location to the outlet opening, thereby causing the undissolved lead or bismuth to settle out on the bottom of the tundish, at a location remote from the outlet opening, as the molten metal changes its direction of flow from downwardly to upwardly.
- This serpentine motion also increases the recovery of the alloying ingredient (Pb and/or Bi) by increasing the fraction thereof dissolved in the molten steel.
- the present invention prevents large accumulations of alloying ingredient on the vessel bottom by providing, at the bottom of the tundish, a sump located between the entry location and an outlet opening and having a floor which is lower than the top of the outlet opening.
- the relatively dense, undissolved molten alloying ingredient collects in the sump, as a result of the difference in density between it and the molten steel.
- the sump floor is preferably composed of a porous refractory material which is impervious to the molten steel but porous to the molten alloying ingredient at the temperature of the molten steel primarily because of the lower surface tension of the molten alloying ingredient (lead or bismuth) compared to the molten steel, and also, to a lesser extent, because of the lower melting point and lower viscosity of these alloying ingredients.
- molten alloying ingredient lead or bismuth
- Tundish 20 comprises a steel shell 21 having an interior refractory lining 22.
- Tundish 20 includes a bottom 25 having a plurality of outlet openings 26, 26 each communicating with an outlet conduit or spigot 27.
- a stream of molten metal from a ladle enters tundish 20 through a conduit 28 which directs the stream of molten metal toward an entry location 29 on or adjacent tundish bottom 25. Alloying ingredients, such as lead or bismuth, are typically introduced into the stream of molten metal flowing through conduit 28, for example. Entry location 29 is spaced linearly along the vessel bottom from each outlet opening 26. As the tundish fills, the entry location rises to the level of the bottom end 36 of conduit 28. A descending stream of molten metal flows through each outlet opening 26 and its respective spigot 27 into a continuous casting mold (not shown).
- the temperature of the molten steel in the tundish is typically 1520-1550°C (2770°-2820°F).
- the temperature of the molten steel in the ladle which feeds the tundish is typically 1570-1600°C (2860 0- 2910 0 F).
- Lead and bismuth have a relatively low solubility in molten steel, compared to other alloying ingredients added to molten steel. Because of their relatively low solubility in molten steel, there will be some undissolved lead and bismuth in the molten steel in the tundish, and because molten lead and bismuth have a higher density or specific gravity than molten steel (about 10-11 for bismuth and lead compared to 7 for steel) the lead and bismuth will accumulate at tundish bottom 25.
- a procedure for preventing large globules of the undissolved alloying ingredient from being carried into the descending stream of molten steel. More particularly, the molten metal in tundish 25 is prevented from following a continuous descending or horizontal path across tundish bottom 25 downstream from entry location 29 to the top of an outlet opening 26. This is accomplished by providing one or more of the expedients described below.
- Figs. 4-5 illustrate one expedient wherein an outlet opening 26 is surrounded by an annular refractory dam 31 located between entry location 29 and outlet opening 26.
- Dam 31 extends upwardly from vessel bottom 25.
- the dam may be located right at the edge of the outlet opening it surrounds, or it may be spaced up to a few centimeters away from the edge of the opening.
- FIG. 8 Another expedient is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the top 33 of outlet opening 26 is raised above that part 34 of vessel bottom 25 adjacent the outlet opening.
- vessel bottom 25 comprises an upwardly sloping part 35 between vessel bottom part 34 and top 33 of the outlet opening.
- Still another expedient is to slope at least part of the vessel bottom portion which is upstream of the outlet opening, upwardly to the outlet opening.
- a sloping vessel bottom part of this nature is illustrated in dash dot lines at 37 in Figs. 4 and 7 wherein the vessel bottom part 38 (Fig. 4) which is downstream of sloping bottom part 37 is elevated relative to the bottom parts upstream thereof.
- a non-annular refractory dam 39 is interposed between entry location 29 and an outlet opening 26. Dam 39 extends upwardly from vessel bottom 25.
- a layer of undissolvedt alloying ingredient accumulates on vessel bottom 25.
- this layer accumulates up to 6 mm. in thickness in one heat, at a location between entry location 29 and an outlet 26. The layer is thicker at entry location 29.
- the top 32 of annular dam 31 (Fig. 5), the top 33 of any raised outlet opening 26 (Fig. 8) and any passageway (not shown) in dam 39 should be higher than the thickness of the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on.vessel bottom 25.
- annular dam top 32 and raised outlet opening top 33 are located 30-50 mm. above vessel bottom 25, and the bottom of any passageway in dam 39 is located 30-100 mm. above vessel bottom 25.
- annular refractory dam 31 is devoid of flow passageways to a height greater than the thickness of the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on the vessel bottom.
- annular dam 31 and non-annular dam 39 are usually located atop vessel bottom 25 and are usually not embedded within refractory lining 22 (Figs. 5-6). Absent some restraint, undissolved alloying ingredient could accumulate around the outside of annular refractory dam 31 and at the upstream side of non-annular dam 39. Such accumulations of alloying ingredient could seep under annular dam 31 or non-annular dam 39 or through gaps at the bottom of each, both of which rest atop tundish bottom 25 rather than being embedded in refractory 22, as previously noted. Such seepage would be undesirable because undissolved alloying ingredient which got past a dam in this manner would be carried into the outlet opening, with all the undesirable consequences thereof.
- undissolved alloying ingredient is prevented from accumulating around the outside of annular refractory dam 31 by sloping the vessel bottom portion around the outside of dam 31, upwardly to the dam. This is illustrated in dash dot lines at 41 in Fig. 5.
- undissolved alloying ingredient is prevented from accumulating at the upstream side of non-annular dam 39 by sloping the vessel bottom portion at the upstream side of dam 39, upwardly to the dam. This is illustrated in dash dot lines at 42 in Fig. 6.
- Another expedient for preventing the molten metal from following a descending or horizontal path across the vessel bottom, between entry location 29 and an outlet opening 26, comprises directing the molten metal along a serpentine path including successive down and up portions between entry location 29 and outlet opening 26, to settle out the more dense, undissolved alloying ingredient from the molten metal at a location remote from the outlet opening, as the molten metal reverses flow from a downward to an upward direction.
- This expedient is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
- tundish 20 has a pair of sidewalls 44, 45. Extending between these side walls are a weir 47 and a dam 50.
- the level of molten metal in tundish 20 is controlled, and weir 47 has a top 48 normally located above the top surface 52 of the molten metal in the tundish.
- Weir 47 also has a bottom 49 spaced above tundish bottom 25.
- Dam 50 extends upwardly from tundish bottom 25 and terminates at a top 51 normally located below top surface 52 of the molten metal in the tundish.
- Weir 47 and dam 50 function to direct molten metal, entering the tundish through conduit 28, along a serpentine path including successive down and up portions between entry location 29 and outlet opening 26. More particularly, molten metal entering tundish 20 through conduit 28 at entry location 29 initially flows downwardly and underneath the bottom 49 of weir 47, then changes direction and flows upwardly between weir 47 and dam 50 until it reaches the top 51 of dam 50 over which it flows to the downstream side of dam 50, where outlet openings 26, 26 are located.
- the denser, undissolved alloying ingredient in the molten metal settles out from the molten metal as the molten metal reverses direction of flow from downward to upward adjacent weir bottom 49.
- the molten steel also contains non-metallic inclusions which are less dense than the molten steel, these inclusions will be urged toward top surface 52 of the molten metal, as the molten metal reverses direction of flow from upward to downward adjacent dam top 51, and the inclusions will accumulate on top surface 52, which is desirable.
- the type of serpentine motion provided by weir 47 and dam 50 may also be provided by a pair of dams 54, 56 spaced apart in a downstream direction (Figs. 1-2).
- the upstream dam of the two, dam 54 has a lower opening 55 while the downstream dam 56 has an upper opening 57.
- Molten metal exits conduit 28 in a downward direction flows through lower opening 55 in dam 54, then flows upwardly between dam 54 and dam 56, then flows through top opening 57 in dam 56 to the downstream side of dam 56, where outlet openings 26, 26 are located. Undissolved alloying ingredient settles out in the area between dams 54 and 56, the molten stream changing direction from downwardly to upwardly adjacent lower opening 55 in dam 54.
- the desired downward, upward and then downward motion can also be obtained by reversing the respective locations of weir 47 and dam 50 or of dams 54 and 56. In such a case, the undissolved alloying ingredient settles out between entry location 29 and the closest downstream dam.
- tundish 120 wherein the molten metal entering the tundish through entry conduit 28 is directed towards an entry location 129 in an appendage 130 of tundish 120.
- tundish 120 is provided with a weir 64 which functions like weir 47 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-2 and with dams 65, 65 which function like dam 50 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-2.
- Undissolved alloying ingredient which settles out from the molten metal as it follows its serpentine path accumulates in that part of tundish 120 located between dams 65, 65.
- a sump such as that shown at 60 in Fig. 7, would be located in this area. Sump 60 will be described in more detail below.
- a weir may be placed at the location of each dam 65 and a dam placed at the location of weir 64, to impart serpentine motion to the molten metal.
- the serpentine motion can be induced by other expedients such as gas bubblers, electromagnetic stirring, differential cooling, etc.
- the serpentine motion imparted by the various expedients described above, also increases the recovery of the alloying ingredient by increasing the fraction thereof which is dissolved in the molten steel.
- the tundish may include one or more of the expedients illustrated in Figs. 5-8, all of which perform the function of preventing the molten metal in the tundish from following a continuous descending or horizontal path across the vessel bottom downstream from entry location 29 to the top of an outlet opening 26. As a result, large globules of undissolved alloying ingredient are prevented from being carried through an outlet opening 26 into the strand of molten metal entering the continuous casting mold.
- tundish bottom 25 is provided with a sump 60 located between entry location 29 and an outlet opening 26.
- Sump 60 has a floor 61 which is lower than the top of any outlet opening 26. Undissolved molten alloying ingredient collects in sump 60, as a result of the difference in density between the molten alloying ingredient (e.g. lead or bismuth) and the molten steel.
- molten alloying ingredient e.g. lead or bismuth
- sump floor 61 is constructed from a porous refractory material which is impervious to molten steel but is porous to the molten alloying ingredient primarily because the molten alloying ingredient (lead and/or bismuth) has a lower surface tension than the molten steel. Also contributing to this effect are the fact that the lead and/or bismuth have a lower melting point than the molten steel and, to a lesser extent, the fact that the molten alloying ingredient is less viscous than the molten steel at the temperature of the molten steel.
- the undissolved molten alloying ingredient which accumulates in sump 60 drains from the sump through porous floor 61 while the molten steel will not drain therethrough.
- Communicating with the bottom of floor 61 is the upper end of a drain conduit 62.
- Molten alloying ingredient draining from sump 60 enters conduit 62 which conducts it away from tundish 20.
- sump 60 is shown as extending between tundish sidewalls 44, 45 at a location between entry location 29 and outlet openings 26, 26.
- An alternative would be an annular sump surrounding each outlet opening 26.
- a further alternative would be a circular sump located between entry location 29 and an outlet opening 26 with that part of vessel bottom 25 surrounding the circular sump sloping downwardly toward the sump for a substantial distance.
- porous refractory material from which sump floor 61 may be composed are set forth below.
- sump 60 may be positioned adjacent the upstream, lower end of sloping floor portion 37, the downstream upper end of which is located adjacent an outlet opening 26. Thus any undissolved alloying ingredient which may settle out on sloping floor portion 37 will be directed downwardly into sump 60.
- sump has a porous floor.
- lead and/or bismuth accumulating therein would remain after the tundish has been emptied of molten steel, and the lead and/or bismuth would solidify into a skull which would be mechanically removed from the tundish before the next cast.
- molten steel with which the present invention may be employed comprise any steel to which lead and bismuth have heretofore been added to improve machinability.
- the present invention is applicable to steels containing other alloying ingredients having at least some of the above-described properties of lead and bismuth.
- These properties comprise, at the very least, an insolubility in molten steel sufficient to provide substantial amounts of undissolved alloying ingredient in the molten steel in the tundish and a density greater than molten steel.
- Other properties comprise a surface tension less than molten steel, a melting point less than steel, and a viscosity less than that of the molten steel at the temperature of the molten steel in the tundish.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to the continuous casting of molten steel and more particularly to preventing undissolved alloying ingredient denser than steel from entering the continuous casting mold.
- In the continuous casting of molten steel, a stream of molten steel is poured from a ladle into an intermediate vessel known as a tundish having a bottom containing outlet openings through which molten steel flows into a continuous casting mold. Free machining steels contain lead and/or bismuth to improve the machinability of the steel. Typical contents for each are about 0.04-0.40 wt.% bismuth and 0.05-0.50 wt.% lead.
- Lead or bismuth may be added to the stream of molten steel entering the tundish. Lead and bismuth have a relatively low solubility in molten steel, compared to other alloying ingredients added to molten steel, and lead and bismuth are denser than molten steel. Because of these properties, substantial amounts of undissolved lead and bismuth tend to accumulate at the bottom of the tundish. If these accumulations of undissolved lead and bismuth are allowed to flow out through the outlet openings in the bottom of the tundish, they will do so as relatively large globules, and this will be manifest in the solidified steel as large, localized concentrations of lead or bismuth, which is undesirable.
- Lead and bismuth each have a lower melting point than steel. Molten lead or bismuth is less viscous than molten steel at the temperature prevailing in the tundish, and molten lead or bismuth has a lower surface tension than does molten steel.
- The present invention provides a method and structure for preventing undissolved molten lead or bismuth from flowing through the outlet openings in the tundish into the continuous casting mold. The present invention also provides a method and structure for withdrawing accumulations of undissolved lead or bismuth from the tundish without simultaneously removing the molten steel.
- Molten steel is conventionally introduced into the tundish at an entry location spaced linearly along the vessel bottom from each of the outlet openings, and the molten steel normally flows along the bottom of the tundish downstream from the entry location to an outlet opening. A method and structure in accordance with the present invention prevents molten metal from flowing along a continuous descending or horizontal path along the tundish bottom from the entry location to an outlet opening.
- This is accomplished by the invention as claimed which employs one or more of the following expedients.
- The top of the outlet opening is raised above at least that part of the tundish or vessel bottom adjacent the outlet opening. Alternatively, the outlet opening is surrounded with an annular refractory dam located between the entry location and the outlet opening and extending upwardly from the vessel bottom. Another alternative is to slope at least part of the vessel bottom portion which is upstream of the outlet opening, upwardly to the outlet opening. A further alternative comprises interposing at least one non-annular refractory dam between the entry location and the outlet opening. This dam extends upwardly from the vessel bottom and is devoid of flow passageways to a height greater than the thickness of the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on the vessel bottom. Undissolved alloying ingredient can be prevented from accumulating at the upstream side of the dam by sloping the vessel bottom portion at the upstream side of the dam, upwardly to the dam. In the case of the annular refractory dam surrounding the outlet opening, undissolved alloying ingredient can be prevented from accumulating around the outside of the annular dam by sloping the vessel bottom portion around the outside of the dam upwardly to the dam.
- The dams described in the preceding paragraph usually rest atop the surface of the tundish bottom, and sloping the vessel bottom upwardly to the dam, in the manner described above, prevents undissolved alloying ingredient from seeping or otherwise flowing underneath the dam to the downstream side thereof and into the outlet opening.
- Each of the expedients described above prevents undissolved alloying ingredient in the molten steel from entering an outlet opening and causes the undissolved alloying ingredient to accumulate on the vessel bottom at a location spaced from the outlet opening while dissolved alloying ingredients of the same and other compositions are allowed to enter the outlet opening.
- There is another expedient for preventing the molten metal from following a continuous descending or horizontal path from the entry location to the outlet opening. This alternative comprises flowing the molten metal along a serpentine path, e.g., downwardly, upwardly and then downwardly from the entry location to the outlet opening, thereby causing the undissolved lead or bismuth to settle out on the bottom of the tundish, at a location remote from the outlet opening, as the molten metal changes its direction of flow from downwardly to upwardly. This serpentine motion also increases the recovery of the alloying ingredient (Pb and/or Bi) by increasing the fraction thereof dissolved in the molten steel.
- It is undesirable to allow large quantities of undissolved alloying ingredient to accumulate at the bottom of the tundish. Among other reasons, the likelihood of large globules of undissolved alloying ingredient flowing through the outlet opening is increased with an increase in accumulations of undissolved alloying ingredient at the vessel bottom.
- The present invention prevents large accumulations of alloying ingredient on the vessel bottom by providing, at the bottom of the tundish, a sump located between the entry location and an outlet opening and having a floor which is lower than the top of the outlet opening. The relatively dense, undissolved molten alloying ingredient collects in the sump, as a result of the difference in density between it and the molten steel. The sump floor is preferably composed of a porous refractory material which is impervious to the molten steel but porous to the molten alloying ingredient at the temperature of the molten steel primarily because of the lower surface tension of the molten alloying ingredient (lead or bismuth) compared to the molten steel, and also, to a lesser extent, because of the lower melting point and lower viscosity of these alloying ingredients. As a result of these properties, the undissolved molten alloying ingredient is drained from the sump through the porous floor material without draining the molten steel therethrough.
- Other features and advantages are inherent in the structure and methods claimed and disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
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- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a tundish in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along
line 2--2 in Fig. 1; - Fig. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of a tundish in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 4 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a tundish in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view'of a portion of one tundish in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a portion of another tundish in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a portion of a further tundish in accordance with the present invention; and
- Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of a portion of still another tundish in accordance the present invention.
- Referring initially to Figs. 1 and 2, indicated generally at 20 is an embodiment of a tundish constructed in accordance with the present invention. Tundish 20 comprises a
steel shell 21 having an interiorrefractory lining 22. - Tundish 20 includes a
bottom 25 having a plurality ofoutlet openings spigot 27. A stream of molten metal from a ladle (not shown) enters tundish 20 through aconduit 28 which directs the stream of molten metal toward anentry location 29 on or adjacenttundish bottom 25. Alloying ingredients, such as lead or bismuth, are typically introduced into the stream of molten metal flowing throughconduit 28, for example.Entry location 29 is spaced linearly along the vessel bottom from each outlet opening 26. As the tundish fills, the entry location rises to the level of thebottom end 36 ofconduit 28. A descending stream of molten metal flows through each outlet opening 26 and itsrespective spigot 27 into a continuous casting mold (not shown). - The temperature of the molten steel in the tundish is typically 1520-1550°C (2770°-2820°F). The temperature of the molten steel in the ladle which feeds the tundish is typically 1570-1600°C (28600-29100F).
- Lead and bismuth have a relatively low solubility in molten steel, compared to other alloying ingredients added to molten steel. Because of their relatively low solubility in molten steel, there will be some undissolved lead and bismuth in the molten steel in the tundish, and because molten lead and bismuth have a higher density or specific gravity than molten steel (about 10-11 for bismuth and lead compared to 7 for steel) the lead and bismuth will accumulate at
tundish bottom 25. Absent some restraint, the normal flow of molten metal along the tundish bottom will carry large globules of undissolved alloying ingredient (lead and/or bismuth) into the descending stream of molten steel which flows throughoutlet openings tubes - In accordance with the present invention, a procedure is provided for preventing large globules of the undissolved alloying ingredient from being carried into the descending stream of molten steel. More particularly, the molten metal in tundish 25 is prevented from following a continuous descending or horizontal path across
tundish bottom 25 downstream fromentry location 29 to the top of an outlet opening 26. This is accomplished by providing one or more of the expedients described below. - Figs. 4-5 illustrate one expedient wherein an
outlet opening 26 is surrounded by an annularrefractory dam 31 located betweenentry location 29 andoutlet opening 26.Dam 31 extends upwardly fromvessel bottom 25. The dam may be located right at the edge of the outlet opening it surrounds, or it may be spaced up to a few centimeters away from the edge of the opening. - Another expedient is illustrated in Fig. 8 wherein the top 33 of outlet opening 26 is raised above that
part 34 of vessel bottom 25 adjacent the outlet opening. In this embodiment, vessel bottom 25 comprises an upwardlysloping part 35 between vesselbottom part 34 and top 33 of the outlet opening. - Still another expedient is to slope at least part of the vessel bottom portion which is upstream of the outlet opening, upwardly to the outlet opening. A sloping vessel bottom part of this nature is illustrated in dash dot lines at 37 in Figs. 4 and 7 wherein the vessel bottom part 38 (Fig. 4) which is downstream of sloping
bottom part 37 is elevated relative to the bottom parts upstream thereof. - Still another expedient is illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein a non-annular
refractory dam 39 is interposed betweenentry location 29 and anoutlet opening 26.Dam 39 extends upwardly fromvessel bottom 25. - As noted above, a layer of undissolvedt alloying ingredient accumulates on
vessel bottom 25. Typically, this layer accumulates up to 6 mm. in thickness in one heat, at a location betweenentry location 29 and anoutlet 26. The layer is thicker atentry location 29. The top 32 of annular dam 31 (Fig. 5), the top 33 of any raised outlet opening 26 (Fig. 8) and any passageway (not shown) indam 39 should be higher than the thickness of the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on.vessel bottom 25. Typically,annular dam top 32 and raisedoutlet opening top 33 are located 30-50 mm. above vessel bottom 25, and the bottom of any passageway indam 39 is located 30-100 mm. abovevessel bottom 25. - In addition to having a top 32 located above the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on vessel bottom 25, annular
refractory dam 31 is devoid of flow passageways to a height greater than the thickness of the layer of undissolved alloying ingredient which accumulates on the vessel bottom. - As a result of the expedients illustrated in Figs. 5-8, undissolved alloying ingredient is restrained from entering an
outlet opening 26 and accumulates on vessel bottom 25 at a location spaced from the outlet opening while dissolved alloying ingredient of the same composition is allowed to enter the outlet opening. - Because of factors characteristic to a continuous casting operation,
annular dam 31 andnon-annular dam 39 are usually located atop vessel bottom 25 and are usually not embedded within refractory lining 22 (Figs. 5-6). Absent some restraint, undissolved alloying ingredient could accumulate around the outside of annularrefractory dam 31 and at the upstream side ofnon-annular dam 39. Such accumulations of alloying ingredient could seep underannular dam 31 ornon-annular dam 39 or through gaps at the bottom of each, both of which rest atop tundish bottom 25 rather than being embedded in refractory 22, as previously noted. Such seepage would be undesirable because undissolved alloying ingredient which got past a dam in this manner would be carried into the outlet opening, with all the undesirable consequences thereof. - In accordance with the present invention, undissolved alloying ingredient is prevented from accumulating around the outside of annular
refractory dam 31 by sloping the vessel bottom portion around the outside ofdam 31, upwardly to the dam. This is illustrated in dash dot lines at 41 in Fig. 5. Similarly, undissolved alloying ingredient is prevented from accumulating at the upstream side ofnon-annular dam 39 by sloping the vessel bottom portion at the upstream side ofdam 39, upwardly to the dam. This is illustrated in dash dot lines at 42 in Fig. 6. - Another expedient for preventing the molten metal from following a descending or horizontal path across the vessel bottom, between
entry location 29 and anoutlet opening 26, comprises directing the molten metal along a serpentine path including successive down and up portions betweenentry location 29 andoutlet opening 26, to settle out the more dense, undissolved alloying ingredient from the molten metal at a location remote from the outlet opening, as the molten metal reverses flow from a downward to an upward direction. This expedient is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. - More particularly,
tundish 20 has a pair ofsidewalls dam 50. The level of molten metal intundish 20 is controlled, and weir 47 has a top 48 normally located above thetop surface 52 of the molten metal in the tundish. Weir 47 also has a bottom 49 spaced above tundish bottom 25.Dam 50 extends upwardly from tundish bottom 25 and terminates at a top 51 normally located belowtop surface 52 of the molten metal in the tundish. - Weir 47 and
dam 50 function to direct molten metal, entering the tundish throughconduit 28, along a serpentine path including successive down and up portions betweenentry location 29 andoutlet opening 26. More particularly, moltenmetal entering tundish 20 throughconduit 28 atentry location 29 initially flows downwardly and underneath the bottom 49 of weir 47, then changes direction and flows upwardly between weir 47 anddam 50 until it reaches the top 51 ofdam 50 over which it flows to the downstream side ofdam 50, whereoutlet openings - As the molten metal follows the path described in the preceding paragraph, the denser, undissolved alloying ingredient in the molten metal settles out from the molten metal as the molten metal reverses direction of flow from downward to upward
adjacent weir bottom 49. Conversely, if the molten steel also contains non-metallic inclusions which are less dense than the molten steel, these inclusions will be urged towardtop surface 52 of the molten metal, as the molten metal reverses direction of flow from upward to downwardadjacent dam top 51, and the inclusions will accumulate ontop surface 52, which is desirable. - The type of serpentine motion provided by weir 47 and
dam 50 may also be provided by a pair ofdams dam 54, has alower opening 55 while thedownstream dam 56 has anupper opening 57. Molten metal exitsconduit 28 in a downward direction, flows throughlower opening 55 indam 54, then flows upwardly betweendam 54 anddam 56, then flows throughtop opening 57 indam 56 to the downstream side ofdam 56, whereoutlet openings dams lower opening 55 indam 54. - The desired downward, upward and then downward motion can also be obtained by reversing the respective locations of weir 47 and
dam 50 or ofdams entry location 29 and the closest downstream dam. - Referring now to Fig. 3, there is illustrated an embodiment of a tundish indicated generally at 120 wherein the molten metal entering the tundish through
entry conduit 28 is directed towards anentry location 129 in anappendage 130 oftundish 120. To provide the desired serpentine motion for the molten metal as it moves fromentry location 129 tooutlet openings tundish 120 is provided with aweir 64 which functions like weir 47 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-2 and withdams dam 50 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-2. Undissolved alloying ingredient which settles out from the molten metal as it follows its serpentine path accumulates in that part oftundish 120 located betweendams Sump 60 will be described in more detail below. As an alternative, a weir may be placed at the location of eachdam 65 and a dam placed at the location ofweir 64, to impart serpentine motion to the molten metal. - In addition to producing the serpentine motion with weirs and dams as shown in Figs. 1-3, the serpentine motion can be induced by other expedients such as gas bubblers, electromagnetic stirring, differential cooling, etc.
- The serpentine motion, imparted by the various expedients described above, also increases the recovery of the alloying ingredient by increasing the fraction thereof which is dissolved in the molten steel.
- In addition to the expedients illustrated in Figs. 1-3, the tundish may include one or more of the expedients illustrated in Figs. 5-8, all of which perform the function of preventing the molten metal in the tundish from following a continuous descending or horizontal path across the vessel bottom downstream from
entry location 29 to the top of anoutlet opening 26. As a result, large globules of undissolved alloying ingredient are prevented from being carried through anoutlet opening 26 into the strand of molten metal entering the continuous casting mold. - Another procedure for preventing large globules of undissolved alloying ingredient from being carried into the stream of molten metal entering the casting mold is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7.
- More particularly,
tundish bottom 25 is provided with asump 60 located betweenentry location 29 and anoutlet opening 26.Sump 60 has afloor 61 which is lower than the top of anyoutlet opening 26. Undissolved molten alloying ingredient collects insump 60, as a result of the difference in density between the molten alloying ingredient (e.g. lead or bismuth) and the molten steel. - In a prefered embodiment,
sump floor 61 is constructed from a porous refractory material which is impervious to molten steel but is porous to the molten alloying ingredient primarily because the molten alloying ingredient (lead and/or bismuth) has a lower surface tension than the molten steel. Also contributing to this effect are the fact that the lead and/or bismuth have a lower melting point than the molten steel and, to a lesser extent, the fact that the molten alloying ingredient is less viscous than the molten steel at the temperature of the molten steel. As a result of the factors described above, the undissolved molten alloying ingredient which accumulates insump 60 drains from the sump throughporous floor 61 while the molten steel will not drain therethrough. Communicating with the bottom offloor 61 is the upper end of adrain conduit 62. Molten alloying ingredient draining fromsump 60 entersconduit 62 which conducts it away fromtundish 20. - In Fig. 4,
sump 60 is shown as extending between tundish sidewalls 44, 45 at a location betweenentry location 29 andoutlet openings outlet opening 26. A further alternative would be a circular sump located betweenentry location 29 and anoutlet opening 26 with that part of vessel bottom 25 surrounding the circular sump sloping downwardly toward the sump for a substantial distance. - Examples of porous refractory material from which
sump floor 61 may be composed are set forth below. -
-
-
-
- As shown in Figs. 4 and 7,
sump 60 may be positioned adjacent the upstream, lower end of slopingfloor portion 37, the downstream upper end of which is located adjacent anoutlet opening 26. Thus any undissolved alloying ingredient which may settle out on slopingfloor portion 37 will be directed downwardly intosump 60. - As noted above, the preferred embodiment of sump has a porous floor. In a sump without a porous floor, lead and/or bismuth accumulating therein would remain after the tundish has been emptied of molten steel, and the lead and/or bismuth would solidify into a skull which would be mechanically removed from the tundish before the next cast.
- Examples of molten steel with which the present invention may be employed comprise any steel to which lead and bismuth have heretofore been added to improve machinability.
- In addition to steels containing lead and/or bismuth, the present invention is applicable to steels containing other alloying ingredients having at least some of the above-described properties of lead and bismuth. These properties comprise, at the very least, an insolubility in molten steel sufficient to provide substantial amounts of undissolved alloying ingredient in the molten steel in the tundish and a density greater than molten steel. Other properties comprise a surface tension less than molten steel, a melting point less than steel, and a viscosity less than that of the molten steel at the temperature of the molten steel in the tundish.
- The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
- The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a metal or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.
Claims (28)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US80857085A | 1985-12-13 | 1985-12-13 | |
US808570 | 1997-02-28 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0230124A1 true EP0230124A1 (en) | 1987-07-29 |
EP0230124B1 EP0230124B1 (en) | 1991-04-17 |
Family
ID=25199136
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP86309716A Expired - Lifetime EP0230124B1 (en) | 1985-12-13 | 1986-12-12 | Preventing undissolved alloying ingredient from entering continuous casting mold |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0230124B1 (en) |
AU (2) | AU584851B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR8606159A (en) |
CA (1) | CA1267766A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3678817D1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2021599B3 (en) |
IN (1) | IN169103B (en) |
MX (1) | MX170152B (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA869345B (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN110891710A (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2020-03-17 | 株式会社Posco | Molten material processing apparatus |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4828014A (en) * | 1985-12-13 | 1989-05-09 | Inland Steel Company | Continuous casting tundish and assembly |
US4711429A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1987-12-08 | Usx Corporation | Tundish for mixing alloying elements with molten metal |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3671224A (en) * | 1970-08-17 | 1972-06-20 | Republic Steel Corp | Methods of producing leaded steel |
FR2314789A1 (en) * | 1975-06-17 | 1977-01-14 | Foseco Trading Ag | Tundish suitable for continuous casting of steel - contg consumable sills which reduce splashing and skull formation |
DE2555286A1 (en) * | 1975-12-09 | 1977-06-23 | Kloeckner Werke Ag | Continuous casting tundish - lined with ribbed porous insulating plates for better refining action |
EP0124667A2 (en) * | 1983-05-03 | 1984-11-14 | Aikoh Co. Ltd. | A tundish for steel casting |
GB2159077A (en) * | 1984-05-23 | 1985-11-27 | Stopinc Ag | Discharge device for intermediate vessels in continuous casting installations |
DE3425081A1 (en) * | 1984-07-07 | 1986-01-16 | Krupp Stahl Ag, 4630 Bochum | Launder for multi-strand continuous casting installations for metal |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2316757C3 (en) * | 1973-04-04 | 1978-08-03 | Thermo-Industrie Gmbh & Co Kg, 3300 Braunschweig | Ladle for steel |
US4125146A (en) * | 1973-08-07 | 1978-11-14 | Ernst Muller | Continuous casting processes and apparatus |
JPS58154446A (en) * | 1982-03-06 | 1983-09-13 | Daido Steel Co Ltd | Continuous casting method of steel and vessel for molten metal for said method |
JPS5992151A (en) * | 1982-11-18 | 1984-05-28 | Sumitomo Metal Ind Ltd | Production of free-cutting lead steel by continuous casting method |
US4711429A (en) * | 1986-08-29 | 1987-12-08 | Usx Corporation | Tundish for mixing alloying elements with molten metal |
-
1986
- 1986-09-05 CA CA000517578A patent/CA1267766A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-12-02 IN IN935/MAS/86A patent/IN169103B/en unknown
- 1986-12-03 AU AU66069/86A patent/AU584851B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1986-12-08 MX MX004581A patent/MX170152B/en unknown
- 1986-12-11 BR BR8606159A patent/BR8606159A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1986-12-11 ZA ZA869345A patent/ZA869345B/en unknown
- 1986-12-12 EP EP86309716A patent/EP0230124B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-12-12 ES ES86309716T patent/ES2021599B3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1986-12-12 DE DE8686309716T patent/DE3678817D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1989
- 1989-04-19 AU AU33196/89A patent/AU599536B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3671224A (en) * | 1970-08-17 | 1972-06-20 | Republic Steel Corp | Methods of producing leaded steel |
FR2314789A1 (en) * | 1975-06-17 | 1977-01-14 | Foseco Trading Ag | Tundish suitable for continuous casting of steel - contg consumable sills which reduce splashing and skull formation |
DE2555286A1 (en) * | 1975-12-09 | 1977-06-23 | Kloeckner Werke Ag | Continuous casting tundish - lined with ribbed porous insulating plates for better refining action |
EP0124667A2 (en) * | 1983-05-03 | 1984-11-14 | Aikoh Co. Ltd. | A tundish for steel casting |
GB2159077A (en) * | 1984-05-23 | 1985-11-27 | Stopinc Ag | Discharge device for intermediate vessels in continuous casting installations |
DE3425081A1 (en) * | 1984-07-07 | 1986-01-16 | Krupp Stahl Ag, 4630 Bochum | Launder for multi-strand continuous casting installations for metal |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN110891710A (en) * | 2017-07-14 | 2020-03-17 | 株式会社Posco | Molten material processing apparatus |
US11203059B2 (en) | 2017-07-14 | 2021-12-21 | Posco | Molten material treatment apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
IN169103B (en) | 1991-09-07 |
ZA869345B (en) | 1987-09-30 |
AU3319689A (en) | 1989-06-29 |
AU6606986A (en) | 1987-06-18 |
EP0230124B1 (en) | 1991-04-17 |
CA1267766A (en) | 1990-04-17 |
AU599536B2 (en) | 1990-07-19 |
BR8606159A (en) | 1987-09-22 |
AU584851B2 (en) | 1989-06-01 |
DE3678817D1 (en) | 1991-05-23 |
ES2021599B3 (en) | 1991-11-16 |
MX170152B (en) | 1993-08-10 |
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