Method for dispersing gas into a molten metal

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for uniformly dispersing a gas into a molten metal bath by supplying gas to a rotatably mounted distributor located at a submerged zone beneath the bath surface while preventing physical contact between the gas and the molten metal; emitting the gas from the distributor in the form of a plurality of bubble jets into contact with the molten metal at said zone, said bubble jets exerting a reaction force on the distributor; and agitating the molten metal to effect uniform dispersion of the gas emitted therein by whirling the bubble jets in the molten metal, said whirling being accomplished by rotating the distributor in response to said reaction forces. The apparatus comprises a supply conduit connected at one end to a source of pressurized gas and connected at the other end to a rotatable hollow sleeve immersed in the molten metal. An array of apertures extend through the sleeve for discharging the gas into the molten metal in the form of numerous gas bubble jets and the apertures are arranged to discharge the gas bubble jets in mutually cooperative jetting directions to rotationally propel the sleeve about the supply conduit. The rotary movement of the sleeve causes the gas bubble jets to whirl about in the molten metal thereby agitating the molten metal to effect uniform dispersion of the gas within the molten metal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.