Furnace with deflecting surface and method of charging metal solids
AssigneeCookson Group PLC
InventorsAnil Katyal, Warwick N. Brown, Roger Howitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A furnace (1) has a main holding (2) and a charging well (4) into which molten metal from the holding portion is circulated by means of an electromagnetic pump (7). Metal enters the well as a tangential flow and a stationary turbulator (10) is located in the path of the flow so as to upwardly and transversely deflect the flow. Resulting turbulence within the well enhances the rate of assimilation of solids into the melt without resulting in excessive oxidation. The method is suitable for melting aluminium swarf.
Claims22
A method of charging metal solids into a body of molten metal in a furnace comprising the step of heating a body of molten metal in a holding portion of the furnace, transferring metal from the holding portion to a well annexed to the holding portion such that a flow of metal entes the well beneath the surface of metal in the well, feeding the metal solids into contact with the surface of molten metal in the well and returning molten metal from the well into the holding portion, the method including the step of creating turbulence in the flow within the well by means of a stationary turbulator located in the path of the flow and wherein the turbulator deflects the flow by means of at least a first deflecting surface which is upwardly inclined so as to impart to the flow at least a component of motion in an upward direction.
Apparatus for charging metal solids into a body of molten metal in a furnace comprising a well annexed to a holding portion of the furnace, heating means operable to heat molten metal in the holding portion, transferral means operable to transfer metal between the holding portion and the well such that in use a flow of metal enters the well beneath the surface of the metal in the well via an inlet conduit, means for feeding metal solids into contact with the surface of molten metal in the well and returning means for returning molten metal from the well to the holding portion, wherein the well further comprises a turbulator located in the path of the flow of molten metal in the well and wherein the turbulator comprises at least a first upwardly inclined deflecting surface arranged to impart to the flow at least an upward component of motion.
A method of charging metal solids into a body of molten metal comprising the step of circulating the molten metal within a charging well to create a vortical flow of molten metal, deflecting the flow upwardly towards a liquid surface of the molten metal by means of a stationary deflecting surface located in the path of the flow and feeding the metal solids into contact with the liquid surface.
A method of charging metal solids into a body of molten metal in a furnace comprising the step of heating a body of molten metal in a holding portion of the furnace, transferring metal from the holding portion to a wll annexed to the holding portion such that a flow of metal enters the well beneath the surface of metal in the well, feeding the metal solids into contact with the surface of molten metal in the well and returning molten metal from the well into the holding portion, the method including the step of creating turbulence in the flow within the well by means of a stationary turbulator located in the path of the flow, wherein the turbulator deflects the flow by means of a first deflecting surface which is upwardly inclined so as to impart to the flow at least a component of motion in an upward direction, and wherein the turbulator further deflects the flow by means of a second deflecting surface located downstream of the first deflecting surface with respect to the flow and which is more steeply inclined to the horizontal than the first deflecting surface.
Apparatus for charging metal solids into a body of molten metal in a furnace comprising a well annexed to a holding portion of the furnace, heating means operable to heat molten metal in the holding portion, transferral means operable to transfer metal between the holding portion and the well such that in use a flow of metal enters the well beneath the surface of the metal in the well via an inlet conduit, means for feeding metal solids into contact with the surface of molten metal in the well and returning means for returning molten metal from the well to the holding portion, further comprises a turbulator located in the path of the flow of molten metal in the well, wherein the turbulator comprises a first upwardly inclined deflecting surface arranged to impart to the flow at least an upward component of motion, and wherein the turbulator comprises a second deflecting surface located downstream of the first deflecting surface with respect to the flow and which is more steeply inclined to the horizontal than the first surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.