A submerged nozzle for steel casting

Abstract: A submerged nozzle for use in steel casting includes a nozzle body (1), a nozzle passage formed through the nozzle body (1) so as to extend from an upper end of the nozzle body (1) to a lower portion of the nozzle body (1) in its longitudinal direction, a plurality of discharge ports (2) formed in the lower portion of the nozzle body (1) so as to face outwardly, and a projecting part (4) provided around the nozzle body (1) at an upper end of the discharge ports (2) and having a slanting surface (4a) which is located from the upper end of the discharge ports (2) and inclined upwardly in a positive direction. The discharge ports (2) are connected to the nozzle passage. The projecting part (4) has a thickness (A) ranging from 5 mm to 50 mm, a height (B) ranging from 10 mm to 200 mm, a slanting angle (C) ranging from 5 degrees to 60 degrees.

Description: The invention relates to a nozzle submersible into molten metal during steel casting, comprising a nozzle body, a nozzle passage formed through the nozzle body so as to extend from an upper end of the nozzle body to a lower portion of the nozzle body in its longitudinal direction, and further comprising a plurality of discharge ports formed in the lower portion of the nozzle body so as to face outwardly, the discharge ports being connected to the nozzle passage, wherein a projecting part is provided at an upper end of the discharge ports and having a first slanting surface which is located from the upper end of the discharge ports and inclined upwardly in a positive direction, said projecting part is provided around the nozzle body. A nozzle of this kind is known from document EP-A 0 254 909. The nozzle described within this document serves for steel casting. The molten metal having no additives like gas, flows via the nozzle passage downwardly and is discharged via the discharge ports. The projecting part provided at an upper end of the discharge ports serve as a splash guard to avoid splashes of molten metals coming into contact with areas of the cooled walls of the mold into which the molten metal is discharged. In a conventional steel casting apparatus which uses a submerged nozzle, argon gas is blown into molten steel which is moving down through the submerged nozzle in order to avoid the adherence of steel debris onto an inner surface of the nozzle and the generation of blocking thereof. The argon gas moves along the molten steel flow in and out of the submerged nozzle and then floats to the surface of a molten steel in a mold where a mold powder layer exists. On this occasion, the gas moves from the molten steel having a larger specific weight to the mold powder layer having a smaller specific weight. At the boundary surface, the volume of the argon gas suddenly expands and bursts. The gas bursting accompanied by the drastic change in volume of the gas agitates the mold powder layer so that the molten steel damage the nozzle powder line section of the nozzle. The damage of the nozzle is marked especially when argon gas bubbles move up to the surface of the molten steel near the powder line section of the submerged nozzle. By taking into consideration the foregoing, an attempt was made to improve a submerged nozzle by increasing a thickness of the powder line section of the nozzle so as to prolong the service life of the powder line section as compared with a prior art submerged nozzle which has a straight type of powder line section. However, the speed of damage, which can be expressed as a thickness of a damaged portion per unit time, does not substantially change. In addition, in case of the straight powder line section type submerged nozzle, the gas bubbles move up directly from the discharge port and floats near the nozzle, which makes it possible to attain only the advantageous effect which can be afforded by the increase in thickness and nothing more. Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-89648 discloses a prior art submerged nozzle provided with a projecting part having a slanting surface of a negative angle at an upper end portion of a discharge port. The submerged nozzle is provided between a tundish or ladle (not shown) and a mold 9. A lower end portion of the submerged nozzle 1 is immerged in a molten steel 10 in the mold 9. A nozzle passage 1a is formed in the nozzle 1 and connected with two or more discharge ports 2 so as to guide a molten steel into the mold 9 in the direction designated by the arrows. A projecting part 4' is formed at an upper end of each discharge port 2 for guiding both the molten steel 5 and the argon gas bubbles 3. The projecting part 4' has a slanting surface having a negative angle to a horizontal line so that the slanting surface is inclined downwardly. The slanting surface of the projecting part 4' and a slanting surface of the discharge ports constitute a common surface which is inclined downwardly in a negative direction. However, it is merely effective to keep the floating position of the gas bubbles far from the powder line section. The gas bubbles ejected from the discharge port collide directly against the slanting surface of the projecting part. Resultant from this, the damage of the projecting part becomes a more serious problem. Therefore, it cannot be avoided to reduce the life time of the projecting part. In a steel casting apparatus which uses a submerged nozzle, recently, the demand for multiple continuous casting and multiple duration service has been accelerated in order to obtain operating advantages and reduce production cost. In general, as the powder line section is subject to the most critical problem in terms of service life, a ZrO 2 -C material having an excellent anti-corrosion is used for the powder line section of the submerged nozzle. In case of the submerged nozzle having a straight powder line section, the powder line section must be further improved since it is subject to greater damages in comparison with the other nozzle sections. In case of a submerged nozzle having a projecting part with a slanting surface at an upper end of a discharge port, the projecting part faces the gas bubble flow substantially at a right angle, which produces unavoidable phenomena such as damages by the molten steel at the projecting part. In addition, the flow of air bubbles are changed into turbulent flow after the collision of the gas bubble flow against the projecting part of the nozzle and the increase of the agitation effects. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a submerged nozzle for use in steel casting in which damage by molten steel can be reduced so as to prolong service time and gas bubbles can be easily controlled so as to float at a position or positions sufficiently distant from a powder line section of the nozzle. This object is achieved by a nozzle comprising the features of claim 1. Preferably, the projecting part has a thickness ranging from 5 millimeters to 50 millimeters, the thickness being a size from an outer surface of the nozzle body up to an outer top of the projecting part. Preferably, the projecting part has a slanting angle ranging from 5 degrees to 60 degrees, the slanting angle being an angle between an imaginary horizontal plane and the first slanting surface. Preferably, the projecting part has a height ranging from 10 millimeters to 200 millimeters, the height being a size from the upper end of the discharge port to the upper end of the outer top of the projecting part. According to a preferred embodiment the first slanting surface is a taper-shaped surface. It is further preferred that the projecting part is integral with the nozzle body. According to a further embodiment the projecting part is a ring-shaped projecting part separate from the nozzle body and wherein the projecting part is fixed to the nozzle body. According to a further embodiment of the invention, an angle formed between the second slanting surface of the discharge ports and the first slanting surface of the projecting part is about 90 degrees. Preferably, the nozzle body is provided with a powder line section comprising of ZrO 2 -C. By way of example and to make the description more clear, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a projecting part of a submerged nozzle and its related portions according to this invention, Fig. 2 a cross sectional view showing a submerged nozzle and its related members according to this invention, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing a projecting part of a submerged nozzle and its related portions according to this invention, and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view showing a prior art submerged nozzle and its related members. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS A submerged nozzle for use in a continuous steel casting apparatus is provided between a tundish or ladle (not shown) and a mold 9. A lower end portion of the submerged nozzle 1 is immerged in a molten steel 10 in the mold 9. A nozzle passage 1a is formed in the nozzle 1 and connected with two or more discharge ports 2 so as to guide a molten steel into the mold 9 in the direction designated by the arrows in Fig. 2. A projecting part 4 is formed around the nozzle 1 at an upper end of each discharge port 2 for guiding smoothly both the molten steel 5 and the argon gas bubbles 3. The projecting part 4 has a taper-shaped slanting surface 4a having a positive angle to a horizontal line so that the slanting surface is inclined upwardly. The gas bubbles 3 move up along the slanting surface 4a in the direction of the arrows from the discharge ports 2. The projecting part 4 functions to adjust the directions of the gas bubble flow 3 and the molten steeel flow 5. The argon gas bubbles 3 float along the molten steel flow 5 at a position or positions far from the powder line section 6 of the submerged nozzle 1. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the agitation effects accompained by the volume expansion and bursting during the float of the gas bubbles 3 at the powder layer 7 and avoid the damage of a portion 8 of the powder line section 6 which contacts the powder layer 7. A desired shape of the projecting part 4 will be explained as follows: In order that the argon gas is capable of floating at a sufficiently distant position from the nozzle powder line section 6, the projecting part 4 has a thickness A ranging between 5 and 50 mm, a height B ranging between 10 and 200 mm and a slanting angle C ranging between 5 and 60 degrees. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the thickness A is a size from the outer surface of the nozzle 1 to the top of the projecting part 4, and the height B is a size from the upper end of the discharge port 2 to the top of the projecting part 4, and the slanting angle C is an angle from an imaginary horizontal line to the slanting surface 4a in the unti-clockwise direction. According to this invention, the generation of foaming and bursting phenomena can be effectively avoided so that the gas bubbles can float on the surface of the molten steel 10 in the mold 9 smoothly. Furthermore, according to this invention, the gas bubbles 3 bound at the projecting part 4 so as to scatter, thereby avoiding generating a turbulent flow, in particular when compared with the projecting part 4' of the prior art submerged nozzle shown in Fig. 4 in which the slanting surface of the projecting part 4' has a negative angle to an imaginary horizontal line. In addition, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the damage of the projecting part 4 and hence prolong the service life of the submerged nozzle 1 since the gas bubbles 3 move along the slanting surface 4a of the projecting part 4. On the contrary, the prior art projecting part 4' illustrated in Fig.4 is directly subject to the pressures of the gas bubbles 3 and the molten steel flow 5. Preferably, each of the discharge ports 2 has a slanting surface 2a which is inclined downwardly in a negative direction and connected to a lower end of the slanting surface 4a of the projecting part 4. An angle formed between the slanting surface 2a of the discharge ports 2 and the slanting surface 4a of the projecting part 4 is about 90 degrees. Although in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 the projecting part 4 is integral with the body of the nozzle 1, a ring-shaped projecting part 4 which is separate from the nozzle body can be attached to a straight type nozzle at an upper end of the discharge ports 2 as shown in Fig. 3. In order that the argon gas is capable of floating at a sufficiently distant position from the nozzle powder line section 6, the projecting part 4 has a thickness A ranging between 5 and 50 mm, a height B ranging between 10 and 200 mm and a slanting angle C ranging between 5 and 60 degrees. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the thickness A is a size from the outer surface of the nozzle 1 to the top surface of the projecting part 4, and the height B is a size from the upper end of the discharge port 2 to the upper end of the top surface of the projecting part 4, and the slanting angle C is an angle from an imaginary horizontal line to the slanting surface in the unti-clockwise direction. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, as a ring-shaped projecting part 4 can be replaced by another one, it is easy to change the slanting angle C, the height B and the thickness A in such a way that the functions of the projecting part can meet the service requirements. Although not shown, the ring-shaped projecting part can be fixed to the nozzle body by means of screws, mortar, pins or the like. According to this invention, it becomes possible to prolong the service life sharply without increasing a wall thickness of the powder line section of the submerged nozzle. Generally, the damage by the molten steel is produced by: (1) the diffusion of low melting point-based compound within the steel caused by chemical reaction against the alkali compounds (CaO, MgO, Na 2 O, K 2 O, CaF a );and (2) the desorption of ZrO 2 particles resulting from the oxidation consumption of resin coke and graphite of the materials (ZrO 2 -C) of the powder line section in the nozzle 1. The factors which are responsible for controlling and amplifying the speed of damage by the molten steel at the powder line section mainly comprise: (a) the agitation of molten steel within the mold (electromagnetic agitation and mold oscillation); and (b) the agitation force (air vibration) produced by the expansion when the argon gas to be injected in the molten steel floats on the surface of the molten steel within the mold. This invention can control the direction of the molten steel flow, keep away the floating, expansion and foaming positions of the argon gas from the powder line section of the submerged nozzle and hence reduce the influence of the agitation force accompanied by the floating and expansion of argon gas as defined in the above-stated item (b). A submerged nozzle having a projecting part according to this invention can provide a service life several times longer than the prior art nozzles since it is capable of discharging argon gas into the mold smoothly and allowing the gas to float at a distant position from the mold powder section of the nozzle and preventing the gas from turning into a turbulent flow.

Claims: A nozzle submersible into molten metal during steel casting, comprising a nozzle body (1), a nozzle passage (1a) formed through the nozzle body (1) so as to extend from an upper end of the nozzle body (1) to a lower portion of the nozzle body (1) in its longitudinal direction, and further comprising a plurality of discharge ports (2) formed in the lower portion of the nozzle body (1) so as to face outwardly, the discharge ports (2) being connected to the nozzle passage (1a), wherein a projecting part (4) is provided at an upper end of the discharge ports (2) and having a first slanting surface (4a) which is located from the upper end of the discharge ports (2) and inclined upwardly in a positive direction, said projecting part (4) is provided around the nozzle body (1), the discharge ports (2) each have a second slanting surface (2a) which is inclined continuously downward in a negative direction, the lower end of the first slanting surface (4a) of the projecting part (4) meeting the lower end of the second slanting surface (2a) at the upper end of the discharge port (2) on the outer surface of the nozzle body (1), said downwardly inclined second slanting surface (2a) serves for directing downwardly a stream of molten metal together with a gas bubble flow contained therein, and said upwardly inclined first slanting surface (4a) allows said gas bubble flow moving upwardly smoothly. The nozzle of claim 1, characterized in that the projecting part (4) has a thickness (A) ranging from 5 millimeters to 50 millimeters, the thickness being a size from an outer surface of the nozzle body (1) up to an outer top of the projecting part (4). The nozzle of any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the projecting part (4) has a slanting angle (C) ranging from 5 degrees to 60 degrees, the slanting angle (C) being an angle between an imaginary horizontal plane and the first slanting surface (4a). The nozzle of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the projecting part (4) has a height (B) ranging from 10 millimeters to 200 mm millimeters, the height being a size from the upper end of the discharge port (2) to the upper end of the outer top of the projecting part (4). The nozzle of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first slanting surface (4a) is a taper-shaped surface (4a). The nozzle of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the projecting part (4) is integral with the nozzle body (1). The nozzle of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the projecting part (4) is a ring-shaped projecting part separate from the nozzle body (1) and wherein the projecting part (4) is fixed to the nozzle body (1). The nozzle of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an angle formed between the second slanting surface (2a) of the discharge ports (2) and the first slanting surface (4a) of the projecting part (4) is about 90 degrees. The nozzle of any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the nozzle body (1) is provided with a powder line section (6) comprised of ZrO 2 -C.

Inventors: KAWASHIMA TERUHISA, SUGIURA SADANOBU, TOKUNAGA KUNISIGE, KAWASHIMA, TERUHISA, SUGIURA, SADANOBU, TOKUNAGA, KUNISIGE, KAWASHIMA, TERUHISA C/O KARIYA PLANT, SUGIURA, SADANOBU C/O KARIYA PLANT, TOKUNAGA, KUNISIGE C/O KARIYA PLANT
Applicants: TOSHIBA CERAMICS CO, TOSHIBA CERAMICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B22D41
IPC codes: B22D41, B22D11