Abstract: The disclosure provides a sensor and method for the measurement of fluid properties, such as steam energy and steam quality, and/or multiphase and multicomponent fluids and their flow regime profiles in a single instrument, and in some embodiments can include the mass flow rate. The invention can incorporate an orifice function that permits the measurement of fluid energy and a flow profile across at least a portion of the flow path with an electromagnetic sensing method combined with a standard mass flow rate measurement using an orifice differential pressure measurement system.

Abstract: There are provided a conduit structure for molten glass, a vacuum degassing apparatus using the conduit structure, and a process for vacuum-degassing molten glass by use of the vacuum degassing apparatus, wherein without using a cooling system, solid thermal insulating materials constituting a backup for the conduit are prevented from being corroded by molten glass oozing out of a joint between adjacent fused cast refractories constituting the conduit, and wherein production cost is reduced.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is comprised of an uprising pipe, a vacuum degassing vessel, a downfalling pipe, an upstream side pit that supplies molten glass to the uprising pipe, and a downstream side pit that receives molten glass from the downfalling pipe. The vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is further comprised of a separating mechanism that separates a part of molten glass moving from the downfalling pipe to the downstream side pit, and a returning pipe that returns separated molten glass to the upstream side pit.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is comprised of an uprising pipe, a vacuum degassing vessel, a downfalling pipe, an upstream side pit that supplies molten glass to the uprising pipe, and a downstream side pit that receives molten glass from the downfalling pipe. The vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass is further comprised of a separating mechanism that separates a part of molten glass moving from the downfalling pipe to the downstream side pit, and a returning pipe that returns separated molten glass to the upstream side pit.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus for molten glass includes a vacuum housing; a vacuum degassing vessel provided in the vacuum housing; an uprising pipe which connects to the vacuum degassing vessel; and a downfalling pipe which connects to the vacuum degassing vessel. The vacuum housing has an accommodating portion to accommodate the uprising pipe and an accommodating portion to accommodate the downfalling pipe, at least one of which is divided horizontally into a plurality of sections to form a plurality of divided rooms juxtaposed in the vertical direction, and the respective divided rooms are provided with a pressure controller to control the pressures of the respective divided rooms independently.

Abstract: In a straight barrel type vacuum refining apparatus, use is made of a combination of: a decarburization method wherein the flow rate of oxygen fed into a vacuum tank and the flow rate of an inert gas fed into the vacuum tank are regulated and, at the same time, the flow rate of oxygen gas blown is reduced at a rate of 0.5 to 12.5 Nm3/h/t/min in a low carbon concentration region having a carbon concentration of not more than the critical carbon concentration; and a vacuum refining apparatus provided with dust accumulation preventing means.

Abstract: A method for refining molten steel by immersing the lower opening end of a cylindrical immersion tube equipped with a lance into the molten steel contained in a ladle, controlling the pressure in the cylindrical immersion tube to a prescribed pressure range to suck up the molten steel, injecting an agitation gas from the bottom of the ladle towards the surface of the sucked-up molten steel, and decarburizing and refining the molten steel under a reduced pressure, characterized in that the method comprising the steps of; controlling the pressure Pt (Torr) in the cylindrical immersion tube so as to satisfy the following formulae (1) and (2), blowing oxygen gas to the surface of the molten steel through the lance, and decarburizing and refining the molten steel under a reduced pressure; Pt>760−1.297×107/Dc2  (1) K=1.71×Dl0.211×Dc0.438×Wm−1.124×Qg0.519×Pt−0.410>0.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an installation for minimising the local wear of a bell during a ladle treatment of a liquid metal by rotating the bell about an axis during the treatment of the liquid metal.

Abstract: A molten steel refining apparatus and a method therefor, in which the carbon component of molten steel can be easily removed, the temperature drop of molten steel can be effectively reduced, and a stable operation is realized. The apparatus for refining molten steel for manufacturing ultra low carbon steel includes an RH vacuum-degassing device consisting of a vessel and a snorkel composed of an up-leg and a down-leg. The apparatus further includes a plurality of gas injection lance nozzles each consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube, and installed on the side wall of the vessel of the RH vacuum-degassing device so as to inject gas toward molten steel within the vessel. The inner tube includes a throat for forming a jet stream of super-sonic velocity, and the outer tube injects cooling gas for cooling the inner tube.

Abstract: In a process for vacuum refining a molten steel wherein a refining flux is used, a fuel gas and an oxygen gas are spouted into the outlet of a top-blown lance of a vacuum refining apparatus to form a burner flame below the top-blown lance, and, at the same time, a refining flux is fed into the top-blown lance with the aid of an oxygen gas as a carrier gas and further passed through the burner flame, and the heated and melted refining flux is allowed to arrive at the surface of the molten steel. In this case, the refining flux feed rate and the circulating flow rate of the molten steel during vacuum refining are regulated so as to have a predetermined relationship, achieving a low flux consumption throughout a period of single refractory life of the vacuum tank.

Abstract: A method for degassing molten steel comprises the use of a lift gas which includes carbon dioxide. The inventive method includes providing a reaction zone isolated from the ambient atmosphere, and providing a bath of molten steel, at least a portion of which is located in the reaction zone. The pressure is reduced in the reaction zone to a sub-atmospheric pressure. A gas comprising carbon dioxide is supplied to the bath of molten steel in order to vertically circulate the molten steel. The method also preferably includes (a) supplying carbon dioxide, e.g., with a tuyere, to the reaction zone and (b) supplying carbon dioxide to the bath of molten steel, e.g., by gas bubbling or stirring. An apparatus for performing the method steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for degassing molten steel comprises the use of a lift gas which includes carbon dioxide. The inventive method includes providing a reaction zone isolated from the ambient atmosphere, and providing a bath of molten steel, at least a portion of which is located in the reaction zone. The pressure is reduced in the reaction zone to a sub-atmospheric pressure. A gas comprising carbon dioxide is supplied to the bath of molten steel in order to vertically circulate the molten steel. The method also preferably includes (a) supplying carbon dioxide, e.g., with a tuyere, to the reaction zone and (b) supplying carbon dioxide to the bath of molten steel, e.g., by gas bubbling or stirring. An apparatus for performing the method steps is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a degassing vessel for the vacuum treatment of liquid steel, consisting of a lower, middle and upper part. To protect the heater rod, which in the degassing vessel is oriented at a right angle to the center axis, the invention essentially proposes that the middle part has a cylindrical shape with the same radius as the lower part, that in the vicinity of the connection to the upper part there is a flat gas guide surface parallel to the heater rod and at an angle to the cylindrical jacket, and that finally the jacket of the upper part connected to the middle part has the shape of a half-tube, which is closed by a flat surface oriented parallel to the center axis.

Abstract: Molten metal is put under pressure of up to 10 atmospheres in a covered ladle and a gas soluble in the metal is bubbled through the melt. Some gas goes into solution, while the remainder rises in bubbles and brings inclusions suspended in the molten metal up to the surface. Then the pressure is lowered, after which gas comes out of the solution in fine bubbles which also bring impurity inclusions up to the surface. In another method molten steel is refined at pressures not exceeding atmospheric pressure in a covered ladle equipped for evacuation and equipped for bubbling gas through the molten steel bath. Bubbling followed by pressure reduction can then be performed to form two stages of cleaning. Heat may be added for compensating the cooling effect of gas expansion.

Abstract: A degresser snorkel for circulating molten metal from a ladle to a vacuum vessel to thereby degas the molten metal. The degasser snorkel includes an outer castable layer lined over the outer surface of a stainless steel snorkel can. An inner refractory lining is secured to the inner surface of the snorkel can by pressure grout. A plurality of grout keys in the form of annular bands are secured to the inner surface of the steel can and cooperate with the grout in supporting the inner refractory lining. The refractory lining is formed of a plurality of interlocking refractory bricks, each of which has an hour glass-like shape. A plurality of annular rows of the interlocking bricks are built-up to thus form the inner refractory lining.

Abstract: In the production of alloy by evaporation from an evaporation bath and condensation under vacuum, charge replenishment is achieved by a procedure involving bleeding charge from the bath and admixing the bled charge with replenishment material and introducing replenishment from the admixture. An apparatus for use in the process comprises a mixing passageway encompassing an evaporation bath and distributed sub-surface bleed ports and feed ports linking the evaporation bath and the mixing chamber. Flow of metal through the ports is induced by pumped circulation in the mixing chamber. The circulation is turbulent for good mixing of the metals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel for the continuous treatment of molten metals under reduced pressure, according to the circulation process. In order to increase the through put of the molten metal, the inlet and outlet pipes are located on the longitudinal axis of an elongated vessel-bottom, for example an elliptical vessel-bottom, a cross-section of the inlet and outlet pipes being enlarged. The lower portion of the vessel is bell-shaped. With this geometry of the lower portion of the vessel, the volume of the vessel remains small, despite comparatively large cross-sections of the inlet and outlet pipes, which can be located with an adequate clearance from each other and the walls of the vessel, so that the danger of erosion effects resulting from the circulating molten metal remains small.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus has first and second degassing vessels each separately mounted for independent horizontal movement from a first operative position to a second repair position. In addition, each vessel is independently mounted for vertical movement in each position so that a pair of nozzles extending from its lower end to be immersed into a ladle of hot metal when the vessel is at its operative position whereby a degassing operation may be performed. Also, when the vessel is in its repair position, it may be lowered to permit repair or replacement of the nozzles or the vessel bottom as may be required. A vacuum conduit is pivotally connected to each vessel and to a fixed vacuum conduit to maintain the vacuum connection while the vessel is being moved into and out of its various positions.

Abstract: A device for vacuum-refining of molten metal, comprising a vacuum chamber and an electromagnetic pump with an annulus-section line to which metal feed and discharge pipe lines are connected. The latter is coupled with the central portion of the annulus-section line. For pouring vacuumed metal into a foundry mould provision is made for a metal pouring pipe line connected to the metal discharge pipe line. The device envisages a higher degree of metal refining to free it from harmful impurities and a possibility of pouring metal directly into foundry moulds.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus is so constructed that molten steel is circulated or flowed between a ladle and a vacuum vessel through a tube, the molten steel is degassed in the vacuum vessel, the surrounding air is prevented from flowing into the ladle during a degassing operation by placing a cover at the top of the ladle, an inert gas is forced into the ladle for sealing the molten steel from the surrounding atmosphere, and, when necessary, a space between the ladle and the vacuum vessel is sealed by a bellows.