Vortex well inerting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247479-B2
Application number	US-201615207697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2016
Priority date	Jul 12, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A method of providing an inerting atmosphere to the surface of molten aluminum in a vortex charge well of a reverberatory melting furnace is provided. The purpose is to improve aluminum recovery (reduce aluminum oxidation melt loss) by displacing the ambient atmosphere above the molten vortex with an inert gas. The method includes introducing a flow of an inerting gas into an inerting region immediately above the surface of the vortex charge well. The inerting gas may be selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, or a mixture thereof. The inerting gas may be introduced into the charge inlet chute, through a diffuser, or a ring manifold. The vortex charge well may include a lid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing an inerting atmosphere to the surface of molten aluminum in a vortex charge well of a reverberatory melting furnace, the method comprising: introducing a flow of an inerting gas into an inerting region immediately above the surface of the vortex charge well.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inerting gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, or a mixture thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inerting gas is introduced into the inerting region through a diffuser.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the diffuser is positioned proximate to the surface of the vortex charge well.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vortex charge well further comprises a lid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inerting gas is introduced into the inerting region thorough a ring manifold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein vortex charge well comprises a vortex headspace comprising a top circumference, and wherein the ring manifold is positioned near the top circumference of the vortex headspace.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inerting gas is introduced into the inerting region thorough a partial ring manifold.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein vortex charge well comprises a vortex headspace comprising a top circumference, and wherein the ring manifold is positioned near the top circumference of the vortex headspace.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inerting gas is introduced into the inerting region through both a diffuser and a ring manifold.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the vortex charge well further comprises a lid.

12. A method of providing an inerting atmosphere to the surface of molten aluminum in a vortex charge well of a reverberatory melting furnace, the method comprising: introducing a flow of an inerting gas into a charge inlet chute, whereby the inerting gas travels with a stream of aluminum charge pieces and into an inerting region immediately above the surface of the vortex charge well.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the inerting gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, or a mixture thereof.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the charge inlet chute further comprises a lid.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the vortex charge well further comprises a lid.

Assignees

• Air Liquide Ind Us Lp
• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Jepson Stewart C

Classifications

• F27D7/02

  Supplying steam, vapour, gases or liquids · CPC title

• F27B3/02

  of single-chamber fixed-hearth type · CPC title

• F27M2001/012

  Aluminium · CPC title

• F27D3/16 Primary

  Introducing a fluid jet or current into the charge (F27D3/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F27D2007/023

  Conduits · CPC title