A water-cooling mold for vacuum consumable electrode melting

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of titanium alloy metallurgy, particularly to water-cooled molds for active metal smelting processes requiring high sealing properties. A water-cooled mold for vacuum consumable electrode refining (VAR) comprises a casting mold and a flat, sealed protective base, including a sealing ring groove, a heat sink ring, and a cross-shaped heat sink block. Cooling water is applied to the outside of the base for heat exchange, reducing the operating temperature of the sealing ring in the sealing ring groove and improving overall sealing properties.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of titanium alloy metallurgy, and in particular relates to a sealing protection base for vacuum consumable electrode smelting (VAR) in an active metal smelting process requiring high sealing. Background Art

[0002] Vacuum consumable arc melting (VAR) is a common melting process for high-temperature reactive metals such as titanium alloys. The basic process involves using an induction furnace to generate a controlled AC arc to heat and melt a consumable electrode. The molten metal then enters a water-cooled mold to form an ingot. Currently, VAR is the primary method for producing titanium and titanium alloy ingots. VAR technology is widely used in the production of high-quality aviation titanium alloy ingots and is a mature industrial melting method. Its characteristics include high melting speeds, the ability to produce large ingots, and the ability to produce ingots that generally meet general industrial requirements. However, titanium and titanium alloys are reactive metals and are highly reactive with oxygen in their molten state. Furthermore, once cooling water enters the melting crucible, it reacts with the molten metal, leading to explosions. Therefore, maintaining a high vacuum during the melting process is crucial for both alloy ingot quality and process safety. Currently, a sealing ring is used between the mold (a cylindrical structure with openings at both ends) and the base in the VAR mold (which includes the mold and base). The sealing degree of the sealing ring is very sensitive to temperature. When the ingot temperature is high, the sealing ring will soften, deteriorate, and expand and deform, resulting in a decrease in the overall sealing degree of the mold, ultimately reducing the overall quality of the titanium alloy ingot. Therefore, it is necessary to design a titanium alloy VAR melting base that can effectively maintain the operating temperature of the sealing ring.

[0003] VAR process component structure such as Figure 1 As shown, the mold, ingot, sealing ring, and base are included. During the smelting process, the mold (outer wall) and base (side walls and bottom) are cooled by cooling water to promote solidification of the molten ingot. The sealing ring is located at the junction of the mold and base to ensure that the smelting process is carried out under certain vacuum conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a VAR sealing and protective base, which, together with the casting mold, forms a water-cooled mold. This sealing and protective base for vacuum consumable electrode refining (VAR) includes a sealing ring groove, a heat sink ring, and a cross-shaped heat sink block. The heat sink ring and cross-shaped heat sink block are 5-10 mm wide and 10-20 mm high. The heat sink ring and cross-shaped heat sink block enhance the overall heat dissipation of the base.

[0005] The present invention improves the mold base for the first time into a high-efficiency heat dissipation type with a flat surface and a cooling block to protect the overall sealing of the mold, thereby solving the problem that the traditional flat base has poor heat dissipation effect, resulting in reduced sealing and affecting the overall quality of the alloy ingot.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in the present invention is:

[0007] A water-cooling mold for vacuum consumable electrode smelting comprises a casting mold and a flat base. The casting mold is a cylindrical structure with upper and lower ends open. The base for sealing the lower open end of the casting mold is arranged at the lower open end of the casting mold. An annular groove is provided on the upper surface of the flat base near the edges. A sealing ring is provided in the annular groove. The base is sealed to the lower open end of the casting mold via the sealing ring. An annular protrusion serving as a heat dissipation ring is provided on the lower surface of the flat base near the edges. Two long strip protrusions crossing in a cross shape are provided in the middle of the lower surface of the flat base to serve as a cross heat dissipation block.

[0008] The annular protrusion and the annular groove are respectively arranged opposite to each other on the upper and lower surfaces of the flat base, that is, the projection of the annular groove on the lower surface of the flat base is located on the area where the annular protrusion and the lower surface of the flat base intersect.

[0009] The bottom support is a circular flat plate, the casting mold is a cylinder with upper and lower ends opened; the annular groove is a circular groove, the annular protrusion is a circular protrusion, and the bottom support, the casting mold, the annular groove and the annular protrusion are coaxial.

[0010] Two ends of the cross-shaped long strip protrusion are connected to the inner wall surface of the annular protrusion.

[0011] The thickness of the heat dissipation ring and the thickness of the cross heat dissipation block (the width perpendicular to the length direction) are 5-10 mm respectively, and the height perpendicular to the surface of the base is 10-20 mm.

[0012] The annular protrusion is provided with multiple through-holes that run through the inner and outer walls of the annular protrusion, serving as water channels. The height of the water channels perpendicular to the base surface is 10-20 mm, the width of the water channels along the circumference of the annular protrusion is 5-10 mm, and the distance between adjacent water channels along the circumference of the annular protrusion is 5-10 mm. The strip-shaped protrusion is provided with multiple through-holes that run through the two side walls of the strip-shaped protrusion, serving as water channels. The height of the water channels perpendicular to the base surface is 10-20 mm, the width of the water channels along the length of the strip-shaped protrusion is 5-10 mm, and the distance between adjacent water channels is 5-10 mm.

[0013] One of the two long strip-shaped protrusions is arranged perpendicular to the direction of cooling water flow, and a plurality of through holes are opened on the long strip-shaped protrusion perpendicular to the direction of cooling water flow, which pass through the two side walls of the long strip-shaped protrusion and serve as water grooves. The height of the water groove perpendicular to the surface of the base is 10-20mm, the width of the water groove along the length direction of the long strip-shaped protrusion is 5-10mm, and the distance between adjacent water grooves is 5-10mm.

[0014] A boss is provided in the middle of the upper surface of the flat base. The shape and size of the radial cross section of the boss are the same as or match the shape and size of the radial cross section of the internal cavity near the lower open end of the mold. The boss extends into the mold from the lower open end.

[0015] A water-cooling mold for vacuum consumable electrode smelting includes a casting mold and a flat base. The casting mold is a cylindrical structure with upper and lower ends open. The base is used to seal the lower open end of the casting mold and is arranged at the lower open end of the casting mold. An annular groove is provided on the upper surface of the flat base near the edges. A sealing ring is provided in the annular groove. The base is sealed to the lower open end of the casting mold via the sealing ring. An annular protrusion surrounding the base is provided on the side wall of the flat base and serves as a heat dissipation ring. The base is located in the area surrounded by the heat dissipation ring.

[0016] The present invention provides cooling water outside the bottom bracket for water-cooling heat exchange, so as to reduce the operating temperature of the sealing ring in the sealing ring groove, thereby improving the overall sealing performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 Prior art VAR process component diagram;

[0018] Figure 2 Cross-sectional view of the base design with a heat dissipation ring of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 The base bracket with a heat dissipation ring of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the base support with a heat dissipation ring and a cross cooling block according to the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5 The present invention is provided with a heat dissipation ring and a cross cooling block bottom support;

[0022] Figure 6 Cross-sectional view of the base design with a one-way water channel of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 The present invention provides a bottom bracket with a one-way water channel;

[0024] Figure 8 Cross-sectional view of the base design with an annular water channel of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 9 The present invention provides a bottom support with an annular water channel;

[0026] Figure 10 Temperature measuring points on the sealing ring of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 11 Temperature distribution of the measuring points under various base design conditions of the present invention;

[0028] The numbers in the figure are: 1 mold, 2 ingot, 3 sealing ring, 4 bottom bracket, 5 heat dissipation ring, 6 cross heat dissipation block, 7 water tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Example 1

[0030] like Figure 2 and 3 A water-cooled mold for vacuum consumable electrode melting is shown, comprising a casting mold and a flat base. The casting mold is a cylindrical structure with openings at both ends. The base is provided at the lower open end of the casting mold, for sealing the lower open end of the casting mold. An annular groove is provided on the upper surface of the flat base near the periphery of the side surface, and a sealing ring is provided within the annular groove. The base is sealed to the lower open end of the casting mold via the sealing ring. A circular protrusion surrounding the base is provided on the side surface of the flat base, serving as a heat dissipation ring. The base, casting mold, annular groove, and heat dissipation ring are coaxial, and the base is located within the area surrounded by the heat dissipation ring.

[0031] The cross-sectional length (perpendicular to the base surface) and width (parallel to the base surface) of the heat dissipation ring are 10 mm and 15 mm respectively.

[0032] Example 2

[0033] like Figure 4 and 5 A water-cooling mold for vacuum consumable electrode melting is shown, comprising a casting mold and a flat base. The casting mold is a cylindrical structure with open ends at both ends. The base is provided at the lower open end of the casting mold for sealing the lower open end. An annular groove is provided on the upper surface of the flat base near the edges, and a sealing ring is provided within the annular groove. The base is sealed to the lower open end of the casting mold via the sealing ring. An annular protrusion is provided on the lower surface of the flat base near the edges, serving as a heat dissipation ring. Two cross-shaped elongated protrusions are provided in the middle of the lower surface of the flat base, serving as cross-shaped heat dissipation blocks. The two ends of the cross-shaped elongated protrusions are connected to the inner wall of the annular protrusion. The base, casting mold, annular groove, and annular protrusion are coaxial.

[0034] The annular protrusion and the annular groove are respectively arranged opposite to each other on the upper and lower surfaces of the flat base, that is, the projection of the annular groove on the lower surface of the flat base is located on the area where the annular protrusion and the lower surface of the flat base intersect.

[0035] The thickness of the heat dissipation ring and the thickness of the cross heat dissipation block (the width perpendicular to the length direction) are 8 mm respectively, and the height perpendicular to the surface of the base is 15 mm.

[0036] Example 3

[0037] The structure is the same as that shown in Example 2. The difference from Example 2 is that in order to improve the cooling water flow of the bottom bracket, the above design is further improved as follows: Figure 6 and 7 8mm wide water grooves are opened on the heat dissipation ring and cross heat dissipation block to facilitate the flow of cooling water and increase the contact area between the bottom bracket and the cooling water, further improving the cooling effect.

[0038] A plurality of through holes are provided on the annular protrusion as water grooves, which penetrate the inner and outer walls of the annular protrusion. The height of the water grooves perpendicular to the surface of the base is 15 mm, the width of the water grooves along the circumferential direction of the annular protrusion is 8 mm, and the distance between adjacent water grooves in the circumferential direction of the annular protrusion is 8 mm.

[0039] The water flow direction of the water groove is unidirectional: one of the two long strip protrusions is arranged perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling water, and a plurality of through holes are opened on the long strip protrusion perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling water to serve as water grooves, which pass through the two side walls of the long strip protrusion. The height of the water groove perpendicular to the surface of the base is 15mm, the width of the water groove along the length direction of the long strip protrusion is 8mm, and the distance between adjacent water grooves is 8mm.

[0040] Example 4

[0041] The structure is the same as that shown in Example 2. The difference from Example 2 is that in order to improve the cooling water flow of the bottom bracket, the above design is further improved as follows: Figure 8 and 9 8mm wide water grooves are opened on the heat dissipation ring and cross heat dissipation block to facilitate the flow of cooling water and increase the contact area between the bottom bracket and the cooling water, further improving the cooling effect.

[0042] A plurality of through holes are provided on the annular protrusion as water grooves, which penetrate the inner and outer walls of the annular protrusion. The height of the water grooves perpendicular to the surface of the base is 15 mm, the width of the water grooves along the circumferential direction of the annular protrusion is 8 mm, and the distance between adjacent water grooves in the circumferential direction of the annular protrusion is 8 mm.

[0043] The direction of the water trough is divided into annular water trough ( Figure 8 and 9 ): A plurality of through holes are provided on the two long strip-shaped protrusions to serve as water channels, which penetrate the two side walls of the long strip-shaped protrusions. The height of the water channels perpendicular to the surface of the base is 15 mm, the width of the water channels along the length direction of the long strip-shaped protrusions is 8 mm, and the distance between adjacent water channels is 8 mm.

[0044] The sealing protection base of the vacuum consumable electrode melting (VAR) of the present invention includes a sealing ring groove, a heat dissipation ring and a cross heat dissipation block; cooling water is provided on the outside of the base for water-cooling heat exchange to reduce the operating temperature of the sealing ring in the sealing ring groove, thereby improving the overall sealing performance.

[0045] The plane bottom support in the prior art ( Figure 1 ) and the four bottom brackets with cooling systems of the present invention, embodiments 1-4, were subjected to finite element simulation analysis to investigate the temperature distribution of the sealing ring. The water cooling conditions were a temperature of 15°C and a heat transfer coefficient of 5000W / m 2 K. Take the point where the sealing ring is closest to the ingot as the temperature measurement point, such as Figure 10 Under each design, the temperature of the temperature measuring point changes with time as shown in Figure 11 As shown. Curve No. 1 is a traditional base, No. 2 is a base with a side wall heat dissipation ring (Example 1), No. 3 is a base with a heat dissipation ring and a cross cooling block (Example 2), No. 4 is a base with a unidirectional water groove (Example 3), and No. 5 is a base with an annular water groove (Example 4). It can be seen from the simulation results that the overall temperature of temperature curves No. 1-5 gradually decreases in sequence. The heat dissipation ring and the cross cooling block can reduce the maximum temperature of the temperature measuring point by nearly 10-20 degrees, which can effectively reduce the overall temperature of the sealing ring.

Claims

1. A water-cooled mold for vacuum consumable electrode melting, comprising a casting mold and a flat base, wherein the casting mold is a cylindrical structure with upper and lower ends open, and the base is provided at the lower open end of the casting mold for sealing the lower open end of the casting mold. An annular groove is provided on the upper surface of the flat base near the peripheral edge, and a sealing ring is provided in the annular groove. The base is sealed to the lower open end of the casting mold via the sealing ring; and the characteristics are: An annular protrusion serving as a heat dissipation ring is provided near the edges of the lower surface of the flat base, and two cross-shaped protrusions serving as a cross heat dissipation block are provided in the middle of the lower surface of the flat base. The annular protrusion is provided with multiple through holes serving as water channels, extending through the inner and outer walls of the annular protrusion. The height of the water channels perpendicular to the base surface is 10-20 mm, the width of the water channels along the circumference of the annular protrusion is 5-10 mm, and the distance between adjacent water channels along the circumference of the annular protrusion is 5-10 mm. The thickness of the heat dissipation ring and the cross heat dissipation block are 5-10 mm, respectively, and their height perpendicular to the base surface is 10-20 mm. The base is located within the area surrounded by the heat dissipation ring. The annular protrusion and the annular groove are respectively arranged opposite to each other on the upper and lower surfaces of the flat base, that is, the projection of the annular groove on the lower surface of the flat base is located at the intersection of the annular protrusion and the lower surface of the flat base; The bottom support is a circular flat plate, the casting mold is a cylinder with upper and lower ends opened; the annular groove is a circular groove, the annular protrusion is a circular protrusion, and the bottom support, the casting mold, the annular groove, and the annular protrusion are coaxial; Two ends of the cross-shaped long strip protrusion are connected to the inner wall surface of the annular protrusion.

2. The water-cooling mold according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of through holes are provided on the long strip protrusion, which pass through the two side walls of the long strip protrusion. The height of the water groove perpendicular to the bottom surface is 10-20 mm, the width of the water groove along the length direction of the long strip protrusion is 5-10 mm, and the distance between adjacent water grooves is 5-10 mm.

3. The water-cooling mold according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the two long strip-shaped protrusions is arranged perpendicular to the direction of cooling water flow, and a plurality of through holes are opened on the long strip-shaped protrusion perpendicular to the direction of cooling water flow, which pass through the two side walls of the long strip-shaped protrusion and serve as water grooves. The height of the water groove perpendicular to the surface of the base is 10-20 mm, the width of the water groove along the length direction of the long strip-shaped protrusion is 5-10 mm, and the distance between adjacent water grooves is 5-10 mm.

4. The water-cooling mold according to claim 1, characterized in that: A boss is provided in the middle of the upper surface of the flat base. The shape and size of the radial cross section of the boss are the same as or match the shape and size of the radial cross section of the internal cavity near the lower open end of the mold. The boss extends into the mold from the lower open end.

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