A water simulation experimental device for studying the solidification process of metal melt

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of crystal growth simulation experiments, and discloses a water simulation experiment device for studying the solidification process of a metal melt, which comprises a support, a liquid storage barrel, a motor support, a stirring rod and a stirring paddle. The liquid storage barrel is made of a transparent material, is arranged below the support, and is used for storing an ammonium chloride aqueous solution. Transparent heating sheets are attached to the liquid storage barrel. The motor support is arranged above the support and is fixed with a motor. The stirring rod is drivingly connected with the motor, is fixed downward on the stirring rod, and is arranged in the liquid storage barrel. The stirring paddle comprises a first paddle group, a second paddle group and a plurality of positioning screws. The positioning screws are used for fixing the first paddle group and the second paddle group on the stirring rod at any angle between 0 and 180 degrees. The liquid storage barrel is used for reducing the dead space. The angle-adjustable stirring paddle is arranged in the liquid storage barrel, can actively stir the ammonium chloride solution, accelerates the internal heat conduction of the ammonium chloride solution with any concentration, and improves the crystallization speed of the ammonium chloride solution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of crystal growth simulation experiments, and in particular to a water simulation experimental apparatus for studying the solidification process of molten metal. Background Technology

[0002] The nucleation and growth process of crystals is closely related to the properties of metallic materials. To develop materials with excellent performance, it is necessary to study this process. However, metallic materials are not transparent even in the molten state, making them difficult to observe directly. Theoretical reasoning alone cannot guarantee practical accuracy. Therefore, a water simulation device and its usage method for studying the solidification behavior of molten metals are disclosed in the prior art (publication number: CN109183157A). This scheme uses a transparent heating element attached to the outer wall of a crystallization container for heating, and simulates the solidification behavior of opaque metals through the crystallization and growth process of ammonium chloride.

[0003] However, in this scheme, because the heat conduction efficiency of ammonium chloride solution is much lower than that of metallic materials, when the amount of ammonium chloride solution is large, the heat generated for heating the outer wall of the crystallization container cannot be evenly transferred to the ammonium chloride solution in the center of the container, thus making it difficult to guarantee the temperature uniformity of the ammonium chloride solution. Even with the existing stirring structure, the structure is relatively simple and cannot meet the stirring requirements of different experimental conditions (such as different concentrations) in water simulation experiments. Multiple factors contribute to the slow crystallization rate of ammonium chloride solution. Therefore, how to improve the crystallization rate of ammonium chloride solution has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this application is: how to increase the crystallization rate of ammonium chloride solution.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a water simulation experimental apparatus for studying the solidification process of molten metal, comprising: a support frame; a liquid storage tank made of transparent material, positioned below the support frame, used to store an aqueous solution of ammonium chloride, with a transparent heating element attached to the tank; a motor support frame positioned above the support frame, with a motor fixed to the support frame; a stirring rod connected to the motor drive and oriented downwards; and a stirring paddle fixed to the stirring rod and placed inside the liquid storage tank. The stirring paddle includes a first blade group, a second blade group, and several positioning screws, which are used to fix the first and second blade groups to the stirring rod respectively, such that the first and second blade groups are at any angle between 0 and 180 degrees.

[0006] In one embodiment, the water simulation experimental device further includes a gantry frame, which is fixed on a support frame. A hoisting device is suspended on the gantry frame. The motor support frame is detachably connected to the support frame. The hoisting device is used to lift the motor when the motor support frame is separated from the support frame in order to adjust the height of the stirring paddle.

[0007] In one embodiment, the hoisting device is a hand-operated hoist or an electric screw hoist.

[0008] In one embodiment, the stirring rod has a plurality of grooves extending axially, the grooves being arranged around the circumference of the stirring rod. The first blade group and the second blade group each include a plurality of blades, and the edges of the blades are provided with a plurality of positioning holes. The arrangement direction of the positioning holes is the same as the extension direction of the grooves. Positioning screws correspond one-to-one with the positioning holes, and the positioning screws pass through the positioning holes to fix the first blade group and the second blade group on the stirring rod.

[0009] In one embodiment, the blade has a hollow structure and a built-in heating device.

[0010] In one embodiment, the end of the stirring rod is threaded, and a limit nut is connected to the thread. The limit nut is used to limit the displacement of the first blade group and the second blade group along the groove.

[0011] In one embodiment, the water simulation experimental device also includes a base, with several casters below the base, and the liquid storage tank is fixed on the base.

[0012] In one embodiment, the motor is a geared motor.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the water simulation experimental device for studying the solidification process of molten metal according to the embodiments of this application has the following advantages: The ammonium chloride aqueous solution in the storage tank is stirred by a motor-driven stirring paddle, which accelerates the heat conduction inside the ammonium chloride aqueous solution and avoids crystallization delay caused by excessively low or high local temperatures. This allows the overall system to reach the temperature conditions required for crystallization more quickly, thereby shortening the time of the entire crystallization reaction. At the same time, stirring ensures the spatial uniformity of the aqueous solution temperature, preventing problems such as uneven crystal particle size and scattered distribution due to local temperature differences. In addition, the angle of the stirring paddle is adjustable, which can adapt to the stirring requirements of ammonium chloride aqueous solutions of different concentrations, and is more in line with the simulation research needs of metal melt solidification behavior. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water simulation experimental device for studying the solidification process of molten metal, as exemplarily shown in an embodiment of this application.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the gantry and base of a water simulation experimental apparatus for studying the solidification process of molten metal, as exemplarily shown in an embodiment of this application.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the stirring rod and stirring paddle of a water simulation experimental device for studying the solidification process of molten metal, as exemplarily shown in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Figure label: 1. Water simulation experimental apparatus; 10. Support; 11. Liquid storage tank; 12. Motor support; 13. Motor; 14. Stirring rod; 15. Stirring paddle; 16. Gantry frame; 17. Base; 18. Casters; 141. Groove; 151. First blade group; 152. Second blade group; 153. Positioning screw. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The specific embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this application, but are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0019] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings are intended to distinguish similar objects and are not used to describe a specific structure. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate so that embodiments of this application can be implemented in structures other than those illustrated or described. Furthermore, "comprising," "having," and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a product or device comprising a series of components or units is not necessarily limited to those explicitly listed, but may also include other components or units not explicitly listed but inherent to these products or devices.

[0020] The properties of metallic materials (such as strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance) are directly related to the nucleation and growth process of their internal crystals. The microscopic characteristics of these crystals, such as their size distribution, arrangement, and defect density, fundamentally determine the material's macroscopic performance. Therefore, accurately observing and analyzing the crystal evolution patterns of molten metals during solidification is a crucial prerequisite for developing high-performance metallic materials.

[0021] However, even in a molten state, metallic materials remain opaque, making it impossible to directly observe and track the nucleation and growth processes of their internal crystals. Relying solely on theoretical models (such as numerical simulations based on thermodynamics and kinetics) fails to fully reflect the influence of complex factors on crystal growth during actual solidification, leading to discrepancies between theoretical results and actual conditions, and thus failing to provide accurate experimental evidence for materials research and development.

[0022] To address the challenge of indirect observation, existing technology (publication number: CN109183157A) proposes a water simulation method, which uses the crystallization and growth process of ammonium chloride aqueous solution to simulate the solidification behavior of opaque molten metal. The core logic is that ammonium chloride aqueous solution undergoes a phase transition from liquid to solid during cooling, and the nucleation and growth patterns of crystals during this phase transition (such as crystal growth rate and dendrite morphology evolution) exhibit similar characteristics to the solidification of molten metal. Another key point is that ammonium chloride aqueous solution is transparent, allowing for direct recording of the crystal evolution process through imaging and optical observation, thereby indirectly deduce the solidification mechanism of molten metal.

[0023] However, although the above methods solve the problem of "direct observation," the heat conduction efficiency of ammonium chloride aqueous solution is much lower than that of molten metal, and the heat transfer rate within the solution is slow. During the experiment, relying solely on natural heat dissipation or simple temperature control can easily lead to localized temperature differences within the solution. For example, the edge area of ​​the storage tank dissipates heat quickly due to contact with the environment, and its temperature drops to the crystallization point first, while the temperature in the central area remains higher and requires a longer time to reach the crystallization conditions, ultimately resulting in an uneven temperature distribution throughout the solution system.

[0024] Poor temperature uniformity leads to prolonged crystallization time, making it impossible to accurately simulate the actual situation of uniform crystal evolution in molten metal.

[0025] Based on this, such as Figure 1 As shown in the preferred embodiment of this application, a water simulation experimental device 1 for studying the solidification process of molten metal includes: a support 10, a liquid storage tank 11, a motor support 12, a stirring rod 14, and a stirring paddle 15.

[0026] The storage tank 11 is made of transparent material and is placed below the support 10. The storage tank 11 is used to store ammonium chloride aqueous solution, and a transparent heating element is attached to the storage tank 11. The motor support 12 is located above the support 10, and a motor 13 is fixed on the motor support 12. The stirring rod 14 is connected to the motor 13 and is arranged downwards. The stirring paddle 15 is fixed on the stirring rod 14 and placed inside the storage tank 11. The stirring paddle 15 includes a first blade group 151, a second blade group 152, and several positioning screws 153. The positioning screws 153 are used to fix the first blade group and the second blade group 152 to the stirring rod 14 respectively, so that the first blade group and the second blade group 152 are at any angle between 0 and 180 degrees.

[0027] Rectangular containers are prone to forming stagnation zones at their corners, leading to temperature dead zones and abnormal crystallization. Using a liquid storage tank 11 instead of a rectangular container can reduce these dead zones. The shape of the liquid storage tank 11 optimizes the internal space, laying a structural foundation for uniform temperature.

[0028] Based on this, the stirring paddle 15 driven by the motor 13 is placed inside the storage tank 11, which can actively stir the ammonium chloride aqueous solution, accelerate heat conduction, break up temperature stratification, and make the solution temperature quickly and uniform. At the same time, it promotes convection circulation, avoids local abnormal crystallization, shortens the crystallization start-up time, and improves efficiency.

[0029] Furthermore, the two blade sets can be positioned in a diamond shape, achieving a cross arrangement from 0 to 180 degrees. The cross angle can be flexibly adjusted according to the amount and concentration of ammonium chloride aqueous solution. Different cross angles can change the convection intensity of the solution, reduce dead zones in stirring, and further improve temperature uniformity and crystallization effect.

[0030] By testing the stirring efficiency and quality at different intersection angles, the optimal stirring state of the liquid can be determined, providing direct experimental basis for the structural design of the stirring paddle 15. This has significant guiding value and helps in the optimization of subsequent devices and the development of similar equipment. Furthermore, stirring paddles 15 at different angles can adapt to stirring requirements of different concentrations.

[0031] The combination of the liquid storage tank 11 and the stirring paddle 15 not only shortens the crystallization time, but also allows the crystals to grow in a uniform environment, reducing size differences and improving crystallization stability, which better meets the accuracy and efficiency requirements of metal solidification simulation.

[0032] Based on this, such as Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of this application, the water simulation experimental device 1 may further include a gantry frame 16, which is fixed on the support 10. A hoisting device is suspended on the gantry frame 16. The motor support 12 is detachably connected to the support 10. The hoisting device is used to lift the motor 13 when the motor support 12 is separated from the support 10, so as to adjust the height of the stirring paddle 15.

[0033] In this application, the lifting device can be a common type, and therefore is not shown in the drawings, such as a hand-operated hoist or an electric screw hoist. Installation can be achieved through suitable mounting structures, such as lifting lugs, flanges, etc.

[0034] The gantry frame 16, in conjunction with the hoisting device, can adjust the height of the heavy motor 13 and other components fixed on the motor 13. After adjustment, the motor 13 can be replaced with a motor bracket 12 of other specifications.

[0035] In another embodiment of this application, if the motor bracket 12 is an adjustable height motor bracket 12 (for example, containing several fixing holes of different heights), then after the motor bracket 12 is disassembled from the bracket 10, it can be hoisted to a specified height, and the position of the motor 13 on the motor bracket 12 can be adjusted so as to fix it at the new height.

[0036] In one embodiment of this application, as Figure 3As shown, in one embodiment, the stirring rod 14 has a plurality of axially extending grooves 141 arranged around the circumference of the stirring rod 14. The first blade group 151 and the second blade group 152 each include a plurality of blades. The edges of the blades are provided with a plurality of positioning holes. The arrangement direction of the plurality of positioning holes is the same as the extension direction of the grooves 141. The positioning screws 153 correspond one-to-one with the positioning holes. The positioning screws 153 pass through the positioning holes to fix the first blade group 151 and the second blade group 152 on the stirring rod 14.

[0037] The blade angle or position can be adjusted by removing the positioning screw 153 without replacing the entire stirring blade 15, simplifying operation, reducing consumable costs, and improving the practicality of the device. The axial groove 141 improves torque transmission between the stirring blade 15 and the stirring rod 14, enhancing the power transmission stability of the experimental device.

[0038] It is understandable that, in this application, in order to improve the fixing effect of the positioning screw 153, a thread with a higher machining precision grade can be used, and thread sealant can be added to improve the tightness of the positioning screw 153.

[0039] The end of the stirring rod 14 may also be provided with threads, and a limit nut is connected to the threads. The limit nut is used to limit the displacement of the first blade group 151 and the second blade group 152 along the groove 141.

[0040] The limiting nut serves as a vertical load-bearing component, reducing the impact of gravity on the positioning screw 153. As the vertical load-bearing capacity of the positioning screw 153 is reduced, it becomes difficult to loosen, thereby improving the fixing effect on the blade.

[0041] Furthermore, by adjusting the height of the limiting nut, the height of the stirring paddle 15 on the stirring rod 14 can be changed to adapt to the stirring requirements of ammonium chloride solutions of different capacities.

[0042] In one embodiment of this application, the water simulation experimental device 1 may further include a base 17, with a plurality of casters 18 provided below the base 17, and the liquid storage tank 11 fixed on the base 17.

[0043] The casters 18 under the base 17 facilitate the overall movement of the device, eliminating the need for manual handling of the liquid storage tank 11. This is especially suitable for adjusting the position of the liquid storage tank 11 when it contains solution, and adapts to different experimental site layouts.

[0044] In one embodiment, the motor 13 is a geared motor 13. The geared motor 13 can output a lower speed and a greater torque, which, combined with the groove 141 structure on the stirring rod 14, realizes a low-speed, high-torque stirring mechanism.

[0045] On the one hand, low-speed stirring can prevent splashing of ammonium chloride aqueous solution caused by high speed, ensuring a clean experimental environment and stable solution volume. On the other hand, high torque can ensure that the stirring paddle 15 rotates smoothly in the solution, effectively breaking up temperature stratification and improving stirring uniformity even when faced with changes in solution viscosity.

[0046] Meanwhile, the groove 141 securely engages with the positioning screw 153, which can withstand the force brought by the high torque of the geared motor 13, preventing the blades from loosening, further ensuring the stability and continuity of the stirring process, and ultimately improving the temperature uniformity and crystallization effect.

[0047] In another embodiment, the blades are hollow and have a built-in heating device. By incorporating a heating device within the blades, heat can be conducted from the inside to the ammonium chloride aqueous solution, thereby further improving temperature uniformity.

[0048] Furthermore, in this application, the stirring rod 14 can be designed as a hollow structure with a heating device embedded inside, which is connected to an external temperature control module. When the solution needs to maintain a specific temperature, the stirring rod 14 can be heated by the heating device. During the stirring process, the heat is transferred to the solution along with the stirring rod 14, forming a dual heating system with the transparent heating plate of the storage tank 11, avoiding the temperature difference between the tank wall and the center caused by external heating alone, which is especially suitable for experimental needs in low-temperature environments.

[0049] It is understandable that the heating device can be a PTC (positive temperature coefficient thermistor), a resistance wire heating device, an electromagnetic heating device, an infrared heating device, a heat pump heating device, etc. When space permits, any type of heating device can be used.

[0050] During the experiment, an ammonium chloride aqueous solution was injected into a transparent storage tank 11 fixed to a base 17 with casters 18. The height of the detachable motor bracket 12 was adjusted using the hoisting device on the gantry frame 16 above the support 10, so that the stirring paddle 15 driven by the geared motor 13 (the blades are positioned by a diamond structure and groove 141, and can be arranged in a 0 to 180 degree cross pattern or replaced with different specifications) was placed inside the tank. The motor 13 was started to achieve low-speed, high-torque stirring. At the same time, the storage tank 11 was covered with an insulation layer and a transparent heating plate was attached. The stirring rod 14 had a built-in heating wire to assist in temperature control. During the process, the torque sensor of the stirring paddle 15 monitored the resistance and adjusted the output of the motor 13. The high-definition camera and image analysis module on the gantry frame 16 recorded the crystallization data. The liquid level sensor of the storage tank 11 and the overload protection module of the motor 13 provided real-time protection. If it was necessary to adjust the stirring depth, it could be easily operated through the electric lifting support 10 or the hoisting device to complete the metal melt solidification simulation experiment.

[0051] In summary, this application provides a water simulation experimental device 1 for studying the solidification process of molten metal. Through structural optimization of the storage tank 11 and the stirring paddle 15, and the coordinated stirring of the geared motor 13 and the groove 141, combined with precise temperature control and flexible adaptation design, it solves the core problems of uneven solution temperature and low crystallization efficiency in the prior art. It can provide more accurate and efficient experimental data for the study of the solidification behavior of molten metal, and at the same time provide guidance for the structural optimization of the stirring paddle 15, significantly improving the practical value and research support capability of the device.

[0052] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and substitutions can be made without departing from the technical principles of this application, and these improvements and substitutions should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A water simulation experimental apparatus for studying the solidification process of molten metal, characterized in that, include: Support (10); Storage tank (11), the storage tank (11) is made of transparent material, the storage tank (11) is placed below the support (10), the storage tank (11) is used to store ammonium chloride aqueous solution, and a transparent heating plate is attached to the storage tank (11); Motor bracket (12), the motor bracket (12) is located above the bracket (10), and a motor (13) is fixed on the motor bracket (12). A stirring rod (14) is connected to the motor (13) for transmission, and the stirring rod (14) is arranged facing downwards; A stirring paddle (15) is fixed on the stirring rod (14) and placed inside the liquid storage tank (11). The stirring paddle (15) includes a first blade group (151), a second blade group (152), and several positioning screws (153). The positioning screws (153) are used to fix the first blade group and the second blade group (152) on the stirring rod (14) respectively, so that the first blade group and the second blade group (152) are at any angle between 0 and 180 degrees.

2. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water simulation experimental device (1) also includes a gantry frame (16), which is fixed on the support (10). A hoisting device is suspended on the gantry frame (16). The motor support (12) is detachably connected to the support (10). The hoisting device is used to lift the motor (13) when the motor support (12) is separated from the support (10) in order to adjust the height of the stirring paddle (15).

3. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hoisting device is a hand-operated hoist or an electric screw hoist.

4. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stirring rod (14) has several grooves (141) extending axially. The grooves (141) are arranged around the circumference of the stirring rod (14). The first blade group (151) and the second blade group (152) each include several blades. The edge of the blade is provided with several positioning holes. The arrangement direction of the positioning holes is the same as the extension direction of the grooves (141). The positioning screws (153) correspond one-to-one with the positioning holes. The positioning screws (153) pass through the positioning holes to fix the first blade group (151) and the second blade group (152) on the stirring rod (14).

5. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The blades are hollow and have a built-in heating device.

6. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The end of the stirring rod (14) is threaded, and a limiting nut is connected to the thread. The limiting nut is used to limit the displacement of the first blade group (151) and the second blade group (152) along the groove (141).

7. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water simulation experimental device (1) also includes a base (17), and several casters (18) are provided below the base (17). The liquid storage tank (11) is fixed on the base (17).

8. The water simulation experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor (13) is a geared motor (13).

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