A stirring device for a copper melting furnace

Abstract

This utility model provides a stirring device for a copper melting furnace, aiming to solve the technical problem of high failure rate of electric stirring devices driven by motors in high-temperature environments. The stirring device includes: a Stirling engine, comprising a heated end for driving and a cooled end for dissipating heat, with the heated end close to the heat source of the furnace; a stirring shaft, one end of which is connected to the output end of the Stirling engine via a transmission mechanism, and the other end of which extends into the interior of the furnace; a stirrer located on the end of the stirring shaft inside the furnace; and an active cooling component located on the cooled end of the Stirling engine. This stirring device fully utilizes the waste heat of the furnace as a power source, has a reasonable structural design, reliable operation, and simple maintenance. It not only solves the problem of high failure rate of traditional electric stirring devices in high-temperature environments but also meets the industrial requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection. It is suitable for various copper and copper alloy smelting applications and has high practicality and promotional value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of copper rod production technology, and more specifically to a stirring device for a copper melting furnace. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of non-ferrous metal casting, especially in the casting of copper parts, the melting of copper is a crucial preliminary step. Solid copper is melted into liquid copper through high-temperature heating, which is then used for subsequent casting, shaping, and demolding to obtain the final copper part. During this process, the uniformity of the molten copper—including temperature uniformity and compositional uniformity—is a key factor determining the quality of the final casting. If temperature gradients or compositional segregation exist within the molten copper, it can easily lead to defects such as shrinkage cavities, porosity, and uneven distribution of inclusions, severely affecting the mechanical properties and yield of the product.

[0003] To ensure uniformity of the molten copper, existing technologies generally employ mechanical stirring. Currently, the most commonly used stirring device in the industry uses an electrically driven motor as a power source, which drives a stirrer immersed in the molten copper to rotate and stir through a reducer, drive shaft, and other mechanisms.

[0004] However, this motor-driven stirring system has a significant inherent drawback: the melting temperature of copper is extremely high (pure copper has a melting point of approximately 1083°C). During operation, the furnace radiates a large amount of heat to the surrounding environment, creating a persistently high-temperature environment. As a precision electrical device, the drive motor, operating in such a high-temperature environment for extended periods, is highly susceptible to aging and failure of its internal coil insulation material, and the bearing grease is prone to drying out. This leads to motor overheating, reduced efficiency, and even burnout, significantly increasing the failure rate. A motor malfunction not only interrupts the stirring process and disrupts production, but can also cause quality issues for the entire batch of products due to uneven distribution of molten copper within a single pour. Repairing or replacing the motor also incurs additional production costs and time delays.

[0005] To address this problem, some improvements have emerged in existing technologies, such as adding a heat shield to the motor or setting up a remote drive mechanism. However, the heat shield has limited effectiveness and may affect the motor's own heat dissipation; while remote drive (such as using long shaft transmission) makes the transmission structure complex and bulky, introducing more transmission losses and potential failure points, without fundamentally solving the problem. Utility Model Content

[0006] In view of the technical problem that existing stirring devices driven by electric motors have a high failure rate in high-temperature environments, this utility model provides a stirring device for a copper melting furnace. It has the advantage of using the heat source of the melting furnace as a power source, which fundamentally solves the problem of high failure rate of existing stirring devices driven by electric motors.

[0007] The technical solution of this utility model is: A stirring device for a copper melting furnace, comprising: A Stirling engine comprising a heated end driven by heat and a cooled end dissipating heat, the heated end being close to a heat source in a furnace; A stirring shaft, one end of which is connected to the output of the Stirling engine via a transmission mechanism, and the other end of which extends into the interior of the furnace; A stirrer is located at one end of the stirring shaft inside the furnace; An active cooling system is located at the cold end of the Stirling engine.

[0008] Optionally, the Stirling engine is an α-type dual-piston Stirling engine.

[0009] Optionally, the hot-end cylinder of the Stirling engine is made of high-temperature resistant alloy or ceramic material, and the outer wall of the cold-end cylinder of the Stirling engine is provided with heat dissipation fins.

[0010] Optionally, the transmission mechanism includes a reduction gear set, the input shaft of which is connected to the power output end of the Stirling engine, and the output shaft is connected to the stirring shaft.

[0011] Optionally, the reduction gear set is a worm gear mechanism.

[0012] Optionally, the stirring shaft is connected to the output end of the transmission mechanism via a coupling.

[0013] Optionally, the stirring shaft passes through the furnace cover or side wall of the furnace, and a high-temperature resistant seal is provided at the penetration point.

[0014] Optionally, the stirrer is a propeller-type or paddle-type structure.

[0015] Optionally, it also includes: A bracket for supporting and securing the Stirling engine and transmission mechanism, the bracket being adjustable in height and angle.

[0016] Optionally, the active cooling component includes a fan.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: This stirring device makes full use of the waste heat of the furnace as a power source. It has a reasonable structural design, reliable operation, and simple maintenance. It not only solves the problem of high failure rate of traditional electric stirring devices in high-temperature environments, but also meets the industrial requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection. It is suitable for various copper and copper alloy smelting applications and has high practicality and promotion value. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0020] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0021] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided in this invention, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0022] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] Example

[0024] See Figure 1 This embodiment provides a stirring device for a copper melting furnace, including a Stirling engine 10, a stirring shaft 20, a stirrer 30, and an active heat dissipation assembly 40. The Stirling engine 10 includes a hot end 11 driven by heat and a cold end 12 for heat dissipation. The hot end 11 of the Stirling engine 10 is positioned near an external heat source of the melting furnace 60 to fully utilize the high-temperature exhaust gas or radiant heat energy emitted by the melting furnace 60 as a power source. One end of the stirring shaft 20 is connected to the output end of the Stirling engine 10 via a transmission mechanism 50, and the other end extends into the interior of the melting furnace 60. The stirrer 30 is installed at the end of the stirring shaft 20 located inside the furnace and is used to stir and mix the molten copper. The active heat dissipation assembly 40 is disposed at the cold end 12 of the Stirling engine 10 to enhance the heat dissipation effect of the cold end 12 and ensure stable operation of the engine in a high-temperature environment.

[0025] In this embodiment, a Stirling engine 10 is used as the stirring power source. Its hot end 11 absorbs the waste heat emitted by the melting furnace 60 and converts it into mechanical energy to drive the stirring shaft 20 to rotate. Therefore, no external power or independent drive motor is required, which fundamentally solves the problems of insulation aging, lubrication failure, and high failure rate caused by long-term high-temperature operation of traditional motors. At the same time, since the cold end 12 of the Stirling engine 10 needs to maintain a low temperature during operation to form a temperature difference power cycle, an active heat dissipation component 40 is specially set to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the cold end 12 and ensure the efficient and reliable operation of the engine.

[0026] Preferably, the Stirling engine 10 is an α-type dual-piston Stirling engine 10. This type of engine has the characteristics of compact structure, high power density, and suitability for operation at medium and low temperature differences, and can better adapt to the heat source conditions around the melting furnace 60.

[0027] In one specific embodiment: The hot-end cylinder 11 of the Stirling engine 10 is made of high-temperature resistant alloy or ceramic materials, which can withstand the high-temperature environment near the melting furnace 60 for a long time and avoid deformation or damage due to thermal stress. The outer wall of the cold-end cylinder 12 is equipped with heat dissipation fins to increase the heat dissipation area and improve the heat dissipation capacity under natural convection and forced convection conditions.

[0028] In another specific embodiment: The transmission mechanism 50 includes a reduction gear set, whose input shaft is connected to the power output shaft of the Stirling engine 10, and whose output shaft is connected to the stirring shaft 20. By rationally designing the gear transmission ratio, the output speed of the Stirling engine 10 can be adjusted to match the required speed range of the stirrer 30, ensuring a uniform and stable stirring process.

[0029] Furthermore, the reduction gear set can adopt a worm gear mechanism. This mechanism has the characteristics of large transmission ratio, compact structure, and reverse self-locking, which can effectively reduce the output speed, prevent the stirring shaft 20 from reversing due to melt resistance, and enhance the rigidity and durability of the entire transmission system.

[0030] In another specific embodiment: The stirring shaft 20 is connected to the output end of the transmission mechanism 50 via a coupling. The coupling can compensate for axial, radial, and angular deviations caused by installation errors or thermal expansion, reduce alignment requirements, and mitigate impact vibrations during startup and operation.

[0031] The stirring shaft 20 can extend into the furnace through the furnace cover or side wall of the melting furnace 60, and a high-temperature resistant seal is provided at the penetration point. This seal can effectively prevent the leakage of high-temperature molten copper or gas inside the furnace, while withstanding the high-temperature environment at the furnace opening or wall surface, maintaining long-term sealing performance.

[0032] In another specific embodiment: The agitator 30 can be either a propeller type or a paddle type. The propeller type agitator 30 is suitable for axial flow stirring of medium-to-low viscosity melts, promoting temperature homogenization and component mixing. The paddle type structure is suitable for medium-to-high viscosity melts, providing strong shearing and tumbling effects, and can be selected according to the specific process requirements of copper smelting.

[0033] To support the Stirling engine 10 and transmission mechanism 50, the stirring device is also equipped with a dedicated bracket. This bracket is height and angle adjustable, which allows for flexible adjustment of the installation posture of the Stirling engine 10 according to different furnace types and heat source locations, ensuring that its hot end 11 can efficiently absorb heat, while ensuring good alignment between the stirring shaft 20 and the furnace body sealing structure.

[0034] In another specific embodiment: The active cooling component 40 employs a fan for forced convection cooling. The fan outlet is positioned directly opposite the cold end 12 of the Stirling engine 10, and the airflow removes heat from the cylinder surface of the cold end 12, significantly improving heat dissipation efficiency. To further enhance the cooling effect, a cold air delivery pipe can be connected to the fan inlet to introduce ambient air at a lower temperature or pre-cooled air, thereby increasing the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends 11 and improving the heat-to-work conversion efficiency of the Stirling engine 10.

[0035] In summary, the stirring device proposed in this embodiment makes full use of the residual heat of the melting furnace as a power source. It has a reasonable structural design, reliable operation, and simple maintenance. It not only solves the problem of high failure rate of traditional electric stirring devices in high-temperature environments, but also meets the industrial requirements of energy conservation and environmental protection. It is suitable for various copper and copper alloy smelting applications and has high practicality and promotion value.

[0036] The embodiments described above merely illustrate specific implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of this utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A stirring device for a copper melting furnace, characterized in that, include: A Stirling engine comprising a heated end driven by heat and a cooled end dissipating heat, the heated end being close to a heat source in a furnace; A stirring shaft, one end of which is connected to the output of the Stirling engine via a transmission mechanism, and the other end of which extends into the interior of the furnace; A stirrer is located at one end of the stirring shaft inside the furnace; An active cooling system is located at the cold end of the Stirling engine.

2. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Stirling engine is an α-type dual-piston Stirling engine.

3. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, The hot-end cylinder of the Stirling engine is made of high-temperature resistant alloy or ceramic material, and the cold-end cylinder of the Stirling engine has heat dissipation fins on its outer wall.

4. The stirring device of a copper material melting furnace according to claim 1, wherein The transmission mechanism includes a reduction gear set, the input shaft of which is connected to the power output end of the Stirling engine, and the output shaft is connected to the stirring shaft.

5. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 4, wherein The reduction gear set is a worm gear mechanism.

6. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 1, wherein The stirring shaft is connected to the output end of the transmission mechanism via a coupling.

7. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 1, wherein The stirring shaft passes through the furnace cover or side wall of the furnace, and a high-temperature resistant seal is provided at the penetration point.

8. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 1, wherein The agitator is a propeller-type or paddle-type structure.

9. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 1, wherein Also includes: A bracket for supporting and securing the Stirling engine and transmission mechanism, the bracket being adjustable in height and angle.

10. The stirring device of a copper charge melting furnace according to claim 1, wherein The active cooling component includes a fan.

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