Blowing Lance Tip Curved Edge Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lance tips for steelmaking converters face reduced service life due to ineffective cooling, leading to thermal stress, cavitation, and erosion, which affects the stability and depth of oxygen jets, resulting in suboptimal reaction yield and variability in service life.
Innovation Solution
A lance tip design with a curved separator edge at the central opening and a sinusoidal surface, combined with a pillar for improved cooling liquid flow and heat exchange, minimizes turbulence and energy loss, enhancing the cooling efficiency and reducing erosion at the injector outlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling liquid flows at high speed along the internal surface of the front wall to improve cooling effectiveness, then cooling efficiency is improved, but cavitation occurs due to vaporisation of the cooling liquid under thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the internal surface of the front wall, specifically creating a curved surface that guides the cooling liquid flow. This curved geometry prevents abrupt changes in flow direction and reduces turbulence, thereby minimizing cavitation while maintaining effective cooling. The curved envelope surface in axial section is specifically designed to optimize the flow path of the cooling liquid along the thermal exchange space.
2Productivity
If the lance tip is exposed to high temperatures for extended periods during steelmaking operations, then production efficiency is improved, but thermal stress causes reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cooling liquid circulation through the thermal exchange space, ensuring uninterrupted heat removal from the front wall during the entire operation cycle. This continuous cooling action maintains uniform temperature distribution and prevents thermal stress accumulation, allowing the lance tip to withstand extended high-temperature exposure without degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the cooling system, specifically the shape and dimensions of the thermal exchange space, to optimize heat transfer efficiency. By changing the parameters of the curved internal surface and the configuration of cooling channels, the system achieves superior cooling performance that extends service life while maintaining production efficiency.
3Temperature
If the cooling liquid flow is not uniform across the front wall, then local temperature rises occur, but inhomogeneous temperature distribution causes mechanical stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric characteristics to different regions of the front wall's internal surface. The curved envelope surface is specifically designed with varying radius of curvature to optimize cooling liquid distribution in different zones. This local optimization ensures uniform temperature distribution across the entire front wall, preventing mechanical stresses while maintaining the structural integrity required for withstanding operational loads.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The improved cooling design extends the service life of the lance tip, maintains stable reaction yield, and ensures coherent oxygen jets penetrate deeper into the molten metal bath, enhancing the carbon oxidation reaction.
Implementation Method 1
When a cooling liquid, generally water, moves along the front wall, the calories of the metal forming this wall are transferred to this cooling liquid
Implementation Method 2
the calories of the metal forming this wall are transferred to this cooling liquid. In this way, the temperature of the lance tip is uniform over the entirety of the tip
Implementation Method 3
the liquid may vaporise locally under the thermal stress. This results in the formation of cavities filled with gas trapped within the cooling liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A blowing lance tip includes a central stirring gas-supply tube, an inner coolant-inlet tube ending, at one end thereof facing the bath, in a second front wall and having a central opening, an outer coolant-outlet tube, a heat exchange space, and a stirring gas-outlet pipe leading from each opening in the front wall, wherein the second front wall has, at the central opening, an edge which is curved in axial cross-section such that a height (H3) is defined between a leading face of said edge and the third front wall, and such that, in the heat exchange space, a predetermined minimum height (H1) is present on the side facing the central opening.