Blowing Spear Cooling System for Steel Refining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blowing spears in metal fabrication processes face issues with dross formation on the spear and oven surfaces due to inadequate thermal management and material adherence, leading to reduced operational life, increased production costs, and process inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A blowing spear design featuring concentric circular steel tubes with a copper conical lower part and internal spiral fins for enhanced thermal exchange, along with strategically placed gas outlets for post-combustion reactions to prevent dross adherence, and a cooling system that maintains the spear's temperature and facilitates dross detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water circulation cooling system is used to maintain spear body temperature, then the spear can withstand elevated temperatures during steel fabrication, but dross accumulates on the spear's external surface reducing operational life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of thermal exchange (which causes dross adherence) into a beneficial effect by directing the cooling water flow to create controlled thermal zones. The cooling system is designed to maintain the spear body temperature while creating a thermal gradient that prevents dross accumulation, transforming the原本的有害作用 into a protective mechanism that extends spear operational life
2Strength
If the spear is refrigerated through water circulation, then the spear body temperature is maintained lower to prevent softening and melting, but dross formation increases on the external surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different thermal zones on the spear surface through controlled water circulation. Different regions of the spear body are maintained at different temperatures - the cooling system selectively cools specific areas to prevent dross adherence while maintaining overall structural integrity, transforming the uniform cooling approach into a localized thermal management strategy
3Productivity
If the spear operates continuously in the steel fabrication process, then production efficiency is maintained, but dross accumulation on the oven mouth requires process stoppages for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing the cooling system to prevent dross formation before it occurs. The controlled water circulation creates thermal conditions that inhibit dross adherence in the first place, eliminating the need for subsequent cleaning operations and allowing continuous production without process stoppages
4Productivity
If the spear is immersed in the emulsion core during blowing, then oxygen injection efficiency is improved, but the spear is exposed to higher temperatures accelerating dross formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the water circulation parameters (flow rate, temperature, distribution) based on the spear's immersion depth and thermal exposure conditions. This allows the system to maintain optimal cooling effects that prevent dross formation while preserving the high-temperature environment needed for efficient oxygen injection and steel fabrication
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 design effectively prevents dross formation on the spear and oven surfaces, extending the spear's operational life, reducing maintenance needs, and minimizing production losses by maintaining a clean oven environment without requiring process stoppages for cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling liquid normally employed is water that circulates at the spear using pumps. Thus, the cooling system performs a thermal exchange between the spear's body, generally made of steel, and the liquid metal processing in the oven, through the water that circulates inside it.
Implementation Method 2
The water circulation may suffer alterations with the objective of increasing its boiling point. The temperature at the spear's external face is elevated and highly superior to water's boiling heat.
Implementation Method 3
The spear's bottom extremity, named nozzle, is normally manufactured in copper, as this metal has a high coefficient of thermal transmission, causing the heat that arrives at its surface to be immediately transferred to the cooling liquid.
Implementation Method 4
The liquid bath in processing at the oven is divided into two distinct volumes, being one part of slag, of lesser density, resultant of this process of metal purification, and the refined metallic material, steel in this case, with higher density. Due to the difference of densities, the tendency is the liquid steel to deposit at the bottom and slag remaining supernatant when blowing is interrupted.
Implementation Method 5
The water circulation may suffer alterations with the objective of increasing its boiling point.
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention refers to a blowing spear (100) used in the primary refining process for obtainment of steel, developed in such a way to maintain the loading and blowing operational conditions, comprising at the base a copper nozzle (101) to which is welded in its extremity a tube (102), comprising yet a module (125) with cleaning output (103) and positioned above module (125) a steel tube (118) and on its upper extremity, the head (107) that comprises a cooling liquid inlet (115), a gases inlet (116) and a cooling liquid outlet (117), comprising yet the spear (100) in its interior the inner tube (122) responsible for the gas passage and the intermediate tube (123) responsible for the division between the cooling liquid inlet flow and its outlet passing mandatorily through the copper nozzle (101).