Gas Feeder Device for Metallurgical Vessel Thermal Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gas supply devices for metallurgical melting vessels face challenges due to the geometric constraints and extreme thermal loads of the melting pots, leading to difficulties in laying gas supply lines and potential damage from thermal expansion and relative movements of the furnace lining.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply device is combined with a cooling device, featuring a pipeline with cooling channels and a tubular casing that allows for flexible layout and cooling of the gas supply line, which is also designed to accommodate thermal expansion and movement, using cooling air to cool both the pipeline and the surrounding refractory material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the gas supply line is laid perpendicular to the wall or floor surface of the melting vessel, then the gas supply path is shortest and most convenient, but the furnace geometry and placement often make this impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The gas supply line is designed as a flexible hose instead of a rigid pipe, allowing it to adapt to different furnace geometries and placements while maintaining gas supply functionality. The flexible hose can be routed along the furnace lining in various configurations depending on the specific furnace layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas supply line is routed along the surface of the furnace lining rather than perpendicular to it, transitioning from a direct perpendicular path to a path that follows the third dimension of the furnace exterior surface, accommodating geometric constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gas supply line is laid along or through the furnace lining over longer sections, then adaptability to furnace geometry is improved, but the gas supply line is subjected to extreme thermal loads and thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling device is introduced as an intermediary between the gas supply line and the hot furnace environment. This cooling device, which may include cooling channels or a cooling jacket, actively removes heat from the gas supply line, protecting it from thermal damage while allowing the line to extend along the furnace lining.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas supply line uses a flexible hose with inherent thermal expansion compensation capabilities. The flexible material allows the hose to expand and contract with temperature changes without rigid structural failure, while the hose can be routed through protective channels in the furnace lining.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the wear lining moves relative to the permanent lining during heating up, then thermal expansion is accommodated, but the gas connection piece may tear off
Solution Approach 1:
The gas connection piece incorporates dynamic, movable connections rather than rigid fixed connections. This may include telescopic joints, flexible hoses, or bellows that allow relative movement between the wear lining and permanent lining while maintaining gas-tight sealing, preventing the connection piece from tearing off during thermal cycling.
4Temperature
If the pipeline is made thick-walled with cooling channels, then thermal protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is merged with the existing furnace cooling system by utilizing the furnace lining itself as a heat sink. The gas supply line is routed through channels or along surfaces of the cooled furnace lining, which passively cools the gas line without requiring separate active cooling channels in the pipeline wall, thus avoiding increased structural complexity.
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
This solution enables a flexible and thermally stable gas supply system that can extend over larger sections of the melting vessel, reducing the risk of damage from thermal loads and allowing for efficient gas distribution to multiple flushing elements.
Implementation Method 1
The pipeline can have a correspondingly thick pipe wall, for example, along or in which cooling channels run in the axial direction of the pipeline, through which a cooling medium, for example cooling air, flows
Implementation Method 2
a cooling device within the casing next to the pipeline. This cooling device can consist of at least one cooling air line, which runs essentially parallel to the gas-carrying pipeline
Implementation Method 3
This and thermally induced relative movements of the furnace lining can damage the gas connection piece
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7
AI summary
Feed system for gas flushing of metallurgical vessels comprises a gas pipe (12) enclosed in a refractory pipe (10) of larger internal diameter than the internal diameter of the gas pipe. The outer pipe also encloses a cooling pipe (16) with perforations, through which cool air flows. An independent claim is included for walls and floors of metallurgical vessels fitted with the gas feed system.