Oxygen Blowing Lance with Spring-Loaded Thermocouple
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing metallurgical processes for cooling oxygen blowing lances during steel treatment in converters face challenges such as rapid wear and potential rupture due to high thermal loads, leading to unsafe water vaporization and increased costs from frequent lance replacements.
Innovation Solution
Integration of temperature probes within the lance head, connected via signal lines through the lance body, allows for real-time temperature monitoring and regulation, combined with protective measures to prevent water release, and includes a gas-pressurized protective pipe to ensure safety and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the lance head is cooled intensively with cool water under high pressure, then the thermal load is reduced and overheating is prevented, but the risk of water release and explosive vaporization increases when the lance is plunged into molten steel
Solution Approach 1:
A temperature probe is integrated into the lance head to monitor the temperature in real-time. The probe transmits temperature data through signal lines to a control system, which adjusts the cooling water flow rate based on the measured temperature. This feedback mechanism prevents overheating while avoiding excessive cooling that could lead to water release risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from static high-pressure water cooling to dynamic adaptive cooling. The cooling water flow rate is continuously adjusted based on temperature measurements, allowing the system to optimize cooling intensity according to actual thermal conditions and operational phase, thereby preventing both overheating and water release hazards.
2Temperature
If the lance head is made thinner to reduce weight and improve heat dissipation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the structural strength and resistance to thermal stress are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lance head is constructed using composite material structures, combining materials with different thermal and mechanical properties. This allows the design to achieve both effective heat dissipation and sufficient structural strength to withstand thermal stress without requiring excessive thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The lance head employs local quality variation where different regions have different thicknesses and material properties optimized for their specific functions. Areas requiring high heat dissipation have thinner sections with higher thermal conductivity, while areas requiring structural strength maintain appropriate thickness, achieving optimal balance between cooling efficiency and mechanical integrity.
3Reliability
If temperature monitoring is implemented using integrated probes, then the metallurgical process can be controlled and water release can be prevented, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature probe, signal lines, and cooling water channels are integrated into a unified lance head structure. The probe is positioned within the cooling water channel, and the signal lines are routed along existing structural pathways, merging multiple functions into a single integrated component rather than separate assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The lance head structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, channels cooling water, houses the temperature probe, and routes signal lines. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall assembly process despite the added temperature monitoring capability.
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 effectively monitors and controls the temperature of the lance head, preventing rupture and enabling efficient metallurgical processing by adjusting oxygen flow and distance from the molten metal bath, thus enhancing the reliability and longevity of the oxygen blowing lance.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature in the lance head of the blowing lance, which is transferred from the molten steel to the lance head is monitored
Implementation Method 2
temperature probes which are integrated into the lance head and regulated by cooling off with water
Implementation Method 3
cooling off with water
Implementation Method 4
cooling chambers arranged about said central strut, wherein said plurality of cooling chambers are in fluid communication with said cooling water inlet and outlet conduits
Implementation Method 5
a spring disposed in the bore and surrounding the temperature probe and the signal lines, the spring pressing the temperature probe toward the floor of the bore hole
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
An oxygen blowing lance comprising: a lance body including an oxygen conduit and cooling water inlet and outlet conduits surrounding said oxygen conduit; a lance head connected to said lance body and comprising a nozzle body, said nozzle body including a central strut having bore hole, a plurality of nozzles arranged about said central strut, and a plurality of cooling chambers arranged about said central strut, wherein said plurality of nozzles are in fluid communication with said oxygen conduit for discharging oxygen from said oxygen conduit onto a metal bath in a converter vessel, and wherein said plurality of cooling chambers are in fluid communication with said cooling water inlet and outlet conduits; a temperature probe or camera assembly received in said bore hole for monitoring the temperature of said lance head or molten heat in which the lance is inserted; signal lines connected to said temperature probe for conveying signals from said temperature probe whereby operation of said blowing lance is regulated in response to said signals; and a protective pipe pressurized with a gas disposed in the bore and surrounding said temperature probe assembly and the signal lines.