A method of molten metal continuous casting utilizing an impact pad having a non-wavy spherical top in the tundish that is impacted by the stream of molten metal entering into the tundish wherein the flow of molten metal within the tundish is optimized to improve flow patterns, reduce dead zone areas, prevent splashing while filling the empty tundish, and eliminating the open “red” eye forming in the molten metal surface layer.

A slab nozzle for use in a continuous slab casting installation is characterized by a specific geometry of the outer wall of a downstream portion thereof which is inserted in a slab mould cavity. The specific geometry promotes a “round-about” effect whereby converging opposite streams of molten metal flowing towards two opposite flanks of the slab nozzle are each preferentially deviated towards one side of the slab nozzle where they can freely flow through the narrow channels formed between the slab nozzle and the slab mould cavity wall without impinging with one another. This prolongs the service life of the slab nozzle by substantially reducing the erosion rate of the outer wall thereof.

A slab nozzle for use in a continuous slab casting installation is characterized by a specific geometry of the outer wall of a downstream portion thereof which is inserted in a slab mould cavity. The specific geometry promotes a “round-about” effect whereby converging opposite streams of molten metal flowing towards two opposite flanks of the slab nozzle are each preferentially deviated towards one side of the slab nozzle where they can freely flow through the narrow channels formed between the slab nozzle and the slab mould cavity wall without impinging with one another. This prolongs the service life of the slab nozzle by substantially reducing the erosion rate of the outer wall thereof.

A continuous casting facility used for thin slab casting has a mold for casting molten steel, an immersion nozzle that supplies the molten steel into the mold, and an electromagnetic stirring device capable of providing a swirl flow at a molten steel surface in the mold, and a thickness D.sub.Cu (mm) of a copper plate of a long side wall, a thickness T (mm) of a steel piece, a frequency f (Hz) of the electromagnetic stirring device, electric conductivity σ (S/m) of the molten steel, and electric conductivity σ.sub.Cu (S/m) of the copper plate of the long side wall are adjusted to satisfy the following formulae (1)-a and (1)-b:

D.sub.Cu<√(2/σ.sub.Cuωμ)  (1)-a

√(1/2σωμ)<T  (1)-b, where ω=2πf: angular velocity (rad/sec), and μ=4π×10.sup.−7: magnetic permeability in vacuum (N/A.sup.2).

A self-locking inner nozzle system locks an inner nozzle in operating position at an outlet of a metallurgic vessel for a time sufficient for a sealing material to set, said self-locking inner nozzle system comprising: (A) an inner nozzle, provided with N≥2 protrusions, distributed around a perimeter of the lateral surface, (B) an upper frame rigidly fixed to a bottom surface of a metallurgic vessel, (C) a locking ring, rigidly fixed to the upper frame
wherein, an inner surface of the locking ring is provided with N L-shaped channels, such that the inner nozzle can be inserted along a longitudinal axis, Z, through an opening of the locking ring, with the N protrusions being engaged in corresponding first channel portion until they abut against corresponding first channel ends, at which point the inner nozzle can be rotated about the longitudinal axis to engage the protrusions along corresponding second channel portions to self-lock the inner nozzle in its operating position.

A self-locking inner nozzle system locks an inner nozzle in operating position at an outlet of a metallurgic vessel for a time sufficient for a sealing material to set, said self-locking inner nozzle system comprising: (A) an inner nozzle, provided with N≥2 protrusions, distributed around a perimeter of the lateral surface, (B) an upper frame rigidly fixed to a bottom surface of a metallurgic vessel, (C) a locking ring, rigidly fixed to the upper frame
wherein, an inner surface of the locking ring is provided with N L-shaped channels, such that the inner nozzle can be inserted along a longitudinal axis, Z, through an opening of the locking ring, with the N protrusions being engaged in corresponding first channel portion until they abut against corresponding first channel ends, at which point the inner nozzle can be rotated about the longitudinal axis to engage the protrusions along corresponding second channel portions to self-lock the inner nozzle in its operating position.

This disclosure pertains to a system, methods, and apparatus configured for generating singulated metal droplets and collecting powder metal. The system comprises crucible apparatus each including a crucible housing, a gas inlet, and an alloy nozzle. The crucible housing is operatively coupled to an induction heating element and power supply to provide induction heating of the crucible housing and electromagnetically levitate a mass of molten metal. The gas inlet is operatively coupled to a gas supply and configured to receive a pressurized gas pulse via the gas supply, the pressurized gas pulse being directed at the mass of molten metal. The alloy nozzle is configured to release a metal droplet singulated from the mass of molten level due to the pressurized gas pulse. The system includes a powder collection unit configured to collect powder from one or more dispensing channel configured to catch the falling singulated liquid metal droplet.

This disclosure pertains to a system, methods, and apparatus configured for generating singulated metal droplets and collecting powder metal. The system comprises crucible apparatus each including a crucible housing, a gas inlet, and an alloy nozzle. The crucible housing is operatively coupled to an induction heating element and power supply to provide induction heating of the crucible housing and electromagnetically levitate a mass of molten metal. The gas inlet is operatively coupled to a gas supply and configured to receive a pressurized gas pulse via the gas supply, the pressurized gas pulse being directed at the mass of molten metal. The alloy nozzle is configured to release a metal droplet singulated from the mass of molten level due to the pressurized gas pulse. The system includes a powder collection unit configured to collect powder from one or more dispensing channel configured to catch the falling singulated liquid metal droplet.

The pouring apparatus includes: a ladle including a nozzle and configured to store molten metal; a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the ladle so that a tapping position from the nozzle of the ladle is maintained at a constant position; and a radiation thermometer including a sensor head configured to output a signal related to a temperature at a measurement position and an amplifier configured to process the signal output by the sensor head, wherein the sensor head is disposed so that the measurement position is at the tapping position, and outputs a signal related to a temperature of molten metal in a molten metal flow at the tapping position.

The pouring apparatus includes: a ladle including a nozzle and configured to store molten metal; a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the ladle so that a tapping position from the nozzle of the ladle is maintained at a constant position; and a radiation thermometer including a sensor head configured to output a signal related to a temperature at a measurement position and an amplifier configured to process the signal output by the sensor head, wherein the sensor head is disposed so that the measurement position is at the tapping position, and outputs a signal related to a temperature of molten metal in a molten metal flow at the tapping position.