A tundish with improved flow characteristics for molten metal has an outlet in its base. The outlet is spaced longitudinally in the tundish from a pour zone. The pour zone is positioned to receive a stream of molten steel from a ladle. The outlet is provided with a refractory barrier at its upper end. A portion of the floor of the tundish circumferential to the outlet is provided with a refractory structure having an interior free volume. Structures within the tundish, such as a dam extending upwardly from the tundish floor between the pour zone and the outlet, or a well in the tundish floor surrounding the outlet, may be used to affect the flow of molten metal in the tundish.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle for the molten metal. A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

A refractory block configured to surround an outlet modifies, within a refractory vessel, the flow of molten metal passing through the outlet. The block takes the form of a base through which a main orifice passes, and a wall extending upwards around the periphery of the base. Structural features that may be included in the block include a circumferential lip around the exterior of the wall, an interior volume in which the radius decreases downwardly towards the main orifice in a plurality of steps, and flow openings in the wall that are configured to induce swirling in the flow pattern in the interior volume of the block.

A control method and apparatus for inhibiting slag entrapment in ladle (1) during continuous casting production. An optimal control model calculating unit (11) receives related signals and data sent by a ladle weight detector (4), a molten steel flow field detector (5), a slag detector (7), a sliding gate opening detector (9), and a process signal interface unit (10), performs calculation and analysis according to an optimal control model to obtain a corresponding optimal control strategy, and outputs the strategy to an electromagnetic brake (6) and a sliding gate controller (8) for slag entrapment inhibition control. Regarding the two processes where a vortex may be formed, by means of different optimal control strategies, which respectively inhibit or destroy the formation of a vortex, slag generation is postponed, and molten steel may flow out without bringing slag out, thereby reducing residual ladle steel and improving molten steel yield.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

An apparatus and method for filtering molten metal (M), such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes at least one ceramic foam filter or any other type of filtration media such as porous tube or alumina balls disposed in a receptacle (12) for the molten metal (M). A vibrator vibrates at least one of the filter, the receptacle (12) or the metal and may be used to induce priming, filtering and/or drainage of the filter. The vibrator may be retrofitted to an existing filter system and may be adjustable in frequency and amplitude. The vibration may be continuous over a given period or produced in a single shock.

A refractory block configured to surround an outlet modifies, within a refractory vessel, the flow of molten metal passing through the outlet. The block takes the form of a base through which a main orifice passes, and a wall extending upwards around the periphery of the base. Structural features that may be included in the block include a circumferential lip around the exterior of the wall, an interior volume in which the radius decreases downwardly towards the main orifice in a plurality of steps, and flow openings in the wall that are configured to induce swirling in the flow pattern in the interior volume of the block.

A pouring facility includes a mold conveying device configured to convey a mold, a molten-metal discharging container configured to store waste molten metal, and a pouring machine movable on a conveyance path located between the mold conveying device and the molten-metal discharging container, the pouring machine being configured to tilt a ladle in a first direction to pour molten metal into the mold conveyed by the mold conveying device, and tilt the ladle in a second direction opposite to the first direction to discharge waste molten metal into the molten-metal discharging container.

A metallurgical ladle, and more particularly the bottom of the ladle or a ladle block in the bottom of the ladle, have an outlet through which the molten metal can drain. The ladle bottom contains an open-end channel bounded by at least one wall with a major dimension perpendicular to a line joining the center of the outlet entrance to the center of the wall. In selected configurations, opposing faces of the walls bounding the open-end channel are convex in the horizontal plane and concave in the horizontal plane, respectively.