A system and method for installing and removing a porous plug relative to a port of metallurgic ladle includes an extendable boom rotatable about vertical axis and pivotable up and down at a first end of the boom. A mast is coupled to a second end of the boom and rotatable about multiple axes relative to the boom to position or maintain the mast in a given orientation, such as in alignment with the port of the ladle in response to rotatable or pivotable movement of the boom. The mast includes a slider mast that is translatable along the length of the mast to insert the plug or retract the plug. The mast may also include jaw grippers to secure the plug and may be configured to rotate the plug relative to the mast. The system may automatically control the position and orientation of the boom, mast, and slider mast.

A steel ladle drainage method, is achieved by using a steel ladle structure. Vacuum interlayers are provided within an upper nozzle, an upper fixed plate, alower fixed plate and a sliding plate of the steel ladle structure respectively. In the steel ladle drainage method provided by the present invention, a metal drainage agent is used to replace the drainage sand in the prior art, the metal drainage agent is melted by the liquid steel and deposited in the upper nozzle, the sliding plate with the vacuum interlayer and the upper nozzle with the vacuum interlayer have the insulation effect on the melted metal drainage agent, agent falling. Moreover, through moving the sliding plate, the two pouring holes of the upper and lower fixed plates are connectedwith each other, the metal drainage agent enters the tundish through the pouring holes and the lower nozzle under the action of gravity.

A steel ladle drainage method is achieved by using a steel ladle structure. Vacuum interlayers are provided within an upper nozzle, an upper fixed plate, a lower fixed plate and a sliding plate of the steel ladle structure respectively. In the steel ladle drainage method provided by the present invention, a metal drainage agent is used to replace the drainage sand in the prior art, the metal drainage agent is melted by the liquid steel and deposited in the upper nozzle, the sliding plate with the vacuum interlayer and the upper nozzle with the vacuum interlayer have the insulation effect on the melted metal drainage agent. Moreover, through moving the sliding plate, the two pouring holes of the upper and lower fixed plates are connected with each other, the metal drainage agent enters the tundish through the pouring holes and the lower nozzle under the action of gravity.

A steel ladle drainage method is achieved by using a steel ladle structure. Vacuum interlayers are provided within an upper nozzle, an upper fixed plate, a lower fixed plate and a sliding plate of the steel ladle structure respectively. In the steel ladle drainage method provided by the present invention, a metal drainage agent is used to replace the drainage sand in the prior art, the metal drainage agent is melted by the liquid steel and deposited in the upper nozzle, the sliding plate with the vacuum interlayer and the upper nozzle with the vacuum interlayer have the insulation effect on the melted metal drainage agent. Moreover, through moving the sliding plate, the two pouring holes of the upper and lower fixed plates are connected with each other, the metal drainage agent enters the tundish through the pouring holes and the lower nozzle under the action of gravity.

A nozzle sand and method of use and operation, utilizes as a constituent component a granulated material that will break down to lose structural integrity and strength when subjected to temperatures and weight of molten ferrous materials, to compact to form at least a partial barrier to penetration of the molten ferrous material while remaining at least substantially in a granulated state. When the nozzle is opened, the loose nozzle sand will freely flow from the nozzle and the barrier will break under the weight of the ferrous material, such that the ferrous material will flow from the vessel through the nozzle. As a representative formulation, the nozzle sand can include between about 50 percent and about 60 percent by weight raw dolomitic lime; between about 20 percent and about 30 percent by weight forsterite; and between about 15 percent and about 20 percent by weight tabular alumina.

A nozzle sand and method of use and operation, utilizes as a constituent component a granulated material that will break down to lose structural integrity and strength when subjected to temperatures and weight of molten ferrous materials, to compact to form at least a partial barrier to penetration of the molten ferrous material while remaining at least substantially in a granulated state. When the nozzle is opened, the loose nozzle sand will freely flow from the nozzle and the barrier will break under the weight of the ferrous material, such that the ferrous material will flow from the vessel through the nozzle. As a representative formulation, the nozzle sand can include between about 50 percent and about 60 percent by weight raw dolomitic lime; between about 20 percent and about 30 percent by weight forsterite; and between about 15 percent and about 20 percent by weight tabular alumina.

In an electric arc furnace system for making steel, a method and structure (1) for eliminating teeming hang-ups and ensuring temperature homogeneity in a ladle which teems into an ingot mold by gas purging at all possible steps under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions, and (2) for preventing non-metallic inclusions from appearing in the final product by deflecting the granular material in the teeming ladle well block away from the ingot mold by a heat resistant but combustible deflector just prior to entry of the teeming stream into the ingot mold.

In an electric arc furnace system for making steel, a method and structure (1) for eliminating teeming hang-ups and ensuring temperature homogeneity in a ladle which teems into an ingot mold by gas purging at all possible steps under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions, and (2) for preventing non-metallic inclusions from appearing in the final product by deflecting the granular material in the teeming ladle well block away from the ingot mold by a heat resistant but combustible deflector just prior to entry of the teeming stream into the ingot mold.