IMMERSION NOZZLE

Abstract

A flat immersion nozzle stabilizes the discharging flow of molten steel thereby stabilizing the molten steel surface in a mold, namely, decreasing the fluctuation thereof. In the immersion nozzle having a flat shape in which a width Wn of an inner hole is greater than a thickness Tn of the inner hole, a central protrusion portion (1) is disposed in a center section of a wall surface in a width direction of a flat section. Wp/Wn, a ratio of a length Wp of the central protrusion portion in the width direction to Wn, is 0.2 or more and 0.7 or less. The central protrusion portion (1) is disposed symmetrically as a pair; and a total length Tp in the thickness direction of the pair of the central protrusion portions is 0.15 or more and 0.75 or less of Tn.

Claims

1. An immersion nozzle, wherein the immersion nozzle has a flat shape in which a width Wn of an inner hole is greater than a thickness Tn of the inner hole, the immersion nozzle comprising: a central protrusion portion including a protruding portion in a center section of a wall surface in a width direction of a flat section; Wp/Wn, which is a ratio of a length Wp of the central protrusion portion in the width direction to Wn, is 0.2 or more and 0.7 or less; the central protrusion portion is disposed symmetrically as a pair; and a total length Tp of the pair of the central protrusion portions in the thickness direction is 0.15 or more and 0.75 or less of Tn.

2. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the central protrusion portion slants downward to a discharge port direction from a center in the width direction, in which the said center serves as a peak.

3. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the central protrusion portion slants to the thickness direction as well as a downward direction, in which a boundary portion thereof with an immersion nozzle wall in the width direction serves as a peak.

4. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion length of the upper surface of the central protrusion portion is the largest in a center part of Wp and gradually decreases in directions to both edge parts from the center part.

5. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the immersion nozzle comprises an upper protrusion portion above the central protrusion portion.

6. The immersion nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the upper protrusion portion slants to a discharge port direction.

7. The immersion nozzle according to claim 1, wherein Wn/Tn, which is a ratio of the width to the thickness, is 5 or more.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a conceptual figure illustrating an example of the immersion nozzle of the present invention provided with the central protrusion portion; (a) is a cross section view passing through a center of the short side; and (b) is a cross section view (view A-A) passing through a center of the long side.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a conceptual figure illustrating an example of the immersion nozzle of the present invention provided with, in addition to the central protrusion portion, the upper protrusion portion; (a) is a cross section view passing through a center of the short side; and (b) is a cross section view (view A-A) passing through a center of the long side.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a conceptual figure viewing downward from the B-B cross section of the upper part of the central protrusion portion of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a conceptual figure illustrating an example of the C section of FIG. 1 (lower part of the immersion nozzle) wherein the central protrusion portion slants to the discharge port direction.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a conceptual figure illustrating, similarly to FIG. 4, another example of the cross section wherein Wp is further enlarged and a discharge port is disposed additionally in the bottom part.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the center of the immersion nozzle in the width direction (A-A position in FIG. 3, etc.), which is a conceptual figure illustrating an example wherein the upper surface of the central protrusion portion slants to the inner hole center direction.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a top view of the cross section of the A-A position of FIG. 4, which is a conceptual figure illustrating an example wherein the protrusion length of the central protrusion portion to the inner hole center direction decreases gradually from the center to a width direction of the inner hole.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a conceptual figure illustrating the lower section of the immersion nozzle of the present invention (FIG. 2) which is provided with the upper protrusion portion in addition to the central protrusion portion.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a conceptual figure illustrating an example of the immersion nozzle according to a conventional technology wherein the protrusion portion is absent (the rest is the same as FIG. 1).

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Flow of the molten steel dropping from the molten steel inlet, which is a narrow port located in the upper center edge of the immersion nozzle, is prone to concentrate in the center thereof. Especially in the case that there is no obstacle in the inner hole, the flow rates of the molten steel are prone to be significantly different between around the center part and around the edge part in the width direction of the flat section of the immersion nozzle.

[0025] Inventors of the present invention found that the disturbance of the flow of the molten steel discharged from the immersion nozzle, which is flat in its shape as mentioned above, is caused largely by this concentration of the molten steel flow into the center part of the inner hole thereof. Therefore, according to the present invention, the flow mount of the molten steel into the center part of the inner hole is reduced so as to have a suitable balance with the flow amount to the discharge port direction.

[0026] Disposition of the means to divide the flow as described in the cited reference 3 can generate the molten steel flow toward the edge part side in the width direction to a certain degree. However, when the flow is divided completely or in a fixed way as mentioned above, separated flows of the molten steel are generated in each part of the inner hole, i.e., in each of individual narrow regions, so that parts that the flow direction and flow rate are different in each part of the inner hole are prone to be generated. Especially when the flow rate and direction are changed by the control or like of the flow rate of molten steel, the molten steel flow is one-sided, thereby causing a very large disturbance in the flow inside the nozzle or in the discharging flow.

[0027] In the present invention, a means to gently control the flow direction and flow rate in the section where the molten steel flow passes through is disposed so as not to divide the molten steel flow in the inner hole completely or in a fixed way. Namely, the protrusion portion, which is protruded toward the inner hole space side from the inner hole wall and is nevertheless in the state of keeping a liberated part of the inner hole space in the protrusion portion, is disposed. Owing to this protrusion portion as well as by adjusting the place, length, direction, and the like of the protrusion portion, concentration of the molten steel flow to around the center part is avoided, and at the same time the molten steel flow is dispersed toward the edge part side in the width direction, namely, to the discharge port side, so that a suitable balance can be obtained. In addition, because not only the molten steel flow is dispersed but also the space is communicated in the region where the protrusion portion is disposed, the molten steel flow is not in the state of being completely divided, so that the molten steel is gently mixed thereby becoming a dispersed flow while being equalized. As a result of this, the discharging region is not divided into narrow regions to generate the parts with different directions and flow rates, thereby contributing to obtain the equalized discharging flow. The protrusion portion having the function like this is disposed firstly in the center part of the wall surface in the width direction (long side) of the flat section of the immersion nozzle (central protrusion portion).

[0028] Also, the upper surface of the central protrusion portion may be slanted to the width direction of the immersion nozzle as well as the downward direction, namely, to the direction of the discharge port, in which the center part of the long side of the protrusion portion serves as a peak. With the slope like this, the flow rate and flow modality of the molten steel can be further changed so as to be optimized.

[0029] Also, the upper surface of the central protrusion portion may be slanted to the center direction of the thickness direction of the immersion nozzle, namely, to the space side, as well as the downward direction, in which the boundary portion with the wall surface in the width direction of the immersion nozzle (to the long side) serves as a peak. With the slope like this, not only the flow rate and flow modality of the molten steel can be further changed so as to be optimized.

[0030] In addition, the protrusion length of the central protrusion portion may be gradually decreased in such a way that the upper surface may be slanted toward the both edge parts of the immersion nozzle in the width direction (long side) in which the protrusion length is the largest in the center part of the immersion nozzle in the width direction, whereby the center part serving as a peak. With the slope like this, not only the flow rate and flow modality of the molten steel can be further changed but also they can be optimized.

[0031] Because the flat immersion nozzle has the form that the discharge port in the side wall section in the short side is open and that the port is long in a vertical direction, the discharging flow rate in the discharge port is prone to be slower in the upper side thereof; and thus, especially around the upper edge part thereof, the phenomenon of reverse flow to cause suction of the molten steel into the immersion nozzle is observed often. Accordingly, in the present invention, in addition to the central protrusion portion, one or plurality of the protrusion portion may be disposed above the central protrusion portion (upper protrusion portion). This upper protrusion portion may have a similar structure to the central protrusion portion mentioned before; and in addition, the upper protrusion portion may be disposed symmetrically in a pair in the position apart from the center vertical axis of the immersion nozzle with an arbitrary distance.

[0032] The upper protrusion portion suppresses the decrease in the flow rate especially in the upper part of the discharge port or the reverse flow around the upper edge part thereof, so that this complements the function to equalize the flow rate distribution in each position of the discharge port in the vertical direction. In this upper protrusion portion, too, similarly to the central protrusion portion located below it, the protrusion length, angle, width, and the like can be optimized without dividing the inner hole space in accordance with an individual immersion nozzle structure, operation conditions, and the like. The slope of the upper surface to the width direction as well as the downward direction, the slope thereof to the thickness direction of the immersion nozzle, and the like of the central protrusion portion which is located below can be applied to this upper protrusion portion as well. By slanting the upper protrusion portion in the way as mentioned above, similarly to the central protrusion portion, the flow rate and flow modality of the molten steel can be further changed so as to be optimized.

[0033] When these protrusion portions (central protrusion portion and upper protrusion portion) are disposed in the flat section in which fluctuation of the molten steel flow is large as mentioned before, the effects thereof can be obtained. The locations thereof in the height direction of the immersion nozzle are not necessarily the same as the location of the discharge port in the vertical direction; and thus, they may be disposed in the optimum locations in view of relative relationships with the operation condition, structure of the inner hole of the immersion nozzle, structure of the discharge port, and the like.

[0034] Meanwhile, as depicted in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, the bottom part inside the immersion nozzle may be the wall having merely a flow-dividing function without forming a discharge port around the center part thereof; but the discharge port may be formed there as depicted in FIG. 5. Considering the mold as well as the structure of the immersion nozzle relative to individual operation condition, if total discharge amount (rate) to the mold is insufficient only with the discharge ports in the side wall, or the flow rate of molten steel in a traverse direction or an upward direction in the mold is intended to be relatively decreased, or the like, it is preferable to form the discharge port in the bottom part.

[0035] In the flat immersion nozzle, depending on the degree of flatness of the inner hole space (namely, depending on the ratio between the long side length and the short side length), flow modality of the molten steel, or flow rates of individual parts, or the modality and flow rate of the discharging flow can change. Therefore, the optimization thereof is carried out preferably by considering the relationship among the degree of flatness, the structure thereof, and individual operation conditions. Meanwhile, from experience, in the immersion nozzle having approximately 5 or more as Wn/Tn, the ratio of the width of the inner hole to the thickness of the same, the flow rate around the center part of the immersion nozzle is significantly different from the flow rate in the both edge parts of the same in the width direction; and thus, difference in the flow modality of the flow from the discharge port, fluctuation in the flow rate distribution, and the like are prone to be eminent. Accordingly, in the present invention, the immersion nozzle having Wn/Tn of approximately 5 or more is especially preferable.

EXAMPLES

[0036] Next, the present invention will be explained together with Examples.

Example 1

[0037] Example 1 shows experimental results of a water model with the first embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, namely, the immersion nozzle in which only the central protrusion portion is disposed as the protrusion portion (hereinafter, this is also referred to as simply first embodiment), wherein shown therein are: the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold vs. Wp/Wn, the ratio of the width Wp of the central protrusion portion to the width Wn of the inner hole of the immersion nozzle (length in the long side direction); and the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold vs. Tp/Tn, the ratio of the protrusion length Tp of the central protrusion portion in the space direction (total length of the pair) to the thickness Tn of the inner hole of the immersion nozzle (length in the short side direction).

[0038] Comparative Example relates to the structure depicted in FIG. 9, namely, relates to the immersion nozzle having the structure that the protrusion portion is removed from the immersion nozzle of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1.

[0039] Specification of the immersion nozzle is as follows: [0040] Total length: 1165 mm [0041] Molten steel inlet: 86 mm [0042] Width of the inner hole at the upper edge position of the discharge port (Wn): 255 mm [0043] Thickness of the inner hole at the upper edge position of the discharge port (Tn): 34 mm [0044] Height of the upper edge position of the discharge port from the nozzle's lower edge surface: 146.5 mm [0045] Height of the central protrusion portion (height from the nozzle's lower edge surface): 155 mm [0046] Length of the central protrusion portion (length of the right to left from the center): 80 mm [0047] Thickness of the immersion nozzle wall: about 25 mm [0048] Thickness of the immersion nozzle bottom part (peak): height of 100 mm

[0049] The mold and conditions of the fluid are as follows: [0050] Width of the mold: 1650 mm [0051] Thickness of the mold: 65 mm (center in the upper edge part: 185 mm) [0052] Immersion depth (from the upper edge of the discharge port to the water surface): 180 mm [0053] Supply rate of the fluid: 3.5 ton/minute [0054] Converted value to the molten steel

[0055] The fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold was obtained in the way as follows. Namely, the water surface was regarded as the liquid surface (molten steel surface) in the mold used in continuous casting, and the distance to the water surface was measured by an ultrasonic sensor from the above thereof, and then, the fluctuation height was calculated. The measurement was made at 4 positions as a total, namely, in the positions at 50 mm apart from the width edge parts in both sides in the left and right width directions and at the width positions wherein the immersion nozzle was regarded as the center; and the fluctuation degree was calculated from the difference between the maximum and minimum values in the fluctuation heights thus measured.

[0056] Meanwhile, in Example 2 and all the Examples thereafter, the specification of the immersion nozzle, the mold, and the conditions of the fluid are the same as those of Example 1.

[0057] The structure was employed wherein the slope angle of the central protrusion portion in all the direction is zero degree (not slanted), the protrusion thickness of the central protrusion portion in the width direction is constant (rectangular in the top view), and there is no slope in the inner hole center direction.

[0058] The results of the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold as expressed by the indicator are shown in Table 1, wherein the value in Comparative Example (structure depicted in FIG. 9) is regarded as 100 (hereinafter, this indicator is also referred to as simply fluctuation indicator).

[0059] When this fluctuation indicator is used as the criterion, it has been demonstrated that when the fluctuation degree is more than about 40, quality deterioration is outside the acceptable degree in the actual operation of continuous casting. Accordingly, in the present invention, the fluctuation degree with which the problem of the present invention can be solved, namely, the target fluctuation degree was set in the range of 40 or less.

[0060] As a result, in the structure having the central protrusion portion, as compared with Comparative Example of FIG. 9, it was found that the target value of 40 or less can be obtained in Examples in which the Wp/Wn ratio is 0.2 or more and 0.7 or less and the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.15 or more and 0.75 or less. In addition, because the maximum effect can be obtained when the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5 and the Wp/Wn ratio is 0.5, it can be seen that these ratios are preferable.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Wp (mm) 0 51 127.5 178.5 204 Wp/Wn 0 0.2 0.5 0.7 0.8 0 Tn 100 0.10 Tn 70 62 68 83 0.15 Tn 38 35 38 77 0.50 Tn 35 30 35 61 0.75 Tn 37 36 36 72 0.90 Tn 47 42 45 92

Example 2

[0061] Example 2 shows experimental results of a water model which relates to the immersion nozzle of the first embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein shown therein is the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold by using the structure slanting from the center of the central protrusion portion to the discharge port side as well as the downward direction.

[0062] Experiments thereof were carried out by using the central protrusion portion structure in which the Wp/Wn ratios are 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8; the Tp/Tn ratios are 0.1, 0.5, and 0.9; and the slope angles of the central protrusion portion to the traverse direction (horizontal direction) of the immersion nozzle are 30 degrees and 45 degrees. Meanwhile, for comparison, experiments were also carried out with the same element conditions as the above conditions and without the slope (slope angle of zero degree).

[0063] These results are summarized in Table 2. As a result, it can be seen that in all the experiments, when the slope angle is increased, the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold is decreased. Meanwhile, among these conditions, it can be seen that when the Wp/Wn ratio is 0.5 and the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5, the target value of 40 or less can be obtained in any slope angles.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Wp/Wn 0.1 0.5 0.8 Angle (degree) 0 30 45 0 30 45 0 30 45 0.10 Tn 95 87 77 62 47 41 83 54 49 0.50 Tn 84 74 67 30 29 15 61 52 47 0.90 Tn 73 63 57 65 50 47 92 56 51

Example 3

[0064] Example 3 shows experimental results of a water model which relates to the immersion nozzle of the first embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein shown therein is the effect of the slope in the central protrusion portion structure (see FIG. 6) that the upper surface of the central protrusion portion is slanted to the center direction of the thickness direction of the immersion nozzle as well as the downward direction, in which the boundary portion of the upper surface of the central protrusion portion with the wall surface of the immersion nozzle in the width direction (long side) serves as a peak.

[0065] Experiments thereof were carried out by using the central protrusion portion structure in which the Wp/Wn ratios are 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8; the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5; the slope angle to the discharge port side is 45 degrees; and the slope angles to the thickness, center direction are 30 degrees and 45 degrees. Meanwhile, for comparison, experiments were also carried out with the same element conditions as the above conditions and without the slope (slope angle of zero degree).

[0066] These results are summarized in Table 3. As a result, it can be seen that in all the experiments, when the slope angle is increased, the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold is decreased. Meanwhile, it can be seen that when the Wp/Wn ratio is 0.5 and the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5, the target value of 40 or less can be obtained in any slope angles.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Wp/Wn 0.1 0.5 0.8 Angle (degree) 45 45 45 Tp/Tn 0.5 0.5 0.5 Slope angle to center direction 0 30 45 0 30 45 0 30 45 Fluctuation 67 61 57 15 13 10 47 45 49 indicator

Example 4

[0067] Example 4 shows experimental results of a water model which relates to the immersion nozzle of the first embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein shown therein is the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold by using the structure in which the protrusion length is gradually decreased from the center of the central protrusion portion to the width direction of the immersion nozzle (edge part) and that the top view of the central protrusion portion has an angle so as to form the pentagonal structure (see FIG. 7).

[0068] Experiments thereof were carried out by using the central protrusion portion structure in which the Wp/Wn ratios are 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8; the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5; the slope angle to the discharge port side in the width direction is 45 degrees; the slope angle to the thickness, center direction is 0 degree (not slanted); and the length of the peak in the center part of the central protrusion portion is 8 mm. Meanwhile, for comparison, experiments were also carried out with the same element conditions as the above conditions and without the slope (rectangular in the upper face).

[0069] These results are summarized in Table 4. As a result, it can be seen that in any Wp/Wn ratio, when the length of edge part is 4 mm, the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold is small. Meanwhile, it can be seen that when the Wp/Wn ratio is 0.5, the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5, and the slope angle of the central protrusion portion to the traverse (horizontal) direction of the immersion nozzle is 45 degrees, the target value of 40 or less can be obtained in any upper surface shape having an angle.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Wp/Wn 0.1 0.5 0.8 Angle (degree) 45 45 45 Tp/Tn 0.5 0.5 0.5 Center part thickness 8 mm 8 mm 8 mm Edge part thickness 1 mm 4 mm 8 mm 1 mm 4 mm 8 mm 1 mm 4 mm 8 mm Fluctuation 54 47 67 28 21 15 41 42 47 indicator

Example 5

[0070] Example 5 shows experimental results of a water model which relates to the second embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 8, namely the embodiment wherein in addition to the lower central protrusion portion, above it the upper protrusion portion is disposed (hereinafter, this is also referred to as simply second embodiment). In this embodiment, the immersion nozzle has the structure in which the upper protrusion portion is disposed symmetrically in a pair in the position apart from the center axis of the immersion nozzle in the vertical direction with an arbitrary distance. The fluctuation degrees of the liquid surface in the mold using this structure are shown.

[0071] The experiments were carried out by using the lower central protrusion portion structure in which the peak thereof is located at the position where the center is 150 mm apart from the lower edge surface of the immersion nozzle (outside surface); the left and right lengths in the direction to the discharge port are 80 mm each; the Wp/Wn ratios are 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8; the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5; the slope angle to the discharge port side in the width direction is 45 degrees; the slope angle to the thickness, center direction is zero degree (not slanted); and the upper surface view shape is rectangular (no angles). On the other hand, the upper protrusion portion has the structure in which the upper protrusion portion is disposed above the lower central protrusion portion and starts at the position 50 mm apart from the center of the immersion nozzle in the width direction to the left and right directions, respectively; the slope angle to the discharge port side is 45 degrees; and the lengths thereof to the direction of the discharge port are 60 mm and 40 mm. Meanwhile, for comparison, experiments were also carried out with the same element conditions as the above conditions and without disposing the upper protrusion portion.

[0072] These results are summarized in Table 5. As a result, it can be seen that in all the experiments, when the upper protrusion portion is disposed, the fluctuation degree of the liquid surface in the mold is decreased. Meanwhile, it can be seen that when the Wp/Wn ratio is 0.5 and the Tp/Tn ratio is 0.5, the target value of 40 or less can be obtained in any length of the upper protrusion portion.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Wp/Wn 0.1 0.5 0.8 Angle (degree) 45 45 45 Tp/Tn 0.5 0.5 0.5 Upper protrusion portion 60 mm 40 mm 60 mm 40 mm 60 mm 40 mm Fluctuation 67 53 48 15 13 10 47 42 44 indicator

[0073] In the above, Examples of the present invention have been explained together with the embodiment thereof; however, the present invention is not limited at all to the embodiments described above. Therefore, other embodiments as well as modified examples thereof are included within the items described in the claims.

EXPLANATION OF THE NUMERAL SYMBOLS

[0074] 10: Immersion Nozzle [0075] 1: Protrusion portion [0076] 1a: Central protrusion portion [0077] 1b: Upper protrusion portion [0078] 2: Molten steel inlet [0079] 3: Inner hole (flow path of molten steel) [0080] 4: Discharge port (wall portion in the short side) [0081] 5: Bottom part [0082] 6: Discharge port (bottom part)