The configuration of SCSs -sliding gates -can be divided into slide gates and revolving (rotary) gates: in slide gates, the movable refractory slab undergoes reciprocating motion; in revolving gates, the same slab undergoes rotation. Among the advantages of revolving gates is the greater durability of the refractory slabs (the possibility of closing the steel-pouring channel many times) and the smooth control of casting speed. However, such gates also have serious deficiencies -they are complicated to make, assemble, and repair, they are unwieldy, and the rubbing metal parts undergo a large amount of wear; the advantages of these gates over slide gates are more noticeable on large (larger than 130 tons) ladles [1].In light of the above and the absence of domestic refractories suitable for making the refractory slabs of revolving gates, slide gates have become the type most commonly used. Among their advantages over revolving gates are convenient assembly and servicing, small dimensions, simpler design, and the fact that less labor is involved in making the refractories which are used in slide gates.Study of the condition of SCSs at Russian metallurgical plants showed that most factories use slide gates of the original design, the majority of which are of the rigid type. A wide range of refractories is used for the given equipment [1]. In such gates, the clamping force on the refractory slabs is created by tightening bolts. This makes it difficult to control the force and is the reason that the force changes when the parts of the gate are heated; the motion of the movable slab changes the force ratio at points equidistant from the axis of the pouring channel, which can cause metal to flow between the slabs and the result in jamming of the drive. In addition, replacement of the refractories in rigid-type gates and tightening of their refractory slabs must be done outside the ladle in specialized gate repair shops, and a special section for press-fitting the slabs and drying the gates in furnaces is needed to install the refractory slabs with the use of lime mortar.At domestic plants, the designs of metering systems of the slide-gate type (many of which are obsolete designs made in Romania) do not permit the accurate casting of several heats through a single set of refractories, with the discharge of the metal being smoothly regulated. This problem arises because of the difficulty in restoring the slab-clamping force and the fact that it is impossible to visually check the condition of the refractories between heats [2].The wide variety of slide-gate metering systems now in use is a reflection not of a difference in service conditions, but of the absence of a standard design methodology in this country.An analysis of the designs of slide gates made by several companies (Flocon, Vesuvius, Interstop, Uberzetta, etc.) showed that together with their advantages (repeat use of the refractories, the fact that the refractory slabs are used inside metal shells and elastic elements, reliability of operation, the lack of a ne...
The article deals with the development of devices for mechanization and automation of metal flow control – steel-pouring ladles sliding gates of the new generation of Vulkan-TM production, the history of their production.The various technical solutions underlying the creation of the sliding gates of the «VT» series, innovative solutions used in design of the sliding gates layouts and their competitive advantages are shown.The design and operation principle of the new development – the device for gas-dynamic protection of the metal stream from secondary oxidation is described.
New developments for continuous pouring of steel are considered, including slide gates, refractories, promising technologies, etc. A comparative analysis of the designs of domestic and foreign manufacturers is given and the basic operating characteristics and criteria for the selection of refractory slabs for slide gates are presented. The latest developments from NPP Vulkan-TM related to the creation of equipment for continuous casting of steel are considered.The widespread application of the method of continuous-continuous casting and highly durable refractory materials has greatly increased the requirements imposed on the rate of turn-over of teeming ladles and for reduced service times and has entailed the use of modern slide casting systems to enable increases in the level of automation of the processes involving in casting of metal and reductions in the unit costs for these processes. To solve this problem it is necessary to select an efficient design of a slide valve system and arrive at an optimal choice of the consumable refractory set. From an analysis of the evolution of the development of slide valve systems it becomes possible to formulate the requirements that have to be imposed on the new generation of slide valve systems to achieve highly productive multiple-strand continuous seal casting:-multipoint spring-actuated mechanism for uniform compression of refractory slabs; -elevated lifetime of components and parts of the system; -the presence of a system for clamping of the refractory slabs;-minimization of the human factor in operation of the system; -rapidity and ease of replacement of refractory materials. The use of modern designs enables us to achieve a high degree of uniformity in the application of a clamping force to refractory slabs, ensure their automatic adjustment, compensate for cyclic thermal expansions and wear of the refractory Fig. 1. Models of slide gates from foreign manufacturers corresponding to modern requirements: a) cartridge-type gate with independent sliders from the firm of Vesuvius (Austria); b) cartridge-type equalizing-type gate from NPO Doniks (Ukraine).
The main ways of reducing expenditure for steel pouring are considered, i.e. import substitution and the optimum frequency of using plates for slide gates. Technical and economic analysis is provided for the use of refractory objects in steel-pouring systems produced by OOO NPP Vulkan-TM.Under conditions of an increasing economic crisis a guarantee for the survival of Russian metallurgical enterprises is the possibility of a considerable reduction in production delays. The scientific and production enterprise Vulkan-TM proposes a reduction in losses in steel smelting and to reduce the import dependence of domestic enterprises by use of steel-pouring slide systems of the VTM series and refractories consumed by them. Here with a reduction in refractory consumption, the content and restoration of the stock of slide gates, ladle logistics are optimized with a reduction in energy consumed in warming up ladles and an increase in lining life, and the accident rate is reduced.The structure of expenditure is presented in Fig. 1 directly for steel pouring refractories, from which a definitive role of plates for slide gate plates is evident.Currently NPP Vulkan-TM in order to optimize expenditure has developed and introduced into series production a range of unified sliding system constructions of the VTM series, and corresponding to them, sets of consumable refractory objects, and they have been supplied to more than ten enterprises of the Russian Federation and CIS.Gates of the VTM series (Fig. 2) have been adapted for production conditions of contemporary electric steel smelting and converter production. Slide gates within the framework of a single size may have small structural differences in relation to operating conditions, refractory sets have been unified to a maximum, and they may only differ in the construction of the nesting block and delivery part of the nozzle-collector in relation to the presence and type of protective pipe.Within the composition of a typical set of VTM refractories there are:1. Plates for the slide gate in a shroud prepared from fired billets of plates form the leading overseas producers. Refractories are selected in relation to the specific steel pouring conditions, that makes it possible to add to their optimum life. Supply is offered to customers of plates of periclase (1 -2 melts), corundum-carbon (2 -4 melts) and periclasecarbon (1 -2 melts) compositions. Calculations and operat- Fig. 1. Structure of expenditure on refractories during pouring using slide gates, %: 1 ) plate 42; 2 ) nozzle-collector 18; 3 ) ladle nozzle 5; 4 ) mortar 6; 5 ) nesting block 13; 6 ) restoration of slide gate stock 16.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.