D e s c r i p t i o n

The present invention relates to a nozzle for guiding a metal melt from a first to a second means, in particular it relates to a submerged entry nozzle for guiding a stream of a metal melt (steel melt) from a

metallurgical melting vessel (like a tundish) into a mould (like an ingot), both of which may also be called "reservoir".

Such a submerged entry nozzle (hereinafter called also SEN) is used in the continuous casting of steel slabs. A SEN typically comprises a refractory ceramic tube-like body with an inlet opening at its first end (the upper end in its mounting position) and a conduit (an internal channel), running from said inlet opening through said ceramic tube in an axial direction of the nozzle (tube) to its second end (the lower end in its mounting position), which second end provides a body stop of the channel in its longitudinal extension and at least two lateral outlet openings of said channel through which the metal melt enters into the mould.

In other words: The molten metal stream, coming from a tundish or similar vessel, enters the inlet opening, further runs vertically and downwardly through said conduit (through the intermediate or middle portion of the nozzle between upper and lower end) from said inlet opening towards said outlet opening(s), being deflected on its way to said outlet opening(s) and leaves the nozzle more or less perpendicular to its axial extension through these outlet openings before entering the associated mould.

Thi s is true as wel l with respect to the SEN as disclosed in WO

2007/ 1 38260 A2 with the proviso that flow dividers, arranged at the lower (outlet) end of the nozzle, are responsible for dividing the metal stream in numerous partial streams before leaving the nozzle.

This general design concept is further realized by EP 094632 1 B l , the nozzle of which being provided with a 2 part flow divider in its exit zone (=lower end of nozzle) to minimize the appearance of cracks .

The known design may lead to turbulences in the metal bath in the associated mould and/or to turbulences in any slag layer and/or any mould (masking) powder on top of the metal bath. These effects can reduce the steel quality and the quality of the cast product respectively. The know design is al so responsible for a limited flow capacity (flow rate).

It is an obj ect of the invention to provide a nozzle of the type mentioned which provides a high flow-rate without causing undesired lateral turbulences by the metal stream leaving the nozzle and entering into the metal bath in the associated aggregate (for example a mould) .

The invention is based on various technical aspects. The probably most important is to design the nozzle such that a central stream of metal melt may flow through the nozzle from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a substanti a l l y conti nuous ax ial di rection. In other words : The nozzl e design allows at least part of the metal stream to flow through the nozzle without being deflected, bypassed, turned or the like. This central stream follows the longitudinal axial direction of the tube-like refractory body with its inner conduit all over the nozzle length. Typically this central stream is coaxial to the central longitudinal axis of the nozzle, being an axis in a substantially vertical orientation during use of the nozzle.

This central stream of metal melt allows a remarkable increase of the flow-capacity of the nozzle. As this central melt stream follows a substantially vertical, downwardly oriented direction turbulences around the lower nozzle section and/or around the corresponding outlet section are avoided as far as possible.

Besides this important design feature the nozzle is characterized by at least two baffles, proj ecting from the inner wall of the refractory body (being the circumferential wall of the conduit). From the aforesaid it become apparent that the said baffles do not extend across the full width/ diameter of the conduit but that these baffles are designed and arranged in such a way as to leave free a space between them so that the central metal melt stream may pass therethrough along the middle section of the nozzle between inlet and outlet openings.

Nevertheless the baffles mentioned are modifying the relevant cross- section of the conduit and/or provide means to deflect the remaining metal stream on its way to the lower end and the outlet openings of the nozzle. Insofar the one metal stream entering the nozzle via said inlet opening may be divided by these baffles into several partial streams. Contrary to prior art nozzles as mentioned above all these partial streams are fluidly connected with each other and/or the central stream. In other words : The partial streams (side streams) and the central metal melt stream are arranged in one common space defined by the circumferential wall of the conduit and the baffles respectively. In its most general embodiment the invention is directed to a nozzle for guiding a metal melt from a first to a second means, comprising

• a refractory, tube-like body with

• an inlet opening at its first end

• an outlet opening at its second end

• a conduit, elongate along a central longitudinal axis, which is ori ented vertically during use, limited by an inner wall of the refractory, tube-like body and extending from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, and

• baffles, proj ecting from said inner wall into the conduit, wherei n

• the geometry of the conduit and the baffles i s such that a

continuous flow passage (area) around the central longitudinal axis being provided for the metal melt between the inlet opening and one single outlet opening.

The technical and functional features mentioned are true as well with respect to an embodiment wherein the tube like body comprises :

• adj acent to the i nl et openi ng : an upper section of substanti al ly ci rcular cross-section,

• adj acent to the outlet open ing : a l ower section, fl ared outward ly in one first plane and flattened in a second plane substantially perpend icular to the first plane ,

• a m i d d 1 e secti on between said upper section and said lower

section, wherei n the middle section provides a desi gn transition from the circular design of the upper section to the flattened design of the lower section.

While the general circul ar outer desi gn at the uppe and a flattened design at the lower end correspond widely with that of the nozzle known from WO 2007/ 138260 A2 the decisive difference between both designs is that the new nozzle provides said central axial flow stream along the whole length of the nozzle and thus for a considerable volume of the metal melt to pass the nozzle without any deflections. In other word s : The continuous free central interspace (extending between inlet and outlet opening of the nozzle) enables to cut the nozzle along a plane in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle into two pieces, for example two mirror inverted pieces, without contacting and/or cutting any baffle.

In the embodiment following claim 2 the central axial stream may extend over the full length of the lower nozzle opening while the baffles mentioned are responsible for at least 2 auxiliary metal streams, one on each side of the central stream, which baffles have the function of guiding means for directing the respective metal stream to the respective lateral section of the one outlet opening.

These laterally escaping metal streams are of lower velocity compared with those according to prior art nozzles and thus are causing less turbulences in the metal bath, any slag layer and/or masking powder in and onto the metal bath in the corresponding vessel.

Compared with the nozzle of EP0946321 B 1 the main differences of the new design are : baffles are arranged in the middle section of the nozzle between upper and lower end, they may further extend into lower and/or upper end . always providi n g a free space between them for the free axial flow of the melt. The baffles may extend >50%, >60%, >70% or even >80% of the total axial length of the nozzle.

The invention further provides one or more of the following

embodiments : • A nozzle, wherein the design transition proceeds substantially continuously between the upper section and the lower section. In other words : a smooth, soft changeover between the two sections is wanted, avoiding any sharp edges, ridges, grooves etc. Thi s is true as well for the inner and outer design of the nozzle.

• A nozzle with at least one first pair of baffles, protruding from

oppo sing sections of the inner wall of the refractory body and leaving a passage between them through which the central longitudinal axis extends. It is not obligatory to arrange the baffles in a mirror-inverted fashion, although this design makes the total metal flow more homogeneous . The baffles may also be arranged offset with respect to the axial extension of the nozzle and/or more than 2 baffles may protrude from the inner wall of the body at one axial position along the nozzle length.

• At least one or each baffle (ridge) may having the shape of an

inverted V (in a front view), optionally with one or more of the foll owing features : a flat (even planar, if wanted) main area facing a corresponding flat main area of the other baffle, upper and/or lower borders substantially following the design of the

corresponding section of the inner wall of the refractory body visa-vis said border.

• Based on the generic design of a nozzle like an SEN it derives

from an arrangement of the baffles according to an inverted V that the distance between the V-legs increases toward the second end of the nozzle, being the outlet end of the nozzle or its conduit respectively. With a nozzle design having two lateral outlet openings this leads to a run of the V-legs providing an angle between 1 5° and 45 ° between a first imaginary line intersecting the two vertical extremities of one leg and a second imaginary line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and intersecting the first imaginary line (as shown in the accompanying drawing). The maximum angle may be set as well at 30° or 25 ° or 22°. This may be realized in an analogous manner with discrete baffle bars .

A second and/or third pair of baffles may be provided, each of substantial ly same general design as the first pair of baffles, but arranged at a distance to said first pair of baffles.

According to one embodiment the distance between oppo sing baffles of each pair of baffles is constant or decreases toward the outlet opening of the nozzle.

A nozzle as mentioned with at least one first pair of baffles being arranged, at least partially, in the lower section of the nozzle and/or

A nozzle with at least one first pair of baffles being arranged, at least partially, in the middle section of the nozzle.

At least one baffle or a first pair of baffles may terminate in the outlet opening, although it is possible as wel l to arrange the baffle(s) in such a way that it/ they end(s) at a distance before the corresponding outlet section of the outlet opening.

The nozzle may have at least one of the following dimensions :

• a distance between opposed baffles of between 5 and 1 5mm

• a baffle hei ght, perpendicul ar to the central l ongi tudinal axis (A) of 5 -20mm

• an inlet opening with an inner diameter of between 40 and 120mm

• an outlet opening with a length of between 100 and 400mm and a width of between 5 and 40mm. • an outlet opening with a length of at least twice the diameter of the inlet opening and/or a width of at most half the diameter of the inlet opening. This corresponds to a general design of a so called thin-slab SEN (german: "Breitmaul ETA")

• the outlet opening is defined by a central axial outlet section and two lateral outlet sections, extending towards the inlet opening.

Referring to the "inverted V" design of a baffle one further embodiment provides for a "V with curved legs". This curvature may be parallel to a corresponding curvature of the inner wall of the refractory body (i.e. the curvature of the conduit wall) . Another embodiment provides a design according to which any distance between the conduit wall and the corresponding border surface of the baffle becomes smaller in the direction towards the outlet opening.

The nozzle can be made of any conventional refractory material (like a material based on MgO, A1 ₂ 0 ₃ , Zr0 ₂ , C) and may be manufactured by any conventional process (i. a. isostatic pressing).

Further features of the nozzle are described in the sub-claims and the other application documents, including the drawing and description of corresponding embodiments which may include features of general validity, independent from the specific example.

Unless otherwise discl osed the term "substantially" characterizes the corresponding feature as achieved under technical aspects . For example : "Substantially vertical orientation of the nozzle during use" does not necessarily mean an exact vertical orientation under mathematic aspects but the typical technical position.

The drawing shows, in a highly schematic way, in Fig. l a and l b: three-dimensional views onto a nozzle according to the invention, partly cut off

Fig. 2 : a three-dimensional view onto the inner contour of the nozzle according to Fig. l a and l b

Fig. 3 : an outflow area of the nozzle and corresponding flow directions of the melt.

All Fi gures show a so-called submerged entry nozzle (SEN), made of an MgO based batch, isostatically pressed and fired according to

conventional techniques.

The SEN shows a tube-like refractory body 1 0 with one single inlet opening 1 2 of substantially circular cross section at its first end (the upper end in the use position as shown) and one single outlet opening 14 of substantially rectangular/oval cross section at its second end (the lower end in the use position). Inlet opening 12 and outlet opening 14 are bridged by a conduit 1 6, elongate along a central longitudinal axis (A) of the body 10, which axis is oriented substantially vertical during use of the nozzle. Conduit 16 is defined by an inner wall l Oi of the refractory tube-like body 10.

Corresponding to the general design of upper and lower section 1 8 ,20, inlet opening 12 and outlet opening 1 4 of said nozzle, conduit 1 6 varies its cross section from circular to a geometry similar a flat oval or a thin rectangle with rounded end portions . This change is mostly realized in the middle section 22 (Fig . 2) .

The general design may be described as follows : tube like body 1 0 comprises, adj acent to the inlet opening 12, an upper section 1 8 of substantially circular cross-section, adj acent to the outlet opening 14, a lower section 20, flared outwardly in one first plane (the drawing plane) and flattened in a second plane (vertical to the drawing plane), s ubstanti ally perpendicular to the first plane, a middle section 22 between said upper section 1 8 and said lower section 20, wherein the middle section 22 provides a design transition from the circular design of the upper section 1 8 to the flattened design of the lower section 20. This design transition proceeds substantially continuously between upper and lower section 1 8 ,20, as may be seem from Figures l a, l b and 2.

The lower section 20 therefore has a length about 8 times its width. The same being true for the cross section of the corresponding outlet opening 14.

From each of opposing sections of the inner wall l Oi in the middle section 22 and the lower secti on 20 baffles 30, 32, 34, 36 protrude into the conduit 1 6, thereby forming a gap 38 between corresponding flat mai n areas (front surfaces) 3 Of, 32f, 34 f, 36f. Baffles 30,32 and 34 ,36 respectively are linked together, thus each providing the shape of an inverted V with slightly curved outer borders 30b, 32b, 34b, 36b and inner borders. Theses borders follow the corresponding shape of the inner wall l Oi opposite the respective border.

The two pairs of baffles 30 ,32 ; 34,36 on each side of the conduit 1 6 (Fig. 2 only shows one side) are arranged offset along the central longitudinal axis A of the nozzle and ending in the corresponding common outlet opening 1 4.

The angle a between the central longitudinal axis A and a line

intersecting the two vertical extremities of one leg 32 is about 17° (a typical range being 1 5°-25°), i .e. die V includes an angle of 2 x 1 7°=34° . This is true as well with respect to the lower baffle provided by legs 34,36.

Because of the distance (gap 38) of corresponding baffles 30, 30 ; 32, 32; 34, 34; 36, 36 it becomes clear that the nozzle provides a central passage around the central longitudinal axis A which runs continuously and substantially straight from the inlet opening 12 to the outlet opening 1 4. Correspondingly the nozzle provides a central passage for the metal melt, along which the melt is fed in a more or less linear way (arrow D in Fig. 3 ) to and through the outlet opening 14 and thus in a downwardly oriented vertical orientation into a corresponding mould 40 (Fig. 3 ) .

The baffles 30 , 32, 34, 36, arranged adj acent on both sides of the central passage, cause the melt to follow their respective borderline and thus being directed to lateral sections 141 of the common outlet opening 14 and leaving the outlet opening 14 substantially laterally (arrows L in Fig . 3 ).

It is important to strengthen that although the metal stream takes di fferent di recti ons whi l e l eavi ng the nozzle there is on ly one outlet opening 1 4 and all these central and lateral metal streams are in fluidic contact with each other.

Fig. 3 shows three main directions of the outflowing metal stream. One, the central stream D , in extension of axis A vertically downwardly and the other two laterally (L) at opposing sides of the outlet opening 14.

By this d es i gn the flow through rate may be i ncreased and turbulences in the metal bath of the associated vessel (mould 40) are reduced .