Bottom pour electroslag refining systems and methods

US6350293B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• William Thomas Carter · Galway, US
• Mark Gilbert Benz · Burnt Hills, US
• Felix Muller · Velbert, DE
• Franz Hugo · Aschaffenburg, DE
• Robert John Zabala · Schenectady, US
• Bruce Alan Knudsen · Amsterdam, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 23, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Feb 23, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F27B3/19
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A bottom pour electroslag refining system refines raw material into refined liquid metal. The bottom pour electroslag refining system comprises an electroslag refining crucible; a slag; a bottom pour structure that comprises an orifice from which refined liquid metal from the electroslag refining crucible can flow as a stream of refined liquid metal; and a current path. The current path is defined in the bottom pour electroslag refining system for applying current to the raw material for melting and refining the raw material. The melted and refined raw material forms a refined liquid metal pool in the electroslag refining crucible. The current that is applied by the current path is sufficient to provide the refined liquid metal in the refined liquid metal pool with a viscosity under which the refined liquid metal can flow through the orifice under its own viscosity.