Method for manufacturing a cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a cooling plate ( 10 ) for a metallurgical furnace comprising the steps of providing a slab ( 11 ) of metallic material, the slab ( 11 ) having a front face ( 14 ), an opposite rear face ( 16 ) and four side edges; and providing the slab ( 11 ) with at least one cooling channel ( 30 ) by drilling at least one blind borehole ( 40 ) into the slab ( 11 ), wherein the blind borehole ( 40 ) is drilled from a first edge ( 22 ) towards an opposite second edge ( 24 ). In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the further steps of deforming the slab ( 11 ) in such a way that a first edge region ( 46 ) of the slab ( 11 ) is at least partially bent towards the rear face ( 16 ) of the slab ( 11 ); and machining excess material from the front and rear faces ( 14, 16 ) of the slab ( 11 ) to produce a cooling plate ( 10 ) having a panel-like body ( 12 ) wherein an opening to the cooling channel ( 30 ) is located in the rear face ( 16 ).

1 . A method for manufacturing a cooling plate for a metallurgical furnace, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a slab of metallic material, said slab having a front face, an opposite rear face and four side edges; and   providing said slab with at least one cooling channel by drilling at least one blind borehole into said slab, wherein said blind borehole is drilled from a first edge towards an opposite second edge;   wherein the method further comprises the steps of:   deforming said slab in such a way that a first edge region of said slab is at least partially bent towards said rear face of said slab; and   machining excess material from said front and rear faces of said slab to produce a cooling plate having a panel-like body wherein an opening to said cooling channel is located in said rear face.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, after machining excess material from said front and rear faces of said slab, the method comprises the additional step of:
 forming grooves and intermittent lamellar ribs in said front face of said panel-like body for anchoring a refractory brick lining.   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the grooves are formed with a width that is narrower at an inlet of the groove than at a base of the groove. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the grooves are formed with dovetail cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of:
 providing a connection pipe for each cooling channel formed in said panel-like body;   aligning one end of each connection pipe with an opening to the respective cooling channel arranged in the rear face of the panel-like body; and   connecting said connection pipes to said rear face of said panel-like body so as to create a fluid connection between each connection pipe and its associated cooling channel.   
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein an adapter is arranged between said panel-like body and said connection pipe, said adapter having the form of a hollow truncated cone. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said rear face of said panel-like body, said connection pipe and, if applicable, said adapter are connected together through soldering or welding. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing said slab with a first cooling channel by drilling a first blind borehole into said slab, wherein said first blind borehole is drilled from said first edge towards said second edge;   providing said slab with a second cooling channel by drilling a second blind borehole into said slab, wherein said second blind borehole is drilled from said first edge towards said second edge;   wherein said first and second cooling channels are arranged in such a way that their ends in a second edge region meet and form a fluid communication between said first and second cooling channels.   
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing said slab with a first cooling channel by drilling a first blind borehole into said slab, wherein said first blind borehole is drilled from said first edge towards said second edge;   providing said slab with a second cooling channel by drilling a second blind borehole into said slab, wherein said second blind borehole is drilled from said second edge towards said first edge;   wherein said first and second cooling channels are arranged in such a way that their ends meet and form a fluid communication between said first and second cooling channels.   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing said slab with a first cooling channel by drilling a first blind borehole into said slab, wherein said first blind borehole is drilled from said first edge towards said second edge, wherein an end of said first blind borehole is arranged in a second edge region of said slab;   in said second edge region, drilling a connecting bore extending from said rear face of said slab to said end of said first blind borehole and forming form a fluid communication between said first cooling channel and said connecting bore.   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cooling plate is made of at least one of the following materials: copper, a copper alloy or steel.