Device and method for continuously removing impurities from molten metal

Abstract

A device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal includes a molten metal flow path body, an inlet-side closed end plate and an outlet-side closed end plate are provided in the molten metal flow path body so as to form an impurity removal space, an electrode device composed of an inlet-side electrode and an outlet-side electrode that face each other in a longitudinal direction of the molten metal flow path body, a magnetic field device composed of a pair of permanent magnets that face each other in a width direction, sandwich the impurity removal space, and an urging device composed of the electrode device and the magnetic field device applies a Lorentz force downward to molten metal in the impurity removal space so as to increase a density of the molten metal and cause impurities in the molten metal to rise up to a surface of the molten metal.

1 . A device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal, which sends electrically conductive molten metal to a metal product manufacturing device in a next stage, the device comprising:
 a molten metal flow path body having a molten metal flow path for flowing electrically conductive molten metal that has flown from outside toward the metal product manufacturing device;   an inlet-side closed end plate and an outlet-side closed end plate that are provided in the molten metal flow path body so as to partition a front and a rear of the molten metal flow path and form an impurity removal space;   an electrode device composed of an inlet-side electrode and an outlet-side electrode that are provided in the impurity removal space, face each other in a longitudinal direction in which molten metal flows, and can be put into electrical contact with molten metal in the impurity removal space; and   a magnetic field device composed of a pair of permanent magnets that are provided outside the molten metal flow path forming body, face each other in a width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, sandwich the impurity removal space of the molten metal flow path forming body in the width direction, have opposite poles facing each other, and can form a magnetic field in molten metal in the impurity removal space,   wherein the electrode device and the magnetic field device constitute an urging device that can apply a Lorentz force downward to molten metal in the impurity removal space so as to increase a density of the molten metal and cause impurities in the molten metal to rise up to a surface of the molten metal.   
     
     
         2 . The device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 1 , wherein a power supply that can adjust an amount of current so as to adjust the Lorentz force is connected with the pair of electrodes in the electrode device. 
     
     
         3 . The device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet-side closed end plate is configured to be capable of adjusting a mounting position in the molten metal flow path body in the longitudinal direction so as to adjust a length of the impurity removal space. 
     
     
         4 . The device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet-side electrode is provided in a floating state in the impurity removal space so that a first gap opened vertically is formed between the outlet-side electrode and a bottom surface of the molten metal flow path forming body and a second gap opened in the longitudinal direction is formed between the outlet-side electrode and the outlet-side closed end plate. 
     
     
         5 . The device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet-side closed end plate is configured such that a height of the outlet-side closed end plate can be adjusted so that an amount of molten metal that overflows can be adjusted. 
     
     
         6 . The device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 1 , wherein a molten metal supply device that supplies molten metal to the molten metal flow path body and can adjust a supply amount is provided in a preceding stage of the molten metal flow path body. 
     
     
         7 . A continuous impurity removal method for removing impurities from molten metal in sending electrically conductive molten metal to a metal product manufacturing device in a next stage, the method comprising:
 preparing a molten metal flow path body having a molten metal flow path for flowing electrically conductive molten metal that has flown from outside toward the metal product manufacturing device;   providing an inlet-side closed end plate and an outlet-side closed end plate in the molten metal flow path body so as to partition a front and a rear of the molten metal flow path and form an impurity removal space;   providing, in the impurity removal space, an electrode device composed of an inlet-side electrode and an outlet-side electrode that face each other in a longitudinal direction in which molten metal flows and can be put into electrical contact with molten metal in the impurity removal space;   providing, outside the molten metal flow path forming body, a magnetic field device composed of a pair of permanent magnets that face each other in a width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, sandwich the impurity removal space of the molten metal flow path forming body in the width direction, have opposite poles facing each other, and can form a magnetic field in molten metal in the impurity removal space; and   causing an urging device composed of the electrode device and the magnetic field device to apply a Lorentz force downward to molten metal in the impurity removal space so as to increase a density of the molten metal and cause impurities in the molten metal to rise up to a surface of the molten metal.   
     
     
         8 . The method for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 7 , further comprising adjusting an amount of current applied from a power supply to the pair of electrodes in the electrode device so as to adjust the Lorentz force. 
     
     
         9 . The method for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 7 , further comprising a step of adjusting a mounting position of the outlet-side closed end plate in the molten metal flow path body in the longitudinal direction so as to adjust a length of the impurity removal space. 
     
     
         10 . The method for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 7 , wherein the outlet-side electrode is provided in a floating state in the impurity removal space so that a first gap opened vertically is formed between the outlet-side electrode and a bottom surface of the molten metal flow path forming body and a second gap opened in the longitudinal direction is formed between the outlet-side electrode and the outlet-side closed end plate. 
     
     
         11 . The method for continuously removing impurities from molten metal according to  claim 7 , wherein the outlet-side closed end plate is configured such that a height of the outlet-side closed end plate can be adjusted and an amount of molten metal that overflows can be adjusted. 
     
     
         12 . The method for continuously removing impurities according to  claim 7 , wherein a molten metal supply device provided in a preceding stage of the molten metal flow path body adjusts an amount of molten metal supplied to the molten metal flow path body. 
     
     
         13 . A device for continuously removing impurities from molten metal, which sends electrically conductive molten metal to a metal product manufacturing device in a next stage, the device comprising:
 a molten metal flow path body having a molten metal flow path for flowing electrically conductive molten metal that has flown from outside toward the metal product manufacturing device;   an inlet-side closed end plate and an outlet-side closed end plate that are provided in the molten metal flow path body so as to partition a front and a rear of the molten metal flow path and form an impurity removal space;   an electrode device composed of an inlet-side electrode and an outlet-side electrode that are provided in the impurity removal space, face each other in a longitudinal direction in which molten metal flows, and can be put into electrical contact with molten metal in the impurity removal space; and   a magnetic field device composed of a pair of permanent magnets that are provided outside the molten metal flow path forming body, face each other in a width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, sandwich the impurity removal space of the molten metal flow path forming body in the width direction, have opposite poles facing each other, and can form a magnetic field in molten metal in the impurity removal space,   wherein the outlet-side electrode is provided in a floating state in the impurity removal space so that a first gap opened vertically is formed between the outlet-side electrode and a bottom surface of the molten metal flow path forming body and a second gap opened in the longitudinal direction is formed between the outlet-side electrode and the outlet-side closed end plate, and   the electrode device and the magnetic field device constitute an urging device that can apply a Lorentz force downward to molten metal in the impurity removal space so as to increase a density of the molten metal and cause impurities in the molten metal to rise up to a surface of the molten metal, and can send molten metal on an inner side than the outlet-side electrode in the impurity removal space through the first gap to the second gap.   
     
     
         14 . A continuous impurity removal method for removing impurities from molten metal in sending electrically conductive molten metal to a metal product manufacturing device in a next stage, the method comprising:
 preparing a molten metal flow path body having a molten metal flow path for flowing electrically conductive molten metal that has flown from outside toward the metal product manufacturing device;   providing an inlet-side closed end plate and an outlet-side closed end plate in the molten metal flow path body so as to partition a front and a rear of the molten metal flow path and form an impurity removal space;   providing, in the impurity removal space, an electrode device composed of an inlet-side electrode and an outlet-side electrode that face each other in a longitudinal direction in which molten metal flows and can be put into electrical contact with molten metal in the impurity removal space;   providing, outside the molten metal flow path forming body, a magnetic field device composed of a pair of permanent magnets that face each other in a width direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, sandwich the impurity removal space of the molten metal flow path forming body in the width direction, have opposite poles facing each other, and can form a magnetic field in molten metal in the impurity removal space;   providing the outlet-side electrode in a floating state in the impurity removal space so that a first gap opened vertically is formed between the outlet-side electrode and a bottom surface of the molten metal flow path forming body and a second gap opened in the longitudinal direction is formed between the outlet-side electrode and the outlet-side closed end plate; and   causing an urging device composed of the electrode device and the magnetic field device to apply a Lorentz force downward to molten metal in the impurity removal space so as to increase a density of the molten metal and cause impurities in the molten metal to rise up to a surface of the molten metal, and send molten metal on an inner side than the outlet-side electrode through the first gap to the second gap.