PREVENTATIVE METAL TREATMENT THROUGH ADVANCED MELTING SYSTEM DESIGN

摘要

Recent technology advances in aluminum melting developed under a U.S. Department of Energy program are changing how melt shops are designed and operated. These developments avoid temperature and turbulence during the melting, transfer, and distribution operations that degraded metal quality in the past. First, aluminum is isothermally melted under high flux subsurface conduction, with a maximum metal temperature less than 22 deg C above mean holding temperature. No products of combustion (i.e. water) are produced. Second, metal is quiescently transferred into integrally heated molten metal delivery ladles detained at the casting unit for controlled metal dispensation. These vessels functionally serve as portable holding furnaces. Finally, molten aluminum is delivered to the casting unit by a new high heat flux launder/trough system design based on conduction. Surface heating of metal does not occur and temperature can be closed loop controlled. This paper will describe the system and expected metal quality benefits.