Ultrasonic degassing of molten metals
View Patent ↗Methods for degassing and for removing impurities from molten metals are disclosed. These methods can include operating an ultrasonic device in a molten metal bath, and adding a purging gas into the molten metal bath in close proximity to the ultrasonic device.
1. An ultrasonic device comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer,
an elongated probe comprising a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the ultrasonic transducer and the second end comprising a tip, wherein the elongated probe comprises a ceramic;
a purging gas delivery system, wherein the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas inlet and a purging gas outlet, wherein the purging gas outlet is at the tip of the elongated probe; and
a booster between the ultrasonic transducer and the elongated probe, wherein the purging gas inlet is in the booster.
2. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is a Sialon.
3. The ultrasonic device of claim 2 , wherein the elongated probe is a unitary part.
4. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic is silicon carbide.
5. The ultrasonic device of claim 4 , wherein the elongated probe is a unitary part.
6. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the tip of the elongated probe comprises a ceramic.
7. The ultrasonic device of claim 6 , wherein the ceramic is a Sialon.
8. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic device comprises two or more elongated probes.
9. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the elongated probe is generally cylindrical and the ceramic is silicon carbide.
10. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the elongated probe is a unitary part.
11. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the purging gas delivery system is capable of a volumetric flow rate in a range from about 0.1 to about 150 L/min.
12. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , wherein the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas delivery channel in the elongated probe.
13. The ultrasonic device of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling system surrounding at least a portion of the elongated probe.
14. The ultrasonic device of claim 13 , wherein the cooling system comprises channels for a cooling fluid.
15. An ultrasonic device comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer,
a unitary, generally cylindrical, elongated probe comprising a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the ultrasonic transducer and the second end comprising a tip, wherein the elongated probe comprises a Sialon;
a purging gas delivery system, wherein the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas inlet and a purging gas outlet, wherein the purging gas outlet is at the tip of the elongated probe; and
a booster between the ultrasonic transducer and the elongated probe, wherein the purging gas inlet is in the booster.
16. The ultrasonic device of claim 15 , wherein the purging gas delivery system comprises a purging gas delivery channel in the elongated probe.
17. The ultrasonic device of claim 15 , wherein the purging gas delivery system is capable of a volumetric flow rate in a range from about 0.1 to about 150 L/min.