초록

Ultrasonic devices having an integrated gas delivery system are described, and these devices can be used to remove dissolved gasses and impurities from molten metals.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ultrasonic device comprising: an ultrasonic transducer;a probe attached to the ultrasonic transducer, the probe comprising a tip; anda gas delivery system, the gas delivery system comprising: a gas inlet,a gas flow path through the probe, anda gas outlet at the tip of the probe;wherein a ratio

1. An ultrasonic device comprising: an ultrasonic transducer;a probe attached to the ultrasonic transducer, the probe comprising a tip; anda gas delivery system, the gas delivery system comprising: a gas inlet,a gas flow path through the probe, anda gas outlet at the tip of the probe;wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional area of the tip of the probe to the cross-sectional area of the gas outlet is in a range from about 30:1 to about 1000:1. 2. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises stainless steel, titanium, niobium, a ceramic, or a combination thereof. 3. The ultrasonic device of claim 2, wherein the probe is a unitary part. 4. The ultrasonic device of claim 3, wherein the probe comprises a Sialon, a Silicon carbide, a Boron carbide, a Boron nitride, a Silicon nitride, an Aluminum nitride, an Aluminum oxide, a Zirconia, or a combination thereof. 5. The ultrasonic device of claim 4, wherein the probe comprises a Sialon. 6. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the probe is an elongated probe, and the elongated probe is secured to the ultrasonic transducer with an attachment nut. 7. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the probe is an elongated probe, and a length to diameter ratio of the elongated probe is in a range from about 5:1 to about 25:1. 8. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic device further comprises a thermal protection system surrounding at least a portion of the probe. 9. The ultrasonic device of claim 8, wherein a fluid is circulated within the thermal protection system. 10. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic device further comprises a booster between the ultrasonic transducer and the probe. 11. The ultrasonic device of claim 10, wherein the gas inlet is in the booster. 12. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the probe is generally cylindrical. 13. The ultrasonic device of claim 1, wherein the probe has a radius of curvature of at least about ½-inch on an attachment side of the probe. 14. A method for reducing an amount of a dissolved gas and/or an impurity in a molten metal bath, the method comprising: (a) operating the ultrasonic device of claim 1 in the molten metal bath; and(b) introducing a purging gas through the gas delivery system and into the molten metal bath at a rate in a range from about 0.1 to about 150 L/min. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: the dissolved gas comprises oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur dioxide, or a combination thereof;the impurity comprises an alkali metal;the molten metal bath comprises aluminum, copper, zinc, steel, magnesium, or a combination thereof;the purging gas comprises nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, chlorine, or a combination thereof; orany combination thereof. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the purging gas is introduced into the molten metal bath at a rate in a range from about 10 to about 500 mL/hr of purging gas per kg/hr of output from the molten metal bath. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein: the purging gas is introduced into the molten metal bath at a rate in a range from about 1 to about 50 L/min;the dissolved gas comprises hydrogen;the molten metal bath comprises aluminum, copper, or a combination thereof;the purging gas comprises argon, nitrogen, or a combination thereof; orany combination thereof. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the purging gas is introduced into the molten metal bath at a rate in a range from about 1 to about 10 L/min. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the purging gas is introduced into the molten metal bath at a rate in a range from about 30 to about 200 mL/hr of purging gas per kg/hr of output from the molten metal bath. 20. An ultrasonic device comprising: an ultrasonic transducer;an elongated probe comprising a tip;a booster between the ultrasonic transducer and the elongated probe; anda gas delivery system, the gas delivery system comprising: a gas inlet in the booster,a gas flow path through the probe, anda gas outlet at the tip of the probe;wherein a ratio of the cross-sectional area of the tip of the probe to the cross-sectional area of the gas outlet is in a range from about 30:1 to about 1000:1. 21. The ultrasonic device of claim 20, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the tip of the probe to the cross-sectional area of the gas outlet is in a range from about 60:1 to about 750:1. 22. The ultrasonic device of claim 21, wherein the probe comprises stainless steel, titanium, niobium, a ceramic, or a combination thereof. 23. The ultrasonic device of claim 20, wherein the probe is a unitary, generally cylindrical probe having a length to diameter ratio in a range from about 5:1 to about 25:1. 24. The ultrasonic device of claim 23, wherein the probe comprises a Sialon, a Silicon carbide, a Boron carbide, a Boron nitride, a Silicon nitride, an Aluminum nitride, an Aluminum oxide, a Zirconia, or a combination thereof. 25. The ultrasonic device of claim 23, wherein the probe comprises a Sialon. 26. The ultrasonic device of claim 25, wherein: the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the tip of the probe to the cross-sectional area of the gas outlet is in a range from about 100:1 to about 700:1; andthe length to diameter ratio of the probe is in a range from about 7:1 to about 22:1. 27. A method for reducing an amount of a dissolved gas and/or an impurity in a molten metal bath, the method comprising: (a) operating the ultrasonic device of claim 20 in the molten metal bath; and(b) introducing a purging gas through the gas delivery system and into the molten metal bath. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein: the dissolved gas comprises oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur dioxide, or a combination thereof;the molten metal bath comprises aluminum, copper, zinc, steel, magnesium, or a combination thereof; andthe purging gas comprises nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, chlorine, or a combination thereof. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein: the purging gas is introduced into the molten metal bath at a rate in a range from about 1 to about 50 L/min;the dissolved gas comprises hydrogen;the molten metal bath comprises aluminum, copper, or a combination thereof;the purging gas comprises argon, nitrogen, or a combination thereof; orany combination thereof.