SUBSTANTIATION OF ENERGY-POWER PARAMETERS OF THE STEEL LADLE SLIDE GATE CATAPULT

Abstract

The theoretical and experimental studies were performed in the design and energy-power parameters of the catapult, which is part of the steel ladle slide gate and ensures the destruction of the crust, which often forms in the surface layer of the loose starting mixture at the inlet of the outlet channel and prevents the beginning of the free outflow of liquid metal when the ladle tundish is first opened. A method was proposed for calculating the dimensions of flat elastic elements of a catapult, taking into account the dimensions of slide gates installed on the steel casting ladles with a capacity of 100–300 tons, as well as the strength of the resulting crust. The obtained calculated dependences are based on the law of conservation of energy of the studied catapult system. It is shown that its use would eliminate the need to use oxygen for burning the solid bulkhead and thereby eliminate the intense destruction of the working walls of the steel outlet channel, contamination of the cast metal with exogenous inclusions and violation of the required velocity mode of its flow from the ladle. Compared with known foreign analogues, the proposed catapult favourably differs in its simple design, low cost, low operating costs and reusable application. This is achieved by moving its power unit out of the steel outlet channel of the ladle gate