Ceramic filters and filter systems for continuous metal melt filtration

Abstract

With respect to ceramic filters and filter systems for continuous metal melt filtration, to be able to counter high throughputs of steel melt and also the limitations of filter capacities during continuous casting, an alternative technological approach involves the use of novel, replaceable, and/or rotatable filter bodies at positions in the distributor channel. In some cases, the replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies may be inserted into the distributor channel for 10 seconds to 30 minutes before being replaced. The filter bodies may be configured as an open-celled foam ceramic or a honeycomb body or a spaghetti filter and serve as a filter geometry of the replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies in the distributor channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a distributor channel; and   ceramic filters or filter systems for continuous metal melt filtration, wherein replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies are disposed at positions in the distributor channel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the ceramic filters or the filter systems are configured to contribute at least one of
 directly to removal of inclusions by generating in-situ layers on filter surfaces of the ceramic filters or the filter systems on which the inclusions deposit and lead via sintering processes to fastening on the filter surfaces, or 
 indirectly to removal of inclusions by shortening a path for deposition of nonmetallic inclusions into a slag of the distributor channel by a design of filter geometries in combination with rotation of the filter bodies and flow of metal melt in the distributor channel. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the filter bodies configured as an open-celled foam ceramic or a honeycomb body or a spaghetti filter serve as the filter geometries of the replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies in the distributor channel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein porous, replaceable and/or rotatable vessels in which stamped fibres or fibre fabrics or spheres or splintering particles are present serve as the filter geometries of the replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one filter body is used in an end face of the distributor channel and/or in a vicinity of a shadow tube in the distributor channel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising foam ceramics or spaghetti structures with macrochannels and a minimum diameter of 10 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A process that employs ceramic filters or filter systems for continuous metal melt filtration, wherein replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies are disposed at positions in a distributor channel. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising:
 dipping the ceramic filters or the filter systems into the distributor channel for 10 seconds to 30 minutes; and 
 replacing the ceramic filters or the filter systems. 
 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7  wherein the ceramic filters or the filter systems contribute at least one of
 directly to removal of inclusions by generating in-situ layers on filter surfaces of the ceramic filters or the filter systems on which the inclusions deposit and lead via sintering processes to fastening on the filter surfaces, or 
 indirectly to removal of inclusions by shortening a path for deposition of nonmetallic inclusions into a slag of the distributor channel by a design of filter geometries in combination with rotation of the filter bodies and flow of metal melt in the distributor channel. 
 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  wherein the filter bodies configured as an open-celled foam ceramic or a honeycomb body or a spaghetti filter serve as the filter geometries of the replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies in the distributor channel. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9  wherein porous, replaceable and/or rotatable vessels in which stamped fibres or fibre fabrics or spheres or splintering particles are present serve as the filter geometries of the replaceable and/or rotatable filter bodies. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 7  wherein at least one filter body is used in an end face of the distributor channel and/or in a vicinity of a shadow tube in the distributor channel. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 7  further comprising providing foam ceramics or spaghetti structures with macrochannels and a minimum diameter of 10 mm.