Gas assisted snout interface removal

Abstract

An apparatus for displacing a portion of a dross layer enclosed within an introducer sheath of a dip tank includes a gas source and a gas distributor. The gas distributor is in communication with the gas source via a gas line. The gas distributor includes one or more gas outlets or a gas emitter. The gas distributor is configured to direct a flow of gas towards the dross layer at an angle to move the portion of the dross layer away from a predetermined point.

1 . An apparatus for displacing a portion of a dross layer enclosed within an introducer sheath of a dip tank, the apparatus comprising:
 a gas source; and   a gas distributor in communication with the gas source via a gas line, the gas distributor including one or more gas outlets or a gas emitter, the gas distributor being configured to direct a flow of gas towards the dross layer at an angle to move the portion of the dross layer away from a predetermined point.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas distributor including an elongate tube with one or more gas outlets disposed along the length of the elongate tube. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the one or more gas outlets including a plurality of gas outlets, each gas outlet of the plurality of gas outlets being oriented along a common longitudinal axis defined by the elongate tube. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the one or more gas outlets including a nozzle configured to emit a planar flow of gas along a predetermined flow vector. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas distributor including a base and the gas emitter extending from the base, the gas emitter having a triangular configuration fanning outwardly from the base. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , the gas emitter defining an elongate outlet, the elongate outlet being an elongate narrow slot configured to emit a planar flow of gas along a predetermined flow vector. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas source being configured to communicate a non-oxidizing gas to the gas distributor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the non-oxidizing gas including any one or more of nitrogen, hydrogen, argon, and nitrogen-hydrogen (HNx). 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas preheater in communication with the gas source and the gas distributor via the gas line, the gas preheater being configured to heat gas communicated from the gas source to the gas distributor to a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas distributor being configured to communicate a non-turbulent flow of gas along a gas flow vector. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas distributor being configured to communicate a non-turbulent flow of gas along a gas flow vector, the gas flow vector being oriented at an angle relative to a pass line defined within the introducer sheath. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas line being configured to deform in response to movement of the introducer sheath. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas distributor including one or more fasteners, the one or more fasteners being configured to removably fasten the gas distributor to a portion of the introducer sheath. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the gas distributor including a pair of gas distributors configured to be positioned on opposite sides of the introducer sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , each gas distributor of the pair of gas distributors being of a substantially similar configuration. 
     
     
         16 . A system for coating steel, the system comprising:
 a dip tank configured to contain molten metal;   an introducer sheath, a portion of the introducer sheath extending into the molten metal contained within the dip tank, the introducer sheath defining a hollow interior; and   a gas displacement assembly, the gas displacement assembly including a gas source, a first gas distributor and a second gas distributor, the first gas distributor and the second gas distributor being in communication with the gas source via a gas line, the first gas distributor and the second gas distributor disposed on opposing sides of the introducer sheath, the first gas distributor and the second gas distributor being configured to direct a flow of gas toward the molten metal within the hollow interior of the introducer sheath.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , the first gas distributor and the second gas distributor being disposed within the introducer sheath at a height of 10 to 200 centimeters above a meniscus of the molten metal. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , the first gas distributor and the second gas distributor each including a tube and a plurality of gas outlets, the gas outlets including a plurality of nozzles being evenly spaced along the length of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , the first gas distributor and the second gas distributor each including a tube and an elongate gas outlet, the elongate gas outlet including an elongate slot extending along a longitudinal axis defined by the tube. 
     
     
         20 . A method for communicating dross on a surface of molten metal from a first portion of a molten metal bath to a second portion of the molten metal bath, the method comprising:
 positioning a gas distributor at an angle relative to the surface of the molten metal bath and 10 to 200 centimeters above the molten metal bath;   communicating a gas from the gas distributor to the surface of the molten metal bath to generate a low pressure wave; and   continuing to communicate the gas from the gas distributor to move at least a portion of the dross from the first portion of the molten metal bath to the second portion of the molten metal bath.   
     
     
         21 .- 22 . (canceled)