Slide Gate Plate , Ladle And Collector Nozzles
A combination of two slide gate plates, one ladle nozzle and one collector nozzle form a set. This entire set is fixed on to the ladle. The ladle nozzle also known as inner nozzle or fixed nozzle is placed in a well block which is embedded in the silica ramming mass lining of the ladle. The slide plates are fitted outside the ladle in a mechanism which is hydraulically operated. The collector nozzle also known as outer nozzle is fitted to the bottom slide gate plate. This system is used for operating and controlling the flow of the molten steel from the ladle to the tundish.
For a 1 QC system on an average 50 to 60 MT of molten metal can be casted and for 2 QC system about 70 to 80 MT. Depending upon the capacity of the ladle the life can be calculated in terms of heats/campaigns. However, a lot depends upon the chemistry of the steel, and avoidance of slag flowing through the refractory system and much more on the adequate and proper cleaning of the bore of the slide plates and ladle nozzle.
Tundish Nozzles
The tundish nozzles are also known as metering nozzles as it has a very specific diameter. These nozzles are fixed in the tundish through which the molten metal flows into the continuous casting machine and molten metal gets casted in a rectangular section known as billets. The bore diameter of the nozzle is selected based on the section of the billet to be casted and also the casting speed.
There are various types of tundish nozzles like for upto 2 hours, 5 to 6 hours and long sequence casting of 12 to 18 hours. Based on the operating time, the type of the nozzle can be selected. There are different types nozzles like co-moulded into a well block, zirconia insert co-moulded in an alumina carbon body.
The Life of the tundish nozzle is one continuous campaign of cast. Based on the casting time, the nozzle can be selected.
