Ladle air brick purging techniques

钢包透气砖吹扫的核心技巧包括规范操作步骤、控制吹扫参数、维护设备安全，以保障透气砖性能和使用寿命。‌吹扫时应采用氧枪吹扫结合氩气测试，确保工作面清洁且流量达标（≥300L/min），同时避免过度烧蚀砖芯。‌

吹扫操作规范‌

吹扫是清除透气砖表面残钢和熔渣的关键步骤，需遵循以下流程：

吹扫时机‌：钢包浇注完毕后立即进行，防止残钢凝固堵塞气道。‌
操作方法‌：
接入氩气管路，开启阀门通入高压气体（氩气或压缩空气）。
操作人员用氧枪垂直吹扫工作面，直至砖面略微变黑，避免斜向烧蚀导致座砖熔损。‌
吹扫后测试氩气流量，达标值需≥300L/min；若未达标，需停用钢包下线处理。‌
注意事项‌：
检查管路漏气，确保接头密封性，防止气体泄漏影响吹扫效果。‌
避免“紧盯砖芯烧”，过度吹扫会加速砖芯侵蚀，缩短使用寿命。‌‌

关键参数控制‌

吹扫效果依赖于气体和工艺参数的优化：

氩气纯度‌：必须≥99.99%，氧气含量＜8ppm，以防氧化熔损透气砖。‌
吹扫压力‌：高压气流可有效清除残渣，但需控制在避免喷溅的范围内（参考钢包底吹氩的喷射状态）。‌
狭缝型透气砖维护‌：狭缝宽度建议0.1–0.2mm，过窄易堵塞，过宽易渗钢；吹扫后安装逆止阀，防止钢水反灌堵塞气道。‌

安全与维护措施‌

延长透气砖寿命需结合吹扫与日常维护：

安全标识管理‌：吹扫至预置安全标识位置（约残砖180mm处）时停止，避免标识脱落导致侵蚀加速。‌
设备优化‌：
在氩气管路加装流量计，实时监控吹扫效果。‌‌
采用防渗型透气砖或降低弥散块高度30mm，提升抗侵蚀能力。‌
周转管理‌：

减少钢包空置时间，红包周转率提升至5.5次/包，降低急冷急热对透气砖的损伤。

The key techniques for purging ladle porous plug include standardizing operating procedures, controlling purging parameters, and maintaining equipment safety to ensure the performance and service life of the porous plug. Purging should be performed using an oxygen lance combined with argon testing to ensure a clean working surface and a flow rate that meets the standard (≥300 L/min), while also avoiding excessive burnout of the brick core.

Purging Operation Specifications

Purging is a critical step in removing residual steel and slag from the surface of the air bricks. The following procedures should be followed:

When to Purge: Immediately after ladle pouring is completed to prevent residual steel from solidifying and blocking the air passages.

How to Operate:
Connect the argon gas line and open the valve to allow high-pressure gas (argon or compressed air).
The operator uses the oxygen lance to purge the working surface vertically until the brick surface turns slightly black, preventing oblique burnout that could cause melt damage to the base bricks.

After purging, test the argon flow rate; the standard value must be ≥300 L/min. If it fails to meet the standard, the ladle must be taken offline for processing. ‌
Precautions‌
Check for leaks in the piping and ensure joints are tight to prevent gas leaks that may affect the purging effect. ‌
Avoid "watching the brick core burn"; excessive purging can accelerate brick core erosion and shorten its service life. ‌
Key Parameter Control‌

Purge effectiveness depends on optimizing gas and process parameters:

Argon purity: Must be ≥99.99%, with an oxygen content of <8ppm to prevent oxidation and damage to the permeable bricks. ‌
Purge pressure: High-pressure airflow effectively removes debris, but must be controlled to avoid splashing (refer to the argon spray conditions at the bottom of the ladle). ‌
Slit-type permeable brick maintenance: The recommended slit width is 0.1–0.2mm. Too narrow can easily clog, while too wide can cause steel seepage. Install a check valve after purging to prevent backflow of molten steel and blockage of the air passage.

Safety and Maintenance Measures

Extending the life of air bricks requires a combination of purging and routine maintenance:

Safety Marking Management: Stop purging when the pre-set safety marking is reached (approximately 180mm from the remaining brick) to prevent the marking from falling off and accelerating corrosion.

Equipment Optimization:
Install a flow meter in the argon gas line to monitor the purging effect in real time.

Use impermeable air bricks or reduce the height of the dispersion block by 30mm to improve corrosion resistance.

Turnover Management: 

Reduce ladle idle time and increase the red envelope turnover rate to 5.5 times/bag to minimize damage to air bricks caused by rapid cooling and heating.