Concern for the environment and rational management of resources requires the development of recoverable methods of obtaining metallic materials. This also applies to the production of aluminium and its alloys. The quality requirements of the market drive aluminium producers to use effective refining methods, and one of the most commonly used is blowing an inert gas into liquid aluminium via a rotating impeller. The efficiency and cost of this treatment depends largely on the application of the correct ratios between the basic parameters of the process, which are the flow rate of the inert gas, the speed of the rotor and the duration of the process. Determining these ratios in production conditions is expensive and difficult. This article presents the results of research aimed at determining the optimal ratio of the inert gas flow rate to the rotary impeller speed, using physical modeling techniques for the rotor as used in industrial conditions. The tests were carried out for rotary impeller speeds from 150 to 550 rpm and gas flow rates of 12, 17 and 22 dm³/min. The research was carried out on a 1:1 scale physical model, and the results, in the form of visualization of the degree of gas-bubble dispersion, were assessed on the basis of the five typical dispersion patterns. The removal of oxygen from water was carried out analogously to the process of removing hydrogen from aluminium. The curves of the rate of oxygen removal from the model liquid were determined, showing the course of oxygen reduction during refining with the same inert gas flows and rotor speeds mentioned above.

The paper describes research and development of aluminium melt refining technology in a ladle with rotating impeller and breakwaters using numerical modelling of a finite volume/element method. The theoretical aspects of refining technology are outlined. The design of the numerical model is described and discussed. The differences between real process conditions and numerical model limitations are mentioned. Based on the hypothesis and the results of numerical modelling, the most appropriate setting of the numerical model is recommended. Also, the possibilities of monitoring of degassing are explained. The results of numerical modelling allow to improve the refining technology of metal melts and to control the final quality under different boundary conditions, such as rotating speed, shape and position of rotating impeller, breakwaters and intensity of inert gas blowing through the impeller.

The paper presents the results of tests carried out during the refining of the AlSi9Cu3(Fe) alloy in industrial conditions at the FDU stand. In the tests, three different rotors made of classical graphite, fine-grained graphite and classical graphite with SiC spraying were tested for the degree of wear. A series of tests was conducted for five cases—0% to 100% of consumption every 25%—corresponding to the cycles of the refining process. The number of cycles corresponding to 100% wear of each rotor was determined as 1112. The results of the rotor wear profile for all types of graphite after the assumed cycles are presented. Comparison of CAD models of new rotors and 3D scans of rotors in the final stage of operation revealed material losses during operational tests. The study assessed the efficiency of the rotor in terms of its service life as well as work efficiency. It was estimated on the basis of the calculated values of the Dichte Index (DI) and the density of the samples solidified in the vacuum. The structure of samples before and after refining at various stages of rotor wear is also presented, and the results are discussed.

Conditions favourable for the development of internal defects in cast pieces may occur in the course of ductile iron casting. The presence of such defects may be fatal for the castings and, together with other factors, result in their disposal. Therefore, any defects should be revealed as early as in the casting design phase if possible. This can be achieved through numerical simulations, a tool commonly used today to predict defects. This paper describes the procedure of numerical modelling of ductile iron casting and solidification of castings intended for the power industry. The purpose of our numerical simulations was to predict filling, solidification and stress states in order to verify whether the proposed production technology is adequate. The numerical simulations revealed some minor deficiencies in the production technology which might lead to defects should an unexpected change in the process conditions occur. In particular, these defects concerned the inlet system, risers, and susceptibility to cracking. Measures to eliminate the risks associated with development of the above-mentioned defects were proposed based on the simulations, which will be integrated in the production technology.

Both the wear and the geometry of the rotor determine the efficiency of the process of aluminum refining. The paper presents wear tests of two different rotors: I (pump type) and II (propeller type). The operation of both rotors in industrial conditions was compared and their service life was examined. It was found that rotor I is more durable than the tested rotor II, and at the same time it provides a good level of hydrogen removal throughout the operation period, i.e., 1112 refining cycles. Rotor wear after refining was calculated by 3D scanning. The study also investigated the impact of rotor geometry on the efficiency of the refining process. The degassing efficiency was determined during refining in a foundry using the Dichte Index (DI). The alloy density and the volume of hydrogen removed were also tested for five stages of rotor wear: 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Both new rotors performed worse in removing hydrogen from the liquid alloy than the worn rotors due to their humidity which cannot be eliminated in the initial stage of their operation. A Dross Test was also performed to determine non-metallic impurities and compare size and number of cavities for rotor I and II. The best results of removing non-metallic inclusions by flotation were obtained for rotor I at the end of its operation.

The present paper describes a comparison of the efficiency of different types of rotors used in the refining of aluminium melt at a foundry degassing unit (FDU). Physical modelling was used to obtain data for six different rotor types under defined experimental conditions. In order to evaluate the data from the physical model, an evaluation method based on the interpolation of degassing curves was developed in such a way that the resulting characteristic can be expressed by a single parameter. Using the new methodology, the datasets were replaced by a single dimensionless parameter, a, which characterizes the rotor performance at a given gas flow rate. Based on the comparison of these performance parameters, it was possible to mutually compare the rotor efficiency depending on the selected conditions. The comparison is also demonstrated on the expected degassing time to a certain required concentration. Based on the physical model results, the study found that rotor D had the highest degassing efficiency, followed by rotors F and A. Rotors B and E had similar efficiency at a flow rate of 17 Nl·min⁻¹. However, rotor B showed better efficiency at higher inert gas flow rates (19 and 21 Nl·min⁻¹), while rotor E showed better efficiency at lower flow rates (13 and 15 Nl·min⁻¹).