A novel, inexpensive and rugged probe for measuring gas bubbles in liquid metals

Piero Marcolongo, James W. Evans, Daniel Artemus Steingart, Dana R. Walker, D. Corleen Chesonis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A new probe for detecting gas bubbles in liquid metals has been tested in the laboratory in a cold model and finally in liquid aluminum at the Alcoa Technical Center. The probe is rugged and inexpensive consisting of a narrow alumina tube connected to an inexpensive microphone by a plastic tube. The tip of the alumina tube is immersed in the liquid and a flow of argon down the tube creates a stream of tiny argon bubbles at that tip. Those bubbles are "heard" by the microphone which relays its signal to a laptop computer. When a large bubble, such as one created by an immersed impeller or wand, reaches the probe tip the sound (pressure fluctuations) detected by the microphone changes and the change is visible at the laptop. As a result of work in our laboratory, we have learned that the pressure fluctuations, resulting from a cup bubble passing the probe tip, are due to the bubble wake.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLight Metals 2007 - Proceedings of the Technical Sessions presented by the TMS Aluminum Committee at the TMS 2007 Annual Meeting and Exhibition
Pages673-677
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2007
EventTMS 2007 Annual Meeting and Exhibition - Orlando, FL, United States
Duration: Feb 25 2007Mar 1 2007

Publication series

NameTMS Light Metals
ISSN (Print)0147-0809

Other

OtherTMS 2007 Annual Meeting and Exhibition
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando, FL
Period2/25/073/1/07

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

Keywords

  • Bubbles
  • Degassing measurement
  • Sound probe

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