EP0481380A1 - Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects - Google Patents

Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0481380A1
EP0481380A1 EP91117411A EP91117411A EP0481380A1 EP 0481380 A1 EP0481380 A1 EP 0481380A1 EP 91117411 A EP91117411 A EP 91117411A EP 91117411 A EP91117411 A EP 91117411A EP 0481380 A1 EP0481380 A1 EP 0481380A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cooler
cooling agent
cooling
guide member
casting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91117411A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0481380B1 (en
Inventor
Markku Hermanni Koivisto
Seppo Ilmari Pietilä
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Luvata Castform Oy
Original Assignee
Outokumpu Castform Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Outokumpu Castform Oy filed Critical Outokumpu Castform Oy
Publication of EP0481380A1 publication Critical patent/EP0481380A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0481380B1 publication Critical patent/EP0481380B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/14—Plants for continuous casting
    • B22D11/145—Plants for continuous casting for upward casting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22—CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22D—CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D11/00—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths
    • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
    • B22D11/055—Cooling the moulds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects, particularly in essentially vertical continuous casting carried out from bottom to top.
  • the cooling of a metal object is normally carried out by using the cooler of figure 1, where the cooling agent is conducted to the bottom part of the cooler through the top, via the inlet located in the vicinity of the outer wall of the cooler. Inside the cooler there is installed an intermediate pipe so that the cooling agent is directed towards its outlet while rising up in the vicinity of the inner wall of the cooler.
  • the molten metal is conducted to a nozzle 1; in the nozzle, at the height 2, there is formed a solidification front, where the molten metal turns solid.
  • the cooling agent is conducted, by means of the intermediate pipe 4, first downwards, through its inlet, to the bottom part of the cooler, and further back up, to the top part of the cooler, to be discharged from the cooler. It is apparent that the heat content discharged from the nozzle 1 is at its highest essentially at the solidification front 2, because metal, in the course of solidification, changes state and thus emits heat according to its temperature in the change of state.
  • the increase in the temperature of the cast wire is observed as a function of time. While casting for instance copper wire at the rate of 6 m/min, the surface temperature of the wire may, after cooling, be over 500°C. Such an increase in the wire temperature generally causes the wire to break, which essentially decreases the operation grade. Reasons for the increase in the temperature are for example the thermal expansion of the lower part in the cooler, which creates a gap in the threading between the nozzle and the cooler. Moreover, a high melting heat capacity at high casting velocities brings about an increase in the temperature of the water surface in the cooler, so that an insulating steam bubble is created on the cooling surface of the cooler.
  • the object of the present invention is to eliminate some of the drawbacks of the prior art and to achieve a new, improved apparatus, which is more secure in operation, so that the cooling, particularly in continuous vertical upward casting, is made efficient also at essentially high casting velocities.
  • the essential novel features of the invention are apparent from the appended patent claims.
  • the flow path of the cooling agent, flowing in the cooler of a continuous casting machine in casting from bottom to top is changed by means of at least one guide member, particularly at the height defined by the solidification front of the apparatus, so that the cooling, particularly at this height at least, is advantageously intensified. At the same time, this prevents the temperature of the cast object from rising, and consequently the created product from breaking.
  • the guide member or members of the invention can advantageously be placed in the housing of the cooler, and/or in a separating member defining the flow direction of the cooling agent, which enables the flowing of the cooling agent first from the top part of the cooler down to the bottom, and then further back up.
  • these members form channels for guiding the cooling agent to essentially near to the surface to be cooled.
  • the cooling can be intensified, also and essentially as regards the section located above the height defined by the solidification front.
  • the bottom part of the separating member can be provided with the said guide member, for directing the cooling agent in an advantageous fashion towards the surface of the cooler located essentially at the height of the solidification front.
  • a groove in the cooler housing essentially at the height of the solidification front, which groove advantageously expands the cooling surface at this most critical point.
  • the cooling agent is advantageously made to flow past the most critical point as regards vertical continuous casting, so that essentially the total cooling capacity of the cooling agent can be made use of.
  • the cooling agent is advantageously made to flow past the most critical point as regards vertical continuous casting, so that essentially the total cooling capacity of the cooling agent can be made use of.
  • the cooler 11 is arranged around a nozzle 12, so that at least the top part of the nozzle 12 is cooled.
  • the cooling agent such as water
  • the cooling agent flows, in the direction of the arrows of figure 2, first downwards in the space between the outer wall of the cooler 11 and the separating member 14 arranged inside the cooler.
  • the cooling agent is conducted, according to the invention, to the height of the solidification front 15 in the nozzle 12, to an essentially horizontal guide channel 16 provided in the housing of the cooler 11, so that the cooling agent flows to essentially near to the inner surface of the cooler 11.
  • the guide 16 is further connected to another guide channel 17, which is essentially parallel to the vertical inner wall of the cooler 11.
  • the guide channels 16 and 17 bring the cooling agent essentially nearer to the hottest point of the cooler housing, the surface of the cooler housing 11 that is in contact with the cooling agent is also essentially expanded at the hottest point. This brings about a further essential improvement in the cooling power of the cooler 11.
  • the heated cooling agent rises in the space between the inner wall of the cooler 11 and the separating member 14, to be discharged from the cooler 11 via the outlet 18.
  • the number of guide channels 16 and 17 in one cooler 11 may vary depending on the use of the apparatus of the invention, so that there are either one or several of them.
  • the cooler 31 is installed around the top part of the nozzle 32.
  • the cooling agent is fed in through the inlet 33 provided in the top part of the cooler, and the cooling agent flows in the space in between the outer wall of the cooler and the separating member 34 to the bottom part of the cooler 31.
  • at least one guide or aligning member 36 which guides the cooling agent to at least one groove 37 formed in the inner wall of the cooler housing in an essentially perpendicular position.
  • the pressure energy contained in the cooling agent is changed into kinetic energy.
  • the cooling capacity of the cooling agent is improved at the same time as the formation of an insulating steam bed, which would reduce the cooling efficiency, is prevented.
  • the cooling agent heated in the bottom of the cooler essentially at the hottest point thereof, is discharged from the cooler 31 through the outlet 38 provided in the top part of the cooler.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Continuous Casting (AREA)
  • Molds, Cores, And Manufacturing Methods Thereof (AREA)
  • Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
  • Executing Machine-Instructions (AREA)
  • Heat Treatments In General, Especially Conveying And Cooling (AREA)
  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects, particularly in vertical continuous casting from bottom to top, when the nozzle (12) of the continuous casting machine is at least at the top surrounded by a cooler (11) , which is divided into two parts by a separating member (14) provided therein. According to the invention, the cooler (11) is provided with at least one guide member (16) arranged in the cooler housing and/or connected to the separating member (14) located inside the cooler, which guide member is installed essentially at the height defined by the solidification front (15) located in the nozzle (12) of the continuous casting machine. The guide member is formed for instance of at least one guide channel (16) arranged inside the cooler housing, or of at least one aligning member connected to the separating member.

Description

  • The present invention relates to an apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects, particularly in essentially vertical continuous casting carried out from bottom to top.
  • In continuous vertical bottom casting, known for example from the US patent 3,746,077, the cooling of a metal object is normally carried out by using the cooler of figure 1, where the cooling agent is conducted to the bottom part of the cooler through the top, via the inlet located in the vicinity of the outer wall of the cooler. Inside the cooler there is installed an intermediate pipe so that the cooling agent is directed towards its outlet while rising up in the vicinity of the inner wall of the cooler. In figure 1, the molten metal is conducted to a nozzle 1; in the nozzle, at the height 2, there is formed a solidification front, where the molten metal turns solid. In the cooler 3, the cooling agent is conducted, by means of the intermediate pipe 4, first downwards, through its inlet, to the bottom part of the cooler, and further back up, to the top part of the cooler, to be discharged from the cooler. It is apparent that the heat content discharged from the nozzle 1 is at its highest essentially at the solidification front 2, because metal, in the course of solidification, changes state and thus emits heat according to its temperature in the change of state.
  • While using the prior art cooler of figure 1 for instance in the casting of wire, where the casting is carried out at essentially high velocities, the increase in the temperature of the cast wire is observed as a function of time. While casting for instance copper wire at the rate of 6 m/min, the surface temperature of the wire may, after cooling, be over 500°C. Such an increase in the wire temperature generally causes the wire to break, which essentially decreases the operation grade. Reasons for the increase in the temperature are for example the thermal expansion of the lower part in the cooler, which creates a gap in the threading between the nozzle and the cooler. Moreover, a high melting heat capacity at high casting velocities brings about an increase in the temperature of the water surface in the cooler, so that an insulating steam bubble is created on the cooling surface of the cooler.
  • The object of the present invention is to eliminate some of the drawbacks of the prior art and to achieve a new, improved apparatus, which is more secure in operation, so that the cooling, particularly in continuous vertical upward casting, is made efficient also at essentially high casting velocities. The essential novel features of the invention are apparent from the appended patent claims.
  • According to the invention, the flow path of the cooling agent, flowing in the cooler of a continuous casting machine in casting from bottom to top, is changed by means of at least one guide member, particularly at the height defined by the solidification front of the apparatus, so that the cooling, particularly at this height at least, is advantageously intensified. At the same time, this prevents the temperature of the cast object from rising, and consequently the created product from breaking.
  • The guide member or members of the invention can advantageously be placed in the housing of the cooler, and/or in a separating member defining the flow direction of the cooling agent, which enables the flowing of the cooling agent first from the top part of the cooler down to the bottom, and then further back up. When placing the guide member or members in the cooler housing, these members form channels for guiding the cooling agent to essentially near to the surface to be cooled. Thus the cooling can be intensified, also and essentially as regards the section located above the height defined by the solidification front.
  • In order to install the guide member of the present invention in the separating member of the cooling agent, the bottom part of the separating member can be provided with the said guide member, for directing the cooling agent in an advantageous fashion towards the surface of the cooler located essentially at the height of the solidification front. For an advantageous aligning of the cooling agent, it is also possible to arrange a groove in the cooler housing, essentially at the height of the solidification front, which groove advantageously expands the cooling surface at this most critical point.
  • By employing the guide member or members of the invention, the cooling agent is advantageously made to flow past the most critical point as regards vertical continuous casting, so that essentially the total cooling capacity of the cooling agent can be made use of. Thus it is possible to increase casting velocities from the current state without causing an increase in the temperature of the cast product and a consequent danger of breaking.
  • In the following the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, where
    • figure 1
    is a schematical side-view illustration of a prior art cooler of a casting machine applying vertical continuous casting from bottom to top,
    figure 2
    is a schematical side-view illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention, where the guide member of the cooling agent is located in the cooler housing,
    figure 3
    is a schematical side-view illustration of another preferred embodiment of the invention, where the guide member of the cooling agent is located in the separating member,
    figure 4
    is a schematical side-view illustration of a third preferred embodiment of the invention, where the guide member of the cooling agent is located in the separating member and in the cooler housing.
  • Figure 1 was already explained in the description of the prior art.
  • In figure 2, the cooler 11 is arranged around a nozzle 12, so that at least the top part of the nozzle 12 is cooled. The cooling agent, such as water, is brought into the cooler 11 through the inlet 13 located at the top end of the cooler. In the cooler 11, the cooling agent flows, in the direction of the arrows of figure 2, first downwards in the space between the outer wall of the cooler 11 and the separating member 14 arranged inside the cooler. Thereafter the cooling agent is conducted, according to the invention, to the height of the solidification front 15 in the nozzle 12, to an essentially horizontal guide channel 16 provided in the housing of the cooler 11, so that the cooling agent flows to essentially near to the inner surface of the cooler 11. Consequently the cooling agent meets the inner wall of the cooler 11 essentially at the hottest point, which advantageously improves the efficiency of the cooling. The guide 16 is further connected to another guide channel 17, which is essentially parallel to the vertical inner wall of the cooler 11. In addition to the fact that the guide channels 16 and 17 bring the cooling agent essentially nearer to the hottest point of the cooler housing, the surface of the cooler housing 11 that is in contact with the cooling agent is also essentially expanded at the hottest point. This brings about a further essential improvement in the cooling power of the cooler 11.
  • Through the guide channel 17, the heated cooling agent rises in the space between the inner wall of the cooler 11 and the separating member 14, to be discharged from the cooler 11 via the outlet 18. The number of guide channels 16 and 17 in one cooler 11 may vary depending on the use of the apparatus of the invention, so that there are either one or several of them.
  • In figure 3, around the nozzle 21 there is arranged the cooler 22, where the flowing direction of the cooling agent is indicated with arrows in similar fashion as in figure 2. The cooling agent is fed into the cooler 22 through the inlet 23, and the cooling agent flows, in the space between the outer wall of the cooler 11 and the separating member 24, to the bottom part of the cooler. According to the invention, in the bottom part of the separating member 24, essentially at the height of the solidification front 25 located in the nozzle 21, there is installed at least one guide or aligning member 26 for guiding the cooling agent towards the inner wall of the cooler, advantageously at the point in the wall which requires most intensive cooling. The heated cooling agent is further conducted, through a flow space formed by the separating member 24 and the inner wall of the cooler, to the outlet 27. By employing the guide member 26 of the invention, a higher flow rate and thus a better cooling capacity is obtained for the cooling agent. Likewise the turbulence of the cooling agent is increased, so that the creation of a steam bed on the cooler surface is advantageously prevented.
  • In the embodiment of figure 4, the cooler 31 is installed around the top part of the nozzle 32. The cooling agent is fed in through the inlet 33 provided in the top part of the cooler, and the cooling agent flows in the space in between the outer wall of the cooler and the separating member 34 to the bottom part of the cooler 31. In order to direct the cooling agent towards the inner wall of the cooler, in the bottom part of the separating member 34, essentially at the height of the solidification front 35 located in the nozzle 32, there is connected, according to the invention, at least one guide or aligning member 36, which guides the cooling agent to at least one groove 37 formed in the inner wall of the cooler housing in an essentially perpendicular position. Owing to the effect of the guide member 36 and the groove 37, the pressure energy contained in the cooling agent is changed into kinetic energy. Thus the cooling capacity of the cooling agent is improved at the same time as the formation of an insulating steam bed, which would reduce the cooling efficiency, is prevented. The cooling agent heated in the bottom of the cooler, essentially at the hottest point thereof, is discharged from the cooler 31 through the outlet 38 provided in the top part of the cooler.
  • The above drawings 2 - 4 illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, each provided with a guide member of a different form, but it is naturally clear that when necessary, these various forms of the guide members can be applied simultaneously in one and the same cooler.

Claims (5)

  1. An apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects, particularly in vertical continuous casting from bottom to top, when the nozzle (12, 21, 32) of the continuous casting machine is at least in the top part surrounded by a cooler (11, 22, 31) divided into two parts by a separating member (14, 24, 34) arranged therein, characterized in that the cooler (11, 22, 31) is provided by at least one guide member (16, 26, 36) installed in the cooler housing and/or connected to the separating member (14, 24, 34) provided inside the cooler.
  2. The apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the guide member (16, 26, 36) is installed essentially at the height defined by the solidification front (15, 25, 35) located in the nozzle (12, 21, 32).
  3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide member is formed of at least one guide channel (16, 17) arranged inside the cooler housing.
  4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the employed guide member (26) is at least one aligning member connected to the separating member (24).
  5. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide member is formed of at least one aligning member (36) connected to the separating member (34), and of at least one groove (37) formed in the cooler housing.
EP91117411A 1990-10-17 1991-10-11 Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects Expired - Lifetime EP0481380B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI905102A FI87894C (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 ANORDINATION FOR EFFECTIVE KYLNING VID GJUTNING AV ETT METALLSTYCKE
FI905102 1990-10-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0481380A1 true EP0481380A1 (en) 1992-04-22
EP0481380B1 EP0481380B1 (en) 1996-02-28

Family

ID=8531257

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91117411A Expired - Lifetime EP0481380B1 (en) 1990-10-17 1991-10-11 Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0481380B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3276381B2 (en)
CN (2) CN1046876C (en)
AT (1) ATE134543T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69117422T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2084749T3 (en)
FI (1) FI87894C (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0542030A1 (en) * 1991-11-14 1993-05-19 Outokumpu Castform Oy Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects
EP0875317A1 (en) * 1997-04-29 1998-11-04 Outokumpu Oyj Method and apparatus for casting metal wires, bars and tubes in an upwardly direction

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100348346C (en) * 2006-04-20 2007-11-14 陈健美 Semi-continuous casting method for light alloy and dedicated apparatus for implementing the same
CN103103622B (en) * 2011-11-11 2015-10-21 中国科学院沈阳科学仪器研制中心有限公司 A kind of water jacket that can work under the hot environment of single crystal furnace equipment for a long time
CN109290534B (en) * 2018-11-21 2020-08-04 徐州诚凯知识产权服务有限公司 Crystallizer for manufacturing copper bars

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2553921A (en) * 1949-04-12 1951-05-22 Jordan James Fernando Continuous casting apparatus
US3746077A (en) * 1970-05-19 1973-07-17 Outokumpu Oy Apparatus for upward casting
DE2060451B2 (en) * 1969-12-15 1974-01-31 Outokumpu Oy, Outokumpu (Finnland) Device for upward continuous casting of profile pieces

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5027032A (en) * 1973-07-12 1975-03-20
JPS6121740A (en) * 1984-07-09 1986-01-30 井関農機株式会社 Dehulling detection method of hulling machine
CN86203074U (en) * 1986-06-30 1986-12-17 机械工业部上海电缆研究所 Continually casting crystallizer operated by a drawing-up method
JPH02182351A (en) * 1989-01-06 1990-07-17 Kubota Ltd Drawing-up continuous casting method for tube with different diameters

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2553921A (en) * 1949-04-12 1951-05-22 Jordan James Fernando Continuous casting apparatus
DE2060451B2 (en) * 1969-12-15 1974-01-31 Outokumpu Oy, Outokumpu (Finnland) Device for upward continuous casting of profile pieces
US3746077A (en) * 1970-05-19 1973-07-17 Outokumpu Oy Apparatus for upward casting

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0542030A1 (en) * 1991-11-14 1993-05-19 Outokumpu Castform Oy Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects
US5381853A (en) * 1991-11-14 1995-01-17 Outokumpu Castform Oy Apparatus for intensifying cooling in the casting of metal objects
EP0875317A1 (en) * 1997-04-29 1998-11-04 Outokumpu Oyj Method and apparatus for casting metal wires, bars and tubes in an upwardly direction

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3276381B2 (en) 2002-04-22
FI905102A0 (en) 1990-10-17
CN1066365C (en) 2001-05-30
ES2084749T3 (en) 1996-05-16
CN1166392A (en) 1997-12-03
DE69117422T2 (en) 1996-08-08
ATE134543T1 (en) 1996-03-15
CN1060802A (en) 1992-05-06
FI87894B (en) 1992-11-30
FI87894C (en) 1993-03-10
CN1046876C (en) 1999-12-01
DE69117422D1 (en) 1996-04-04
JPH04262836A (en) 1992-09-18
EP0481380B1 (en) 1996-02-28
FI905102A (en) 1992-04-18

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