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
  • B22D11/04—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds
  • B22D11/055—Cooling the moulds
• • 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
  • B22D11/0401—Moulds provided with a feed head
• • 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
  • B22D11/041—Continuous casting of metals, i.e. casting in indefinite lengths into open-ended moulds for vertical 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
  • B22D11/16—Controlling or regulating processes or operations

Definitions

• the present invention relates to continuous casting under load of metals, steel in particular. It relates more specifically to the constituent elements of the ingot mold which it is a question of meticulously adjusting their relative positioning during assembly of the assembly.
• Continuous casting under load can be seen as an evolution of conventional continuous casting which is manifested by the fact that the meniscus (free surface of the cast metal) is pushed upwards relative to the level where the solidification of the metal begins. the cooled copper of the ingot mold, whereas these two levels are almost confused in conventional continuous casting.
• This originality is obtained by the installation, on the cooled copper part of the ingot mold, of a contiguous extension in heat-insulating refractory material intended to contain the molten liquid metal and on the wall of which any consequent parasitic solidification must be avoided. Consequently, the solidification of the cast metal can start correctly on the upper edge of this copper part.
• the bottom of the riser is then advantageous for the bottom of the riser to consist of a dense refractory part with good mechanical resistance, such as Sialon®.
• This part will fulfill the role of transition zone between the cooled copper of the ingot mold and the fibrous heat-insulating refractory of the riser placed above, which would degrade too quickly if it was placed directly in contact with the upper edge of the body cooled in copper, where the solidification of the cast metal begins.
• the risk of parasitic premature solidifications on this intermediate part is increased, but remains without consequences thanks to the blowing of the shear gas at the interface with the copper, which interrupts the downward propagation of this undesirable process.
• the flow of shear gas is injected through a thin slit (barely a few tenths of a mm is sufficient), which is produced by compression of a bead of fibrous refractory material placed between the Sialon insert and the body in copper from the ingot mold.
• a thin slit (barely a few tenths of a mm is sufficient)
• the cord is compressed until the desired slit thickness is obtained, which is calibrated using adjusted shims.
• a homogeneous distribution of the gas flow along the inside periphery of the ingot mold is however necessary for the smooth running of the casting process.
• this good linear distribution is generally not correctly ensured.
• the object of the present invention is to allow a homogeneous linear distribution of the flow rate of shearing gas injected at the interface “refractory riser-cooled metal body of the ingot mold” by dispensing with the adjustment of the thickness of the slot. injection, and retaining this homogeneous "hot" distribution.
• the invention relates to a method of adjusting the injection, during casting, of a fluid (shearing) through an injection slot formed at the interface "body cooled metal - refractory enhancement "of a continuous casting ingot mold in charge of metals and opening out along the inner periphery of this ingot mold, the latter being provided with means for locally adjusting the thickness of the slot, process characterized in that, outside the casting periods, a flammable fluid is injected through said slit, which is ignited at its outlet from the slit, and in that one intervenes on said adjustment means so that the height of the flames leaving the slit is substantially constant according to the inside perimeter of the mold.
• the basic idea underlying the invention is that we no longer seek a uniform slit thickness over the entire perimeter of injection of the shear gas, but a uniform distribution of the gas flow according to this perimeter, which is materialized by a curtain of flames whose height is adjusted at all points.
• the subject of the invention is also a device for implementing the method, the definition of which is given in the claims appended to the end of this specification.
• FIG. 1 shows schematically, viewed in partial vertical section, the top of a continuous casting ingot mold loaded with steel in a so-called “hot” situation, that is to say during casting, and equipped with means of carrying out the invention
• - Figure 2 similar to Figure 1, shows the situation of the mold "cold", that is to say empty of any metal to be poured, at a time before casting where the shear gas flow distribution settings are made in accordance with the invention.
• the ingot mold is composed of two contiguous stages 1 and 14, distinguished from one another in the figures by the horizontal line AA and at the interface of which is the slot 20 for injecting the gas of shearing.
• the lower stage 1 constitutes the crystallizer.
• This is the properly "active" part of the mold, because this is where the solidification process of the cast metal begins and progresses by massive extraction of heat.
• This part made of copper (more generally of a copper alloy), energetically cooled by circulation of water, has an interior passage 2 for the cast metal 3, in which the latter, in contact with the cold metal walls, will form a solidified crust 4. Once correctly initiated, this solidification will continue progressively from the periphery towards the center of the cast product, as it advances downward within the mold in the direction of extraction indicated by arrow 5.
• the crystallizer 1 itself is preferably formed of two superimposed assemblies: a main tubular body 6, extended from above by an auxiliary element 7, well adjusted and aligned internally with the body 6 in order to offer the cast product a regular passage and continued.
• the main body 6 is conventionally constituted, in the case of the casting of elongated section products such as slabs, by four contiguous plates assembled at right angles, or, in the case of the casting of blooms or billets, by an element monolithic tubular.
• this body 6 the inner surface of which is intended to come into contact with the cast metal, is vigorously cooled by circulation, against its external face, of a sheet of water channeled in a vertical passage 8 provided for this purpose. effect by a jacket 9 placed a short distance from said face.
• the jacket 9 has at its ends an upper opening 1 0 and a lower opening which put the passage 8 in communication respectively with an upper discharge chamber 10 and a lower introduction chamber not visible in the figures.
• the auxiliary element 7 is formed in turn by a ring cooled by an internal water circulation in a horizontal channel 1 2 formed near the upper edge 1 3 on which will begin the solidification of the cast metal.
• the essential role of the ring 7 is precisely to thermally protect this edge 1 3, which will be very strongly stressed thermo-mechanically during casting, by cooling it more efficiently than can the blade cooling circuit d water from the main tubular body 6.
• the upper stage 14 is made up of an extension of uncooled refractory material, the inner wall of which is also, and for the reasons already explained, aligned with that of the stage 1.
• the assembly "cooled metallic crystallizer 1 surmounted by the insulating refractory riser 14" defines a calibrating passage for the cast metal 3, the upper portion 1 5 of which is delimited by the riser a buffer zone for confining hydrodynamic disturbances caused by the arrival (not shown) of the molten metal in the ingot mold, and of which the portion 1 6, which extends it downwards, is the solidification zone of the cast metal.
• this refractory riser 14 is also formed by two separate overlapping joined elements:
• a fibrous refractory will be chosen, for example the material sold under the name A 120K by the company KAPYROK;
• a lower insert 1 8 of dense refractory material chosen for its good mechanical strength. This is in effect resisting, in the vicinity of the crystallizer 1, the mechanical erosion of the tip of the solid crust 4 on the edge 1 3 of the ring 7, while the assembly is subjected to movement usual vertical oscillation necessary for the casting operation, as well as for the thermo-mechanical stresses of a machine operating according to thermal cycles imposed by the necessarily sequential nature of the casting process itself.
• a material such as SiAION (Sialon (R)), advantageously doped with boron nitride, may be suitable.
• a lost inert gas injection circuit (argon for example) is provided between the riser 14 and the crystallizer 7.
• This circuit includes the outlet slot 20 formed at the interface "riser-crystallizer” , leading to the inner periphery of the mold.
• the slit is connected to a distribution chamber 19 supplied with argon by a calibrated tubing 21, itself connected to a source of pressurized argon 22.
• a liner 23 remotely envelops the enhances
• a compressible bead 24 (made of refractory fibrous material for example) serves as a spacer for adjusting the thickness of the slot 20.
• a tightening ring 25 makes it possible to compress this bead using nuts 28 to elastic clamping screwed onto the threaded free end of tie rods 26 taken in anchor studs 27 fixed in the insert 7.
• the desired elasticity of the clamping can be obtained as seen by Belleville washers 29 stacked around the tie rods 26 under the crown 25 and relating to an incoming return 30 of the planting 23 provided for in its part superior.
• Belleville washers 29 stacked around the tie rods 26 under the crown 25 and relating to an incoming return 30 of the planting 23 provided for in its part superior.
• the inner periphery of the tightening ring 25 presses, via a compression O-ring 32, on the upper face of the extension 14 coated for this purpose with a mechanical protective sheet 31.
• the box surrounding the riser 14 is closed at its upper part opposite the clamping ring 25 by means of an annular plug 33 fixed under said crown and the size of which is adjusted to be able to occupy the opening left between the return 30 and the sleeve 17.
• An O-ring seal 34 is provided in a groove formed on the inner edge of the return 30 to allow the plug 33 to be able to slide freely during the adjustments.
• a vent 35 is advantageously provided through the plug 33 and the crown 25 to allow the purge of the box, as explained below.
• the "two-way" selector 36 has the function of being able to switch, as desired, to the argon source 22 used during casting, or to an auxiliary source 38 containing a combustible inflammable fluid which will be injected through the slot 20 during the inter-flow periods in accordance with the invention.
• This flammable fluid is for example natural gas.
• the "cold" situation is used to begin with by adjusting the thickness of the slot 20 to a value of a few tenths of a mm, for example 0.2 mm, by compressing more or less the cord-spacer 24 using the clamping ring 25, as explained above.
• the selector 36 being in the position of FIG.
• flammable fluid from the source 38 is then injected through the slot 20 at a flow rate, initially low, controlled by the adjustment valve 37.
• This gas is ignited at air at the outlet of slot 20.
• This is then used in the manner of a burner which produces on the inner periphery of the mold a curtain of flames 39 the height of which can be variable depending on the location as a function generally of the local flow of fuel coming out of the slot directly above the place considered.
• the distribution of the flammable fluid flow along this periphery is then adjusted by intervention on the clamping nuts 28 until the height of the flames 39 is almost constant over the entire perimeter when the opening of the valve 37 is adjusted. to allow a flame height of a few centimeters.
• a flame height of 2 to 3 cm is sufficient to then ensure a satisfactory flow of argon shear through the slot 20 thus adjusted.
• slit used to qualify the shear gas outlet injector in the ingot mold, it is meant both a continuous slit along the perimeter, as well as a discontinuous slit, and therefore also a series of calibrated orifices distributed along the inner periphery of the mold and provided with means for adjusting the pressure drops at their level.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Continuous Casting (AREA)
• Molds, Cores, And Manufacturing Methods Thereof (AREA)
• Refinement Of Pig-Iron, Manufacture Of Cast Iron, And Steel Manufacture Other Than In Revolving Furnaces (AREA)
• Examining Or Testing Airtightness (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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• 1997
  • 1997-07-23 FR FR9709351A patent/FR2766394B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-07-21 KR KR1020007000794A patent/KR100546730B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-07-21 DE DE69804225T patent/DE69804225T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-07-21 US US09/463,230 patent/US6311762B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-21 ES ES98940292T patent/ES2174470T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-07-21 WO PCT/FR1998/001599 patent/WO1999004918A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-07-21 CA CA002297274A patent/CA2297274C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-21 PT PT98940292T patent/PT1007247E/pt unknown
  • 1998-07-21 JP JP2000503950A patent/JP4201482B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-07-21 BR BR9813005-6A patent/BR9813005A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-07-21 AT AT98940292T patent/ATE214313T1/de active
  • 1998-07-21 EP EP98940292A patent/EP1007247B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

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