Rolling ingot mould for the continuous casting of aluminium and aluminium alloys

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling system for a mould, in particular a mould for vertical continuous casting, comprising at least one cooling unit (11), wherein the mould has a running surface (10) with an inner side and an outer side and the inner side of the running surface (10a) limits a continuous casting during operation, wherein the cooling unit (11) is designed to be moveably arranged on the mould and the cooling unit (11) has an adjusting element (13), wherein the cooling unit (11) is arranged on the mould in such a way that a gap (12) is formed between the cooling unit (11) and the outer side of the running surface (10) and the width of the gap (12) can be adjusted by the adjusting element (13).

Claims

1. Cooling system for a continuous casting mould comprising at least one cooling unit, wherein the mould has a running surface with an inner side and an outer side, and the inner side of the running surface limits a continuous casting during operation, wherein the cooling unit is designed to be moveably arranged on the mould and the cooling unit has an adjusting element, wherein the cooling unit is arranged on the mould in such a way that a gap is formed between the cooling unit and the outer side of the running surface and the width of the gap can be adjusted by the adjusting element.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit comprises at least one means for cooling arranged on the side of the cooling unit facing the outer side of the running surface.

3. The cooling system according to claim 2, wherein the means for cooling comprises a primary means for cooling directed onto the outer side of the assigned running surface and comprises a secondary means for cooling directed onto a region subordinate to a mould outlet in a casting direction.

4. The cooling system according to claim 2, wherein the means for cooling comprises at least one oblong opening, which at least partially extends along a longitudinal axis of the cooling unit, and/or comprises a plurality of circular openings, which are at least partially arranged along a longitudinal axis of the cooling unit.

5. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit comprises at least one cooling chamber that comprises at least one infeed for cooling medium.

6. The cooling system according to claim 5, wherein the cooling chamber is fluidically connected to a means for cooling.

7. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting element comprises at least one rail on which the cooling unit is moveably mounted perpendicular to the running surface.

8. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting element comprises at least one adjusting screw via which the width of the gap can be adjusted.

9. The cooling system according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting element comprises at least one locking screw which locks the cooling unit on the rail.

10. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting element comprises a control system and/or a controller and an electric actuator for adjusting the gap.

11. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein at least one temperature sensor is arranged on the running surface.

12. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein at least one temperature sensor is arranged on the cooling unit.

13. A mould with a cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling system encloses the mould in a circumferential direction at least in sections.

14. Method for vertical continuous casting with the mould according to claim 13 comprising: a. adjusting the gap to a width required for a material to be casted via the adjusting element; b. arranging a starting block in a starting position; c. optional: cooling the starting block and the running surface to a required initial temperature; d. starting the continuous supply of melt into the mould with continuous cooling; e. lowering the starting block as soon as the mould has reached a certain level, wherein the melt is pulled through the mould; f. monitoring process parameters and the controlled cooling of the strand when exiting the mould at least during the starting phase.

Description

(1) The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mould according to the invention with a cooling system

(3) FIG. 2 a perspective view with a partially sectioned mould according to FIG. 1

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective view with a partially sectioned mould according to FIG. 1

(5) FIG. 4 a detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a cooling system with an adjusting element according to the invention

(6) The cooling system comprises a cooling unit 11, which is assigned to a running surface 10 with an inner side 10a and an outer side 10b and is spaced away from the outside 10b of the running surface by means of a gap 12. Furthermore, the cooling system comprises an adjusting element 13, via which the width of the gap 12 can be adjusted.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a mould with a cooling system. The profile of the mould is rectangular and designed for casting slabs. It is also conceivable that the cooling system is used for other moulds. The cooling system can also be used for moulds with round or square profiles, e.g., for the continuous casting of round ingots (billet).

(8) The mould comprises a mould inlet and a mould outlet. The melt enters the mould through the mould inlet. The partially solidified melt exits the mould again from the mould outlet.

(9) The mould comprises a collar 18, which extends within the region of the mould inlet across the circumference of the mould. At the side of the collar 18 directed onto the mould outlet, one cooling unit 11 is respectively arranged on the longitudinal and transverse sides of the mould, which can be adjusted independently of one another. The side of the collar 18 directed toward the mould inlet comprises coverings 19, which are each arranged in the middle on the longitudinal and transverse sides. The adjusting elements 13 for the cooling units 11 are arranged under the coverings 19.

(10) At the mould outlet, a starting block 17 is arranged, which seals the mould, i.e., the starting block 17 is arranged in the mould so that, between the inner side of the running surface 10a and the starting block 17, a circumferential gap (approx. 2 mm) is formed, wherein this gap is sealed by the first rapidly solidifying metal. The starting block 17 seals the mould in the starting direction during the starting process until the melt in the mould has reached a sufficient filling level and is solidified to the extent that the mould outlet can be opened. For this purpose, the melt is initially pulled out of the mould with the starting block 17. After shrinkage, further drainage takes place with the help of gravity.

(11) The inner side of the running surface 10a limits the melt that is pulled through the mould during operation and removes heat from the melt. In order to meet the high-temperature requirements, in the case of casting non-ferrous materials, moulds made of special aluminium alloys and copper alloys are also used. Other materials are possible.

(12) In order to cool the running surface 10, a cooling medium is applied to the outer side 10b of the running surface, specifically being sprayed on. For example, water can be used as a cooling medium. Other fluids or fluid mixtures are conceivable. The running surface 10 comprises two transverse sides and two longitudinal sides. A cooling unit 11 is assigned to the two transverse sides and the two longitudinal sides of the running surface 10b. The cooling units 11 are arranged parallel, in particular, congruently, to the running surface 10. The profile of the cooling units 11 is rectangular. Other geometries, such as circular geometries, are possible. The cooling units 11 comprise a cooling chamber 15 on the inside. In general, the cooling chamber 15 has a rectangular profile. Alternatively, other forms are also possible. The cooling chamber 15 is fluidically connected to a means for cooling 14. The means for cooling 14 may be designed, for example, as nozzles or bore holes. Other variants are conceivable. The means for cooling 14 is described in more detail in one of the following sections. The cooling chamber 15 has the function of collecting the cooling medium and directing it into the means for cooling 14. It is conceivable that the cooling unit 11 comprises a plurality of cooling chambers 15 and/or a plurality of means for cooling 14.

(13) FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively partial-section illustrations of FIG. 1. In these examples, the cooling unit 11 and the adjusting element 13 are particularly visible. The adjusting element 13 forms an adjustable connection between the cooling unit 11 and the mould. To protect against external influences, the adjusting element 13 is arranged under the covering 19.

(14) The adjusting element 13 comprises a guide 16. The guide 16 is designed as a rail. Alternatively, other components that can be used as a guide 16 are conceivable. The rail extends persevere in the direction of the running surface 10, which is assigned to the cooling unit 11. In addition, a plurality of guides 16 or rails are possible. The displacement of the cooling unit 11 on the guide 16 is carried out by a component of the adjusting element 13, such as an adjusting screw (not shown).

(15) The adjusting element 13 can be operated manually or at least partially automated. For example, a manual adjustment can be done by means of the adjusting screw (not shown) and/or a locking screw (not shown). An automatic operation can be implemented by means of a control system or a controller (both not shown). The displacement of the cooling unit, meaning adjusting the width of the gap 12, represents an additional influencing parameter for the cooling of the mould. A small gap 12 increases the cooling effect, while a large gap reduces the cooling effect.

(16) The cooling unit 11 comprises a retaining element 20. The retaining element 20 is shaped as a right angle and arranged precisely at an outer edge of the cooling unit 11. Other geometries for the retaining element 20 are possible. The cooling unit 11 can be moved on the guide 16 by the retaining element 20 in such a way that the cooling unit 11 can be moved perpendicular to the respectively assigned running surface 10.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the cooling system within the region of the adjusting element 13. The cooling element 11 is attached to the retaining element 20. The retaining element 20 is, in turn, moveably mounted on the guide 16. A gap 12 is formed between the outer side 10b of the running surface and the cooling unit 11.

(18) In this example, two means for cooling 14a, 14b are arranged on the cooling unit 11. The means for cooling 14a, 14b are designed as narrow openings, each extending along a longitudinal axis of the cooling unit 11. The means for cooling 14a, 14b are arranged on the side of the cooling unit 11, which is facing the assigned outer side 10b of the running surface. Alternatively, other forms are also possible for the means for cooling 14a, 14b. The means for cooling 14a, 14b are designed in such a way that the cooling medium overcomes the gap 12 between cooling unit 11 and the outer side 10b of the running surface. The means for cooling 14a, 14b comprise a primary means for cooling 14a and a secondary means for cooling 14b. The primary means for cooling 14a is directed onto the outer side 10b of the running surface 10b and thus cools the melt that passes through the mould. The secondary means for cooling 14b is directed onto the starting block 17. This cools the starting block 17 before and during the starting process. After the starting process, the secondary means for cooling 14b is no longer directed onto the starting block 17, but directly onto the strand in order to cool it.

REFERENCE LIST

(19) 10 running surface 10a inner side of the running surface 10b outer side of the running surface 11 cooling units, 2× short and 2× long 12 gap 13 adjusting element 14 means for cooling 14a primary means for cooling 14b secondary means for cooling 15 cooling chamber 16 guide 17 starting block 18 collar 19 covering 20 retaining element