Continuous casting mold and processes for making and retrofitting

Abstract

An important liner for use in a continuous casting machine includes the conventional hot face surface, cold face surface, and at least one coolant interface area, such as the bottom of a cooling clot that is machined into the liner. Advantageously, the coolant interface area is configured to have a shape along at least a portion of its length that differs from the simple planar shape that is usual for such areas. This shape could include a fin that projects from the coolant interface surface, a corrugation, or other shape. As a result of this configuration, the surface area of the coolant interface area is maximized, thereby promoting enhanced heat transfer through the liner at a portion of the liner that is proximate the coolant interface area. This configuration can be placed selectively at certain areas of the mold that are felt to need increased thermal conductivity, such as near the meniscus area, and in areas where premature mold wear or cracking have been observed due to thermal stresses. A process for making and retrofitting a mold is also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liner for use in a continuous casting machine, comprising: 
 a hot face surface;    a cold face surface, said cold face surface comprising at least one coolant interface area that is adapted to contact a coolant for transferring heat away from said liner during operation; and wherein    said coolant interface area is configured to have a shape along at least a portion of its length that differs from a simple planar shape that is usual for such coolant interface areas, whereby surface area for said coolant interface area is maximized, thereby promoting enhanced heat transfer through the liner at a portion of said liner that is proximate said coolant interface area.    
     
     
         2 . A liner according to    claim 1   , wherein said cold face surface has a plurality of coolant interface areas, and less than all of said coolant interface areas are configured to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape, whereby heat transfer is promoted only in certain predetermined areas of said liner.  
     
     
         3 . A liner according to    claim 2   , wherein said liner is configured for a funnel-type continuous casting mold, and at least one coolant interface area that is proximate a transition region between a wide central region and a narrow end region is configured to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape.  
     
     
         4 . A liner according to    claim 2   , wherein said liner is configured for a beam blank type continuous casting mold, and at least one coolant interface area that is proximate a transition region between a wide end region and a narrow central region is configured to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape.  
     
     
         5 . A liner according to    claim 1   , wherein said coolant interface area is configured to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape along a portion of its length that is proximate to a meniscus region of said hot face surface.  
     
     
         6 . A liner according to    claim 1   , wherein said shape that differs from a simple planar shape comprises at least one fin projecting from coolant interface area.  
     
     
         7 . A liner according to    claim 6   , wherein said fin is unitary with said liner.  
     
     
         8 . A liner according to    claim 6   , wherein said fin is joined to said liner.  
     
     
         9 . A liner according to    claim 6   , wherein said fin is shaped so as to have an axis that is substantially parallel to an intended direction of coolant flow over said fin.  
     
     
         10 . A liner according to    claim 6   , wherein said fin is shaped so as to have a tapered trailing edge with respect to an intended direction of coolant flow over said fin so as to minimize potential for cavitation damage to said coolant interface area.  
     
     
         11 . A liner according to    claim 1   , wherein said shape that differs from a simple planar shape comprises a corrugated shape.  
     
     
         12 . A process of retrofitting a liner for a continuous casting mold in order to optimize heat transfer characteristics of the liner during operation, comprising steps of: 
 (a) removing a liner from a continuous casting mold;    (b) modifying a shape of at least a portion of a coolant interface area on a cold face of said mold in order to change a surface area of said portion; and    (c) placing the liner into service in a continuous casting mold, whereby enhanced heat transfer through the: liner is promoted at areas that are proximate to said portion of said coolant interface area.    
     
     
         13 . A process according to    claim 12   , wherein step (b) is performed on less than all of the coolant interface areas on the liner.  
     
     
         14 . A process according to    claim 12   , wherein said liner is configured for a funnel-type continuous casting mold, and step (b) comprises modifying at least one coolant interface area that is proximate a transition region between a wide central region and a narrow end region to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape.  
     
     
         15 . A process according to    claim 12   , wherein said liner is configured for a beam blank type continuous casting mold, and step (b) comprises modifying at least one coolant interface area that is proximate a transition region between a wide end region and a narrow central region to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape.  
     
     
         16 . A process according to    claim 12   , wherein step (b) comprises modifying the coolant interface area to have a shape that differs from a simple planar shape along a portion of its length that is proximate to a meniscus region of said hot face surface.  
     
     
         17 . A process according to    claim 12   , wherein step (b) comprises providing at least one fin that projects from coolant interface area.  
     
     
         18 . A process according to    claim 17   , wherein step (b) comprises providing at least one fin that projects from coolant interface area so as to be unitary with said liner.  
     
     
         19 . A process according to    claim 17   , wherein step (b) comprises providing at least one fin that projects from coolant interface area so as to be joined to said liner.  
     
     
         20 . A process according to    claim 18   , wherein step (b) is performed so that said fin is shaped so as to have an axis that is substantially parallel to an intended direction of coolant flow over said fin.  
     
     
         21 . A process according to    claim 18   , wherein step (b) is performed so that said fin is shaped so as to have a tapered trailing edge with respect to an intended direction of coolant flow over said fin so as to minimize potential for cavitation damage to said coolant interface area.  
     
     
         22 . A process according to    claim 12   , wherein step (b) is performed so that said shape that differs from a simple planar shape comprises a corrugated shape.  
     
     
         23 . A process according to    claim 17   , wherein step (b) comprises joining a fin to said coolant interface area by a method that is selected from the group including brazing and welding.  
     
     
         24 . A liner for use in a continuous casting machine, comprising: 
 a hot face surface;    a cold face surface, said cold face surface comprising at least one coolant interface area that is adapted to contact a coolant for transferring heat away from said liner during operation; and wherein    said coolant interface area is configured to have a shape along at least a portion of its length that differs from a simple gun-drilled shape that is usual for such coolant interface areas, whereby surface area for said coolant interface area is maximized, thereby promoting enhanced heat transfer through the liner at a portion of said liner that is proximate said coolant interface area.