Continuous casting method

Abstract

The invention concerns the continuous casting of metals of all kinds by direct cooling with liquid metal or ionic liquid as coolant, for direct cooling of the strand ( 4 ). According to the invention, the coolant is directed to the strand ( 4 ) in at least one jet ( 10 ) and flows in a turbulent flow in this jet.

1 . A process for continuous casting of metals, whereby liquid metal or ionic liquid is used as coolant for direct cooling of the strand, characterized in that the coolant is forcibly directed at the strand in at least one jet with turbulent flow.  
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the coolant is chosen from the group consisting of: lead, tin, bismuth, gallium, indium or alloys thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1  characterized in that the coolant has, in Centigrade Celsius, a melting point which is lower or equal to 60% of the melting point of the casting material in Centigrade Celsius.  
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one jet streams into coolant filling an entire gap-like room between a surface of the strand and an inner surface of a pipe which surrounds the strand.  
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the coolant flows essentially in the direction into which the strand is moving.  
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the jet has the form of a conical wall jet and in that its Reynolds number amounts to at least 15 000 and preferably to over 25 000.  
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the jet comprises a plurality of individual jets with circular cross section and in that its Reynolds number amounts to at least 5,000.  
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that oxygen or an oxygen containing gas, is supplied to the strand upstream of the point where the jet(s) hit(s) the strand.  
     
     
         9 . A device for a process according to  claim 1 , with a storage tank for the cooling medium, a heating element and a pump, with pipes which connect the storage tank with a cooling device for the strand and eventually a heat exchanger which is located in the pipe transporting the coolant from the cooling device to the storage tank, characterized in that the cooling device includes at least one nozzle which directs the cooling liquid directly onto the strand, preferably in near vicinity of the mould exit, and a coolant collecting unit.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the cooling device ( 5 ) includes a pipe ( 12 ) arranged around the strand ( 4 ) or its path, respectively, and forming a gap-like room around the strand ( 4 ) which is filled with coolant ( 8 ).  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that at least one, coolant distribution unit is provided in near vicinity of the mould exit, combined with a pipe arranged in some distance from the at least one coolant distribution unit ( 6 ) in the direction of the movement of the strand and having a second coolant distribution unit on the upstream end of pipe.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that a cleaning unit for the surface of the strand is provided.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to any of the  claim 9 , characterized in that the mould is an insulated mould.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the nozzle has the form of a ring-like slit surrounding the strand.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that a plurality of nozzles are arranged along a ring-like line surrounding the strand.  
     
     
         16 . Device The device according to  claim 9 , characterized in that an inlet for oxygen or an oxygen containing gas, is provided between the mould exit and the nozzle(s) for the coolant.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the cleaning unit is outside the cooling device.