Cooled continuous casting mold

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooled continuous casting mold ( 1 ) for casting metal, especially steel, which has a casting format (GF) that is defined by respective two opposite broad faces ( 2, 3 ) and small faces ( 4, 5 ). The broad faces ( 2, 3 ) have a cooling area ( 6 ) which designed for the maximum casting width and comprises a plurality of cooling channels ( 7 ) extending in the direction of casting and being connected to a coolant circuit. The small faces ( 4, 5 ) can be adjusted to a predetermined casting format having a corresponding casting width. The aim of the invention is to provide a continuous casting mold for slab formats, especially thin slabs, which allows to adjust an even working end temperature of the broad sides and especially to reduce a considerable temperature drop in the neighborhood of the small faces while at the same time allowing to adjust different casting formats, especially smaller casting formats as compared to the maximum casting format. For this purpose, the cooling channels ( 7 ) and/or the inlet and/or outlet channels ( 8 ) of the mold cooling system can be at least partially blocked in the area of the adjustable small faces ( 4, 5 ).

1 . Cooled continuous casting mold ( 1 ) for casting metal, especially steel, with a casting format (GF) formed by two opposite wide sides ( 2 ,  3 ) and two opposite narrow sides ( 4 ,  5 ), where the wide sides ( 2 ,  3 ) have a cooling zone designed for the maximum casting width with several cooling channels ( 7 ) that extend in the direction of casting, are connected to a coolant circuit, and comprise inlet and outlet channels ( 8 ), and where, in the area of the narrow sides ( 4 ,  5 ), the cooling channels ( 7 ) can be at least partially blocked by blocking elements, wherein the narrow sides ( 4 ,  5 ) can be adjusted to set up a predetermined casting format with the desired casting width; in that the blocking elements are designed to block, at least partially, the cooling channels ( 7 ), and, alternatively or additionally, to block the inlet and/or outlet channels ( 8 ) in the adjustment region; and in that the cooling channels and/or the inlet and/or outlet channels are blocked in such a way that the blocking action decreases from the narrow side into the casting format. 
     
     
         2 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking starts from the maximum cooling width and extends beyond the narrow sides into the casting format by a maximum of 100 mm. 
     
     
         3 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partial blocking takes place in the mold plate, in the steel intermediate plate of a cassette mold, and/or in the water box. 
     
     
         4 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 1 , wherein, to realize the decreasing blocking action, the blocking elements ( 10 ) have a form ( 12 ) which tapers toward the center of the mold. 
     
     
         5 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the coolant is water, and in that the water flow rate in the region of the cooling channels and/or inlet and/or outlet channels that can be at least partially blocked is a maximum of 25 m/s and a minimum of 0.5 m/s. 
     
     
         6 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the water flow rate of the cooling channels in the cooling zone with cooling channels that are not blocked is a minimum of 0.5 m/s. 
     
     
         7 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 6 , wherein the blocking elements ( 10 ) can be moved back and forth along with the associated narrow side ( 4 ,  5 ). 
     
     
         8 . Continuous casting mold according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking elements ( 10 ) in the form of pins are mounted on a narrow side support ( 11 ).