Method, Controller And Tundish Control System For A Continuous Casting Process

Abstract

A method of controlling the temperature of molten metal in a tundish during a ladle tapping cycle in a continuous casting process. The method comprises a) obtaining a measure of a temperature of molten metal in the tundish; b) comparing the measured temperature with a desired tundish melt temperature; c) determining whether the measured temperature is lower than desired; d) controlling the temperature of the molten metal in the tundish by with a heating arrangement, and an electromagnetic stirrer which stirs the molten metal in order to distribute heated molten metal in the tundish such that the temperature of the molten metal approaches the desired temperature.

1 . A method of controlling the temperature of molten metal (M) in a tundish during a ladle tapping cycle in a continuous casting process, wherein the method comprises:
 a) obtaining a measure of a temperature of molten metal (M) in the tundish,   b) comparing the obtained measure of temperature with a desired a desired tundish melt temperature,   c) determining whether the measure of temperature is lower than the desired tundish melt temperature and in case the measure of temperature is lower than the desired tundish melt temperature,   d) controlling the temperature of the molten metal (M) in the tundish by means of a heating arrangement comprising a set of one or more oxy-fuel burners which heats the molten metal (M) in the tundish, and by means of an electromagnetic stirrer which stirs the molten metal (M) in order to distribute heated molten metal (M) in the tundish such that the temperature of the molten metal (M) in the tundish approaches the desired tundish melt temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step a) of obtaining a measure of a temperature comprises estimating the temperature of the molten metal based on a model of the continuous casting process and on a ladle temperature of molten metal (M). 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ladle temperature is obtained from a control loop associated with control of molten metal temperature in the ladle. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step a) of obtaining a measure of a temperature comprises obtaining measurement values of the temperature of molten metal (M) in the tundish. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising repeating steps a) to d) during the ladle tapping cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising, prior to step b) of comparing, obtaining the desired tundish melt temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the desired tundish melt temperature is an optimal casting process temperature obtained from casting experiments. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program comprising computer executable components which causes a controller to perform the steps recited in  claim 1  when the computer-executable components are run on a processing unit included in the controller. 
     
     
         9 . A controller for controlling the temperature of molten metal (M) in a tundish during a ladle tapping cycle in a continuous casting process, wherein the controller comprises:
 a processing unit,   an I/O unit arranged to communicate with an electromagnetic stirrer and a heating arrangement comprising a set of one or more oxy-burners, and   a memory comprising computer executable components which when run on the processing unit causes the controller to perform the method as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . A tundish control system comprising:
 a controller as claimed in  claim 9 ,   a heating arrangement comprising an oxy-fuel burner, and   an electromagnetic stirrer.