Mold for continuous casting of metals, temperature measurement system and system and method for detecting breakthrough in a facility for continuous casting of metals

Abstract

The invention relates to an ingot mold for continuous casting of metals, of the type consisting of an assembly of metal plates backed by cooling devices configured to allow the cooling of the metal plates by the circulation of a cooling fluid, comprising: a) at least one optical fiber, having a plurality of Bragg filters, extending in a wall of at least one of the plates, b) at least one groove formed in a wall of at least one of the plates, in a direction that is not parallel to the casting axis of the ingot mould in at least one portion of the length, the optical fiber extending in the groove, and c) a tongue of shape substantially complementary to the groove closing the groove over its entire length, the groove and the tongue having a shape suitable for the passage of the optical fiber.

1 . An ingot mold ( 12 ) for continuous casting of metals of the type consisting of an assembly ( 22 ) of metal plates backed by cooling devices ( 14 ) configured to allow cooling of the metal plates ( 22 ) by the circulation of a cooling fluid, the ingot mold having a casting axis and including:
 at least one optical fiber ( 28 ) including a plurality of Bragg filters ( 34 ) extending in a wall of at least one of said plates ( 22 ),   at least one groove ( 24 ) formed in a wall of at least one of said plates ( 22 ), in a direction that is not parallel to the casting axis of the ingot mold ( 12 ) in at least one portion of the length, the optical fiber ( 28 ) extending in the groove ( 24 ), and   a tongue ( 26 ) of substantially complementary shape to the groove ( 24 ) closing the groove over its entire length, the groove ( 24 ) and the tongue ( 26 ) having a shape suitable for the passage of the optical fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the tongue ( 26 ) consists of a plurality of parts. 
     
     
         3 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the tongue ( 26 ) includes an attached part formed entirely before closing the groove ( 24 ). 
     
     
         4 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the groove ( 24 ) has a substantially uniform depth. 
     
     
         5 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ingot mold is made of copper or copper alloy, the tongue ( 26 ) being made of the same material. 
     
     
         6 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the tongue ( 26 ) is welded, for example electron beam welded, to the ingot mold in such a manner as to close the groove ( 24 ). 
     
     
         7 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the groove ( 24 ) is situated on at least one central part of at least one of the plates ( 22 ). 
     
     
         8 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the groove ( 24 ) extends the entire length of at least one of the plates ( 22 ). 
     
     
         9 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the optical fiber ( 28 ) is provided with a coating or with a tube. 
     
     
         10 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the optical fiber ( 28 ) has a diameter greater than 1.6 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The ingot mold as claimed in  claim 1 , including a plurality of optical fibers ( 28 ) contained in a plurality of substantially parallel grooves ( 24 ). 
     
     
         12 . The ingot mold ( 12 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , of the type for pouring thin slabs, including a funnel portion ( 23 ) in the upper part, the groove ( 24 ) being located at least in the entire funnel part ( 23 ). 
     
     
         13 . A system for measuring the temperature in a system for continuous casting of metals, comprising:
 an ingot mold ( 12 ) as claimed in  claim 1 ,   an emitter-receiver adapted to send light in the optical fiber ( 28 ) and to receive the reflected and/or transmitted light received by the emitter-receiver as information on the temperature at various points on the ingot mold ( 12 ),   a processor adapted to transform data on the reflected and/or transmitted light received by the emitter-receiver into information on the temperature at various points on the ingot mold, and   a terminal including a user interface, connected to the processor.   
     
     
         14 . A system for detection of breakout in a system for continuous casting of metals, including a temperature measurement system as claimed in the preceding claim in which the processor is adapted to transform data on the reflected and/or transmitted light received by the emitter-receiver into information on the detection of a breakout. 
     
     
         15 . A method for detection of breakout in a facility for continuous casting of metals, characterized in that the temperature is measured of a wall of an ingot mold as claimed in  claim 14 .