Patent Publication Number: US-5836377-A

Title: Process and device for cooling molten steel

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a process an apparatus for cooling molten steel, particularly continuous casting, in which at least a portion of the molten metal that emerges from a nozzle of a metallurgical vessel is solidified by means of contact with a cooling surface. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In continuous or strand casting, the molten metal is directed into a cooled mold. Contact with the cooling mold causes a solidification front to form, beginning at the outside and moving toward the interior of the strand. In order to improve the quality of the metal blanks, it is known to supply them with an inert gas. 
     For example, German Patent Publication DE OS 21 63 928 proposes that during the production of steel blanks by means of the continuous casting of a metal stream into a cooled mold, an inert gas be introduced over the metal at the upper part of the mold in the vicinity of the surface of the molten metal. The use of nitrogen or argon that has previously been liquified by compression and lowered temperature, which is applied in liquified state to the surface of the steel blanks, is suggested. The aforementioned document merely discloses exposing the molten metal to an inert gaseous atmosphere and directing the gaseous jet in such a way that the molten metal of the blanks is offset around a vertical axis in a rotational movement. 
     From German Patent Publication DE 32 27 132 A1, it is known to surround a metal stream that emerges from a metering nozzle with a protective mantle of inert gas, e.g.; argon or nitrogen, in order to keep air away from the vicinity of the metal melt. This pressurized inert gas screens off the oxygen coming from the ambient air and in this way prevents reoxidation of the exposed metal melt meniscus. The expert in this document does not undertake more extensive influencing of the molten metal. Furthermore, the use of inert gas to treat metal strands or wires that are solidified already or only heated is known. For example, in German Patent Publication DE 35 06 597A1 a wire is exposed to a lightly reducing gas in the housing of a cooling column. The gas used in this case is supplied to the housing in an undirected fashion and serves exclusively to cool and, usually, to reduce scale formation. In the cited casting processes, the inert gas is brought into contact with the molten or the already solidified surface. In the case of continuous casting as known from German Patent Publication DE 38 10 302, for example, the molten metal is deposited on a cooled continuous belt and the exposed surface of the strand cools during its transport on the belt, so that the exposed surface in the front area near the nozzle is still molten and solidifies later due to cooling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to create a process and a corresponding device that can influence the surface of a continuously cast metal strand in respect to both its form and its quality. 
     According to the invention, a gaseous stream is directed onto the surface of a freely accessible molten steel strand directly after the latter emerges from a metal nozzle of a metallurgical vessel. The surface of the strand is thereby exposed to a gas that forms an inert atmosphere at least until the steel strand solidifies completely. Along with gases low in oxygen, e.g. flue gas, inert gases such as argon or nitrogen, in particular, can be used. 
     The use of these gases intensely influences the surface of the steel strand; specifically, in the molten area as well as in the solidified area and the area of molten/solid transition. As a result, scaling is avoided. Furthermore, using the gas in the vicinity of the nozzle allows deliberate influence to be exercised on the heat extraction and surface tension. Depending on the desired quality of the steel strand or steel strip, the inventors propose to either heat the gas and in this way prevent solidification of the strand surface for a predeterminable segment or, in another embodiment, to cool the gas to such an extent that it is transported in liquid form. The temperature of the gas can be established in either of the two extreme ranges in predeterminable fashion. Of course, the gas can also be used at room temperature. 
     In an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, is; the gas directed onto the surface of the steel strand not only at a temperature, but also in a quantity and at a speed that permit influence to be exercised on the form of the cast strand. First, the surface can be deliberately pressed upon and the entire strand, for example, given a profile in the form of a camber. However, it is also possible to direct the gas in such a way that the gaseous kinetics have a complementary positive influence in reducing bulge formation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings show: 
     FIG. 1 Schematically shows; a longitudinal section through the casting unit; 
     FIG. 2 Schematically shows; a cross-section. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a metallurgical vessel 11, wherein a metal melt M flows out of a metal nozzle 12. 
     The melt M is directed onto a transport belt 43, which is held as a continuous belt by a driving drum 41 and a guiding drum 42. On the underside of the carrying run of the transport belt 43, there is a cooling device 44 that cools the steel strand S, which is transported in the transport direction s. 
     The metal strand S is surrounded by a housing 31, which surrounds the strand S at the exit 32 by a seal 33 in order to minimize gas leakage. 
     Gas nozzles 25 are run through the cover of the housing 31. These gas nozzles 25 are arranged at an angle of between 0° and 45° relative to the steel strand S. The nozzles 25 are attached to gas distributors 26, which are connected to a compressor 21 via the supply lines 23. The gas nozzles 25 can be individually blocked by the blocking organs 24. 
     Between the compressor 21 and the nozzles 25, there is a heat exchanger 22, which can be used to adjust the temperature of the gas that forms the reducing atmosphere or the temperature of the inert gas in predeterminable fashion. The compressor 21 is attached to a gas supply station 29. FIG. 1 shows a connecting line 28 that connects the gas supply station 29 to the housing 31 in the area of the strand exit 32 via a collective gas line 27. 
     Using the same item numbers as FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a continuous casting unit. FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of several gas nozzles 25 next to one another, each of which has a blocking organ 24 and is attached to the distributor 26, which has the supply line 23. 
     In the upper area of the guiding drum 42, there is a seal 34, which minimizes leakages between the side walls of the housing 31 and the side shields of the drum 42.