Patent ID: 7669638

Claim:
A device for casting a metal, comprising: a mold comprising a plurality of walls, means to supply liquid metal to the mold comprising a submerged entry nozzle, and electromagnetic means to regulate the flow of liquid metal in the mold, a control system comprising a detector operative to measure a height of a meniscus at at least two points on the meniscus instantaneously throughout a casting process, wherein a first of the at least two points is located between one of the walls of the mold and the submerged entry nozzle and a second of the at least two points is located between the first point and the submerged entry nozzle, a control unit operative to evaluate data from the detector including utilizing a difference between the height of the meniscus at the at least two points to derive a flow velocity of molten metal at the meniscus, and means to automatically vary at least one process parameter in order to optimize casting conditions, wherein said at least one process parameter is varied in order to maintain the derived flow velocity of molten metal at the meniscus within a predetermined range or at a predetermined value, and wherein said at least one process parameter comprises a casting speed, noble gas flow rate, magnetic field strength of electromagnetic means, slab width, immersion depth of the submerged entry nozzle, or angle of the submerged entry nozzle.