Patent ID: 6883585

Claim:
Crystallizer comprising: two crystallizer rollers disposed substantially parallel to each other to define a meniscus of liquid steel arriving from a container, wherein each said crystallizer roller has a respective longitudinal axis and cylindrical surface, said crystallizer rollers are able to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the respective crystallizer roller in opposite directions to convey the liquid steel downwards while the liquid steel is solidifying in contact with opposed said cylindrical surfaces of said crystallizer rollers, wherein each said crystallizer roller is internally provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes for circulating a cooling liquid therethrough disposed in proximity with and parallel to the cylindrical surface of said respective crystallizer roller, wherein said plurality of longitudinal holes of each said crystallizer roller comprises a first group of longitudinal holes and a second group of longitudinal holes, wherein for each roller the holes of the first group alternate with the holes of the second group along said cylindrical surface, wherein for each respective roller the holes of said first group are arranged independent from the holes of said second group for preventing passing the cooling liquid introduced into one group of holes from passing through the other group of holes, and wherein for each respective roller each hole of said first group is interconnected with the other holes of said first group and each hole of the second group is interconnected with the other holes of said second group, for flowing said cooling liquid through the holes of said first group of holes in the opposite direction with respect to the holes of said second group of holes, each group of said holes is connected to a respective inlet conduit for said cooling liquid disposed on a respective one side of said respective crystallizer roller and to a respective outlet conduit disposed on a respective opposite side of said respective crystallizer roller, and wherein for each roller said inlet conduit for the first group of holes is disposed on one side of said roller and the inlet conduit for the second group of holes is located on the opposite side of the roller.