Monitoring of solidification in the continuous casting mold by temperature sensors

• Main Authors: Pyszko, René, Příhoda, Miroslav, Čarnogurská, Mária
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Casting defects; Condition monitoring; Continuous casting; Hazards; Heat flux; Measurement methods; Molds; Position sensing; Solidification; Surface properties; Temperature; Temperature distribution; Temperature sensors; Unevenness
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4953742

Defects of continuously cast strand, such as unevenness of shell thickness or cracks as well as unstable casting parameters result in changes of strand surface temperature which affect heat flux and temperature field in the mold wall. Methods based on the principle of measurement and mathematical processing of temperatures in the mold wall are used for the purposes of diagnostics of the shell formation process, prediction of surface and subsurface quality and breakout danger, adjustment of the casting axis or condition monitoring of the oscillating mechanism. Measured values of temperatures in the wall depend on the exact position of the sensor in the wall, especially in the normal direction to the mold working surface. Ensuring the accurate and constant distance between the sensor and the mold surface is technically demanding; therefore it is necessary to correct the measured temperatures mathematically. The article describes two methods for correcting the measured temperatures, based on physical and statistical principles that have been developed and used in a real diagnostics system. Practical applications of the methods for diagnostics of strand surface quality and breakout prediction are presented.