Types of Continuous Casting

The types of continuous casting machine can be divided into vertical, vertical bending, multi-point bending of straight mold, arc of straight mold, arc, multi-radius arc, and horizontal continuous casters. The types of continuous casters can be divided into slab, bloom, billet, round billet, and profiled billet continuous casters according to the billet section.

1. Vertical Continuous Casting Machine

The mold, the secondary cooling section, the billet drawing, and the shearing are arranged along the vertical direction.

Advantages:

(1) No bending deformation, uniform cooling and few cracks.

(2) Inclusions are easy to float.

Disadvantages:

(1) High equipment and high construction cost.

(2) The static pressure of molten steel is large, which is easy to produce bulge.

2. Vertical Bending Continuous Casting Machine

There is a vertical section under the mold. After the billet passes through the drawing roll (the molten steel is completely solidified or nearly completely solidified), the billet is bent by the top bending machine and enters the arc section.

Advantages:

(1) The height of the fuselage is lower than that of the vertical type;

(2) With vertical section, inclusions are easy to float up and evenly distributed;

(3) The body can be lengthened appropriately for horizontal billet discharge, and the length of the billet is not limited;

Disadvantages:

(1) The slab is bent and straightened at one point, which is easy to form cracks;

(2) Full solidification straightening is required, which limits productivity.

3. Arc Continuous Caster with Straight Section

There is a vertical section, and the inclusions are easy to float, which has the advantages of vertical bending continuous caster;

Multi-point bending. Reduce stress concentration and reduce cracks;

It can enter the arc section before complete solidification, so it can improve productivity and increase drawing speed.

4. Arc Continuous Casting Machine

It is divided into arc-shaped crystallizers and straight crystallizers.

Advantages:

(1) The height of the fuselage is 1/2-1/3 of that of the vertical continuous caster, the floor area is the same as that of the vertical bending type, and the capital construction cost is low;

(2) The static pressure of liquid steel is small, and the defects such as bulge and crack are few;

(3) Easy to lengthen the body, high-speed casting, high productivity;

Disadvantages:

(1) The floor area of machinery and equipment is larger than that of vertical equipment;

(2) Inner arc inclusions are easy to accumulate;

(3) The processing of arc mold is complicated;

(4) The straight mold has arc-shaped and straight tangent points at the outlet, which is easy to leak steel.

5. Elliptical Continuous Caster (Ultra Low Head Continuous Caster)

Advantages:

(1) Low fuselage height and lower plant height;

(2) Multiple deformations, small deformation each time, good billet quality;

(3) Low static pressure of liquid steel, small bulge of shell and good quality.

Disadvantages:

(1) The inclusions in the mold cannot float and separate, and the inner arc gathers;

(2) Multi radius, difficult arc alignment, installation and adjustment of continuous caster, and complicated equipment.

6. Horizontal Continuous Caster

The height is only 1 / 10 of the vertical continuous caster, saving capital construction costs;

The technology is not mature.

According to the casting billet section, the continuous caster can be divided into the following categories:

Billet Caster

the cross section is less than or equal to 150 × 150mm is called small billet, and larger than 150 × 150mm is called bloom. In billet continuous casting, 120 × 120mm is used as a dividing line. Above this value, immersion nozzle and protective slag are used for pouring. Below this value, open pouring or gas shielded pouring are used. The square billet caster is also called when the ratio of the long side to the wide side of the rectangular section is less than 3.

Slab Caster

The slab section is rectangular, and the width thickness ratio is generally 3 or more.

Round Billet Caster

The billet section is round, and the diameter is Φ 60～ Φ 400mm.

Profiled Billet Caster

Used to cast profiled sections such as I-beams.

Continuous Caster for both Square and Slab

Both square and square slabs can be poured on one caster.

According to the drawing speed, there are high drawing speed continuous caster and low drawing speed continuous caster. The main difference between them is that the slab is straightened with liquid core at high drawing speed and fully solidified at low drawing speed.

Classified according to the static head of molten steel: high head type continuous casting machine with large static pressure, such as vertical and vertical bending continuous casters. Lower static pressure is called low head continuous caster, such as arc, elliptical and horizontal continuous caster.