Dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023710861
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-03-14
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing dispensing devices for cooling mediums in continuous casting plants lack efficient control mechanisms for intermittent dispensing, leading to suboptimal cooling processes.
A dispensing device with a pressure-controlled switching valve using a working fluid to open and close the dispensing opening, featuring a sleeve filled with a working fluid and an elastic sealing element, such as a rolling bellows or membrane, to manage the flow of the cooling medium.
Enables precise control over the dispensing of the cooling medium, ensuring effective cooling of the casting strand by allowing for controlled pressure adjustments to open and close the dispensing opening, thereby improving the cooling process in continuous casting plants.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] 202200008
[0002] Description
[0003] Dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand
[0004] The invention relates to a dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand in a continuous casting plant.
[0005] In a continuous casting plant, a metallic melt is poured from a ladle into a cooled mold, where solidification of the melt begins. Within the mold, surface areas of the melt solidify into a strand shell, which encloses a mostly still liquid metal core. The at least partially solidified metallic cast strand is discharged from the mold to a strand guide, which transports the cast strand away.
[0006] The cast strand is further cooled in the strand guide. For this purpose, a cooling medium is applied to the cast strand. The cooling medium used can be a cooling liquid, typically water (so-called "water-only" cooling), or a mixture of a liquid and a gas (so-called "air mist" cooling).
[0007] WO 2018 / 224304 A1 discloses a coolant nozzle for cooling a metallic strand in a continuous casting plant. The coolant nozzle has a mouthpiece arranged at a nozzle outlet end, through which mouthpiece liquid coolant can exit from the coolant nozzle. In order to enable rapid pressure build-up in the coolant nozzle, the latter provides a feed designed as a pipe-in-pipe system, arranged upstream of the mouthpiece in the flow direction, with a feed outlet end, through the first pipe of which control air can be fed to the feed outlet end and through the second pipe of which the coolant can be fed to the mouthpiece. Furthermore, the coolant nozzle has a switching valve integrated into the feed, which can be pneumatically actuated using the control air and is used to control the feed of the liquid coolant into the mouthpiece.If the switching valve is designed as a seat valve, the switching element comprises a control piston and a bellows which guides the control piston relative to the supply and seals it if necessary.
[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved device for dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand in a continuous casting plant.
[0009] The object is achieved according to the invention by a dispensing device having the features of claims 1 or 6 and a cooling device having the features of claim 13.
[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0011] A dispensing device according to the invention for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand in a continuous casting plant comprises a housing with at least one inlet opening for admitting the cooling medium into the housing and a discharge opening for discharging the cooling medium from the housing, and a switching valve arranged in the housing, which is designed to open and close the discharge opening. The switching valve has a sleeve filled with a working fluid, which is fluid-tightly closed on the discharge opening side with a closure.
[0012] In a first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the closure comprises a switching element and an elastic sealing element which is fixedly connected to the sleeve and the switching element and couples the switching element to the sleeve in a movable and fluid-tight manner. By controlling a pressure in the working fluid, the switching element can be displaced relative to the sleeve into a closed position in which the switching element closes the dispensing opening. The sealing element is preferably made of an elastomeric material, for example of a silicone or a rubber.
[0013] A dispensing device according to the invention enables closing and opening of its dispensing opening by a pressure-controlled actuation. 202200008
[0014] 3 because of the switching element of the switching valve. To close the discharge opening, the pressure in the working fluid is increased, so that the switching element is displaced towards the discharge opening and the discharge opening is closed by the switching element. To open the discharge opening, the pressure in the working fluid is reduced, so that the switching element is displaced towards the sleeve by the pressure in the working fluid, thereby opening the discharge opening. In this way, the discharge of the cooling medium by the discharge device can be controlled by means of the pressure in the working fluid.
[0015] The closure of the sleeve of the switching valve prevents cooling medium from entering the sleeve or working fluid from escaping from the sleeve. In the first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the closure has an elastic sealing element. The sealing element movably couples the switching element to the sleeve.
[0016] In one embodiment of the first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the sealing element is a rolling bellows which has a first collar connected to an inner surface of the sleeve and a second collar connected to the switching element. For example, the rolling bellows has a rolled fold running between the first collar and the second collar. To guide the switching element, the sleeve can have a rod-like guide element running along its longitudinal axis, which projects into a recess in the switching element that corresponds to the guide element. The rolling bellows seals off an intermediate space between the switching element and the sleeve in a fluid-tight manner. The guide element enables mechanical guidance of the switching element so that the switching element does not tilt during its movements.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment of the first embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the sealing element is a membrane closing the sleeve, on which the switching element is arranged on the dispensing opening side. In this case, sealing- 202200008
[0018] 4 The membrane seals the sleeve in a fluid-tight manner and at the same time serves to guide the switching element arranged on it.
[0019] In a second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the closure comprises a switching element that is movably mounted in the sleeve, and at least one sliding sealing element—for example, a sealing ring—arranged on the switching element or the sleeve, which seals a space between the sleeve and the switching element in a fluid-tight manner. The switching element, in turn, can be displaced relative to the sleeve into a closed position by controlling a pressure in the working fluid, in which position the switching element closes the dispensing opening.
[0020] In the second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the switching element is guided through the sleeve of the switching valve. To seal the sleeve, at least one sliding sealing element, for example a sealing ring, is arranged on the switching element or the sleeve.
[0021] Also in the second embodiment of a dispensing device according to the invention, the sleeve can further comprise a rod-like guide element running along its longitudinal axis for guiding the switching element, which extends into a recess in the switching element corresponding to the guide element.
[0022] A dispensing device according to the invention can have a nozzle to which the cooling medium to be dispensed can be fed from the dispensing opening. A jet of the cooling medium to be dispensed by the dispensing device can be formed by the nozzle.
[0023] The housing and sleeve of a dispensing device according to the invention are arranged concentrically, for example. This enables, in particular, a uniform flow of the cooling medium along the sleeve. 202200008
[0024] 5
[0025] The working fluid of a dispensing device according to the invention is, for example, a gas, in particular air. Alternatively, the working fluid is a liquid, for example, an oil.
[0026] An output device according to the invention may include a spring element that moves the switching element from the closed position to an open position. The spring element pushes the switching element into the open position when no pressure is exerted on the switching element by the working fluid.
[0027] A cooling device according to the invention for cooling a cast strand in a continuous casting plant comprises a plurality of dispensing devices according to the invention for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto the cast strand. Furthermore, the cooling device can comprise a control unit configured to control the pressure in the working fluid in the dispensing devices.
[0028] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.
[0029] FIG l is a schematic representation of a continuous casting plant,
[0030] FIG 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand,
[0031] FIG 3 is a perspective view of the switching valve of a second embodiment of a dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand,
[0032] FIG 4 is a perspective view of the switching valve of a third embodiment of a dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand, 202200008
[0033] FIG 5 is a perspective view of the switching valve of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing device for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium onto a cast strand.
[0034] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.
[0035] Figure 1 (FIG 1) shows a schematic representation of a continuous casting plant 3. The continuous casting plant 3 comprises, among other things, a pouring ladle 30 with an outlet pipe 31. The continuous casting plant 3 further comprises a pouring distributor 32 arranged below the pouring ladle 30 with a pouring pipe 33 and a plug 34. In addition, the continuous casting plant 3 comprises a mold 35 which has four water-cooled mold plates 36 made of copper and has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. In Figure 1, only two of the four mold plates 36 are visible. In addition, the continuous casting plant 3 comprises a plurality of driven transport rollers 37 which form elements of a strand guide of the continuous casting plant 3 for guiding and supporting a cast strand 2.
[0036] A liquid metallic melt 38 is introduced from the pouring ladle 30 via the outlet pipe 31 into the pouring distributor 32. From the pouring distributor 32, the melt 38 is introduced into the mold 35 via the pouring pipe 33, wherein a mass flow of the melt 38 flowing into the mold 35 is controlled by means of the plug 34.
[0037] In the mold 35, the melt 38 cools at its contact surfaces with the water-cooled mold plates 36 and solidifies at the contact surfaces, so that the melt 38 exits the mold 35 in the form of a cast strand 2 with a rectangular cross-section. Upon exiting the mold 35, the cast strand 2 has a solidified strand shell, while a large part of its cross-section is still liquid. With the aid of the transport rollers 37, the cast strand 2 exiting the mold 35 is transported away in a strand conveying direction 51. 202200008
[0038] 7
[0039] The continuous casting plant 3 also has a cooling device 50 for cooling the cast strand 2. The cooling device 50 comprises a plurality of dispensing devices 1 according to the invention, each of which is designed to intermittently dispense a cooling medium 6 onto the cast strand 2. Exemplary embodiments of these dispensing devices 1 are described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 5. In the example shown in Figure 1, the cooling device 50 has a plurality of cooling zones 39, in each of which a plurality of dispensing devices 1 are arranged, to which the cooling medium 6 can be supplied from a coolant pump 54 of the respective cooling zone 39 via a main coolant supply line 55 and cooling medium supply lines 56 branching off from the main coolant supply line 55. The cooling device 50 also has a control unit 47, which is designed to control the dispensing devices 1.
[0040] Figure 2 (FIG 2) shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of a dispensing device 1 for intermittently dispensing the cooling medium 6 onto the cast strand 2. The dispensing device 1 comprises a housing 4 with at least one inlet opening 5 for admitting the cooling medium 6 into the housing 4 and a dispensing opening 7 for discharging the cooling medium 6 from the housing 4. Furthermore, the dispensing device 1 comprises a switching valve 8 arranged in the housing 4, which is designed to open and close the dispensing opening 7.
[0041] The switching valve 8 has a sleeve 9 filled with a working fluid 10 and sealed fluid-tight on the discharge opening side by a closure 11. The closure 11 comprises a switching element 12 and a rolling bellows 13. The rolling bellows 13 is an elastic sealing element that movably couples the switching element 12 to the sleeve 9.
[0042] The sleeve 9 is constructed in two parts with a main part 14 and an end part 15. The end part 15 is placed on the main part 14 on the dispensing opening side and is firmly connected to it and protrudes from the main part 14 to the dispensing opening 7. The rolling bellows 13 has a firmly connected to an inner surface of the end part 15- 202200008
[0043] 8 which has a first collar 16 and a second collar 17 firmly connected to the switching element 12. A rolled fold 18 of the rolling bellows 13 runs between the first collar 16 and the second collar 17.
[0044] The main part 14 is essentially tubular with an end section 20 on the dispensing opening side. The end section 20 closes the main part 14 on the dispensing opening side except for channels 21 running through the end section 20.
[0045] To guide the switching element 12, the end portion 20 has a rod-like guide element 22 extending along a longitudinal axis 19 of the sleeve 9, which extends into a recess 23 in the switching element 12 corresponding to the guide element 22. The guide element 22 forms an output-opening-side end of the main part 14.
[0046] The switching element 12 is displaceable relative to the sleeve 9 by controlling a pressure in the working fluid 10. The pressure in the working fluid 10 is controllable by the control unit 47. To close the discharge opening 7, the pressure in the working fluid 10 is increased, so that the switching element 12 is displaced towards the discharge opening 7 and the discharge opening 7 is closed by the switching element 12. To open the discharge opening 7, the pressure in the working fluid 10 is reduced, so that the switching element 12 is displaced in the direction of the sleeve 9 by the pressure in the cooling medium 6, whereby the discharge opening 7 is opened. In addition, this opening effect can be assisted by the spring element 65.
[0047] The dispensing device 1 further comprises a nozzle 25, to which the cooling medium 6 to be dispensed can be fed from the dispensing opening 7. The jet of the cooling medium 6 dispensed by the dispensing device 1 is formed by the nozzle 25, which is only shown schematically in Figure 1.
[0048] The working fluid 10 is a gas, for example air, or a liquid, for example oil. 202200008
[0049] 9
[0050] The rolling bellows 13 is made of an elastomeric material, for example silicone or rubber.
[0051] Figure 3 (FIG. 3) shows a perspective view of the switching valve 8 of a second exemplary embodiment of a dispensing device 1 for intermittently dispensing the cooling medium 6 onto the cast strand 2. This exemplary embodiment of a dispensing device 1 differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2 essentially only in the design of the rolling bellows 13. Therefore, in Figure 3, only the switching valve 8 is shown in the region of the closure 11 of the sleeve 9.
[0052] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the first collar 16 of the rolling bellows 13 is fastened in an annular first groove 26 in the inner surface of the end piece 15 of the sleeve 9 and the second collar 17 of the rolling bellows 13 is fastened in an annular second groove 27 in an outer surface of the switching element 12 facing away from the discharge opening 7.
[0053] Figure 4 (FIG 4) shows a perspective view of the switching valve 8 of a third embodiment of a dispensing device 1 for intermittently dispensing the cooling medium 6 onto the cast strand 2. This embodiment of a dispensing device 1 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 2 in that the closure 11 of the sleeve 9 has an elastic membrane 28 as a sealing element instead of the rolling bellows 13, the switching element 12 has no recess 23 and the end section 20 of the main part 14 of the sleeve 9 has a base 29 instead of the guide element 22. Apart from these differences, the dispensing device 1 is designed like the dispensing device 1 shown in Figure 2.Therefore, in Figure 4 only the switching valve 8 of the dispensing device 1 is shown in the region of the closure 11 of the sleeve 9 and only the features that distinguish the dispensing device 1 from the dispensing device 1 shown in Figure 2 are described below.
[0054] The diaphragm 28 is made of an elastomeric material, for example silicone or rubber. The diaphragm 28 comprises- 202200008
[0055] 10 closes the sleeve 9 and is secured in an annular groove 26 in the inner surface of the end piece 15 of the sleeve 9. The switching element 12 is fixedly arranged on the diaphragm 28 on the discharge opening side.
[0056] The base 29 forms the discharge opening-side end of the main part 14 of the sleeve 9 and faces the membrane 28. The base 29 prevents excessive movement of the switching element 12 away from the discharge opening 7, which could cause overstretching of the membrane 28.
[0057] Figure 5 (FIG 5) shows a perspective view of the switching valve 8 of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing device 1 for intermittently dispensing the cooling medium 6 onto the cast strand 2. This embodiment of a dispensing device 1 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 2 essentially only in the design of the closure 11 of the sleeve 9. Therefore, in Figure 5 only the switching valve 8 of the dispensing device 1 is shown in the region of the closure 11 of the sleeve 9 and only the features that distinguish the dispensing device 1 from the dispensing device 1 shown in Figure 2 are described below.
[0058] The closure 11 comprises a switching element 12, which is movably mounted in the sleeve 9, and a plurality of sealing rings 60, 61, which fluid-tightly seal an intermediate space between the sleeve 9 and the switching element 12. The sealing rings 60, 61 are arranged in two grooves 62, which extend annularly around the longitudinal axis 19 of the sleeve 9 in an outer surface of the switching element 12 facing the end part 15 of the sleeve 9.
[0059] A first sealing ring 60 and a second sealing ring 61 are arranged in each groove 62. The first sealing ring 60 rests against a groove base of the groove 62. The second sealing ring 61 is arranged between the first sealing ring 60 and the sleeve 9 and rests against the first sealing ring 60 and the end part 15 of the sleeve 9. The first sealing ring 60 has an oval cross-section. The second sealing ring 61 has a substantially rectangular cross-section. 202200008
[0060] 11
[0061] The embodiment of a dispensing device 1 shown in Figure 5 can be modified in various ways to compare with other embodiments. For example, the switching element 12 can have a different number of grooves 62 instead of two grooves 62. In particular, the switching element 12 can have only one groove 62. Alternatively or additionally, only one sealing ring 60, 61 can be arranged in a groove 62, which sealing ring rests against the groove base of the groove 62 and against the sleeve 9. Furthermore, at least one sealing ring 60, 61 can be arranged in a groove that runs in the sleeve 9 instead of in the switching element 12. In particular, each sealing ring 60, 61 can be arranged in a groove that runs in the sleeve 9.
[0062] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0063] Reference symbol list
[0064] 1 dispensing device
[0065] 2 casting strands
[0066] 3 Continuous casting plant
[0067] 4 housings
[0068] 5 Inlet opening
[0069] 6 Cooling medium
[0070] 7 Dispensing opening
[0071] 8 switching valve
[0072] 9 sleeve
[0073] 10 Working fluid
[0074] 11 Closure
[0075] 12 switching element
[0076] 13 Bellows
[0077] 14 Main part
[0078] 15 End part 202200008
[0079] 12
[0080] 16 , 17 fret
[0081] 18 roll fold
[0082] 19 Longitudinal axis
[0083] 20 final section
[0084] 21 channel
[0085] 22 Guide element
[0086] 23 Recess
[0087] 25 nozzle
[0088] 26 , 27 groove
[0089] 28 Membran
[0090] 29 bases
[0091] 30 ladle
[0092] 31 Outlet pipe
[0093] 32 pouring distributors
[0094] 33 Pouring tube
[0095] 34 plugs
[0096] 35 mold
[0097] 36 mold plate
[0098] 37 Transport roller
[0099] 38 melt
[0100] 39 Cooling zone
[0101] 47 Control unit
[0102] 50 Cooling device
[0103] 51 Strand conveying direction
[0104] 54 Coolant pump
[0105] 55 Main cooling medium supply line
[0106] 56 Cooling medium supply line
[0107] 60 , 61 sealing ring
[0108] 62 grooves
[0109] 65 spring element
Claims
202200008 13 Patent claims 1. Dispensing device (1) for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium (6) onto a casting strand (2) in a continuous casting plant (3), the dispensing device (1) comprising: - a housing (4) with at least one inlet opening (5) for introducing the cooling medium (6) into the housing (4) and an outlet opening (7) for dispensing the cooling medium (6) from the housing (4) and - a switching valve (8) arranged in the housing (4) which is designed to open and close the dispensing opening (7), - wherein the switching valve (8) has a sleeve (9) filled with a working fluid (10), which is fluid-tightly sealed on the outlet opening side by a closure (11), wherein - the closure (11) comprises a switching element (12) and an elastic sealing element (13, 28) which is firmly connected to the sleeve (9) and the switching element (12) and couples the switching element (12) movably and fluid-tight to the sleeve (9) and - the switching element (12) can be moved into a closed position by controlling a pressure in the working fluid (10) relative to the sleeve (9), in which the switching element (12) closes the dispensing opening (7).
2. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (13, 28) is made of an elastomeric material.
3. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing element is a rolling bellows (13) having a first collar (16) connected to an inner surface of the sleeve (9) and a second collar (17) connected to the switching element (12).
4. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the roll bellows (13) has a roll fold 18) extending between the first bundle (16) and the second bundle (17). 202200008 14 5. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing element is a membrane (28) closing the sleeve (9), on which the switching element (12) is arranged on the dispensing opening side.
6. Dispensing device (1) for intermittently dispensing a cooling medium (6) onto a casting strand (2) in a continuous casting plant (3), the dispensing device (1) comprising: - a housing (4) with at least one inlet opening (5) for introducing the cooling medium (6) into the housing (4) and an outlet opening (7) for dispensing the cooling medium (6) from the housing (4) , - a switching valve (8) arranged in the housing (4) which is designed to open and close the dispensing opening (7), - wherein the switching valve (8) has a sleeve (9) filled with a working fluid (10), which is fluid-tightly sealed on the outlet opening side by a closure (11), wherein - the closure (11) comprises a switching element (12) which is movably mounted in the sleeve (9) and has at least one sliding sealing element arranged on the switching element (12) or the sleeve (9), preferably a sealing ring (60, 61) which fluid-tightly seals a gap between the sleeve (9) and the switching element (12), and - the switching element (12) can be moved into a closed position by controlling a pressure in the working fluid (10) relative to the sleeve (9), in which the switching element (12) closes the dispensing opening (7).
7. Dispensing device (1) according to one of claims 3, 4 or 6, wherein the sleeve (9) for guiding the switching element (12) has a rod-like guide element (22) extending along its longitudinal axis (19) which projects into a recess (23) in the switching element (12) corresponding to the guide element (22).
8. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims with a nozzle (25) to which the cooling medium (6) to be dispensed can be supplied from the dispensing opening (7). 202200008 15 9. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (4) and the sleeve (9) are arranged concentrically.
10. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the working fluid (10) is a gas.
11. Dispensing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the working fluid (10) is a liquid.
12. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a spring element (65) is arranged such that the switching element is moved from the closed position to an open position by the spring element (65).
13. Cooling device (50) for cooling a casting strand (2) in a continuous casting plant (3) with several dispensing devices (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
14. Cooling device (50) according to claim 13 with a control unit (47) which is configured to control the pressure in the working fluid (10) in the output devices (1).