A method for optimizing strand guides in continuous casting equipment, particularly in bloom casting equipment or billet continuous casting equipment.
The method optimizes strand guides in continuous casting by evaluating their impact on semi-finished products and implementing targeted adjustments, enhancing product quality and reducing defects and manual post-processing.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing continuous casting technologies fail to optimize strand guides based on the specific characteristics of semi-finished products, leading to surface and internal defects, costly manual post-processing, and potential damage to the strand guide components.
A method that evaluates the impact of strand guide conditions on semi-finished products, calculates adjustments to reduce these impacts, and implements automated or semi-automated adjustments to the strand guide, including segment replacements, shim adjustments, and cooling nozzle modifications.
Reduces the load on semi-finished products, prevents deformation, and minimizes defects by optimizing strand guide settings, thereby improving product quality and reducing manual post-processing costs.
Smart Images
Figure 2026510144000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for optimizing strand guides in continuous casting equipment, particularly bloom casting equipment or billet continuous casting equipment. The present invention further relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the method according to the present invention.
Background Art
[0002] Continuous casting is a method for continuously producing metallic semi-finished products, such as blooms or billets. However, it is also possible to cast round bars and beams, blanks, flat bars or special-shaped bars such as polygonal bars. By means of the continuous casting method, non-ferrous metals (NE-metals) and non-ferrous metal alloys, steel alloys, iron alloys, or heavy metals, and their alloys can be cast.
[0003] Continuous casting is a continuous process in which liquid metal is poured into an open-bottomed cooling mold. Inside the mold, the formation of the strand shell (semi-finished product shell) of the strand (semi-finished product) begins, and this strand (semi-finished product) is then further fed from the strand guide into the mold. Inside the strand guide, the cast strand is further cooled with water until the strand is completely solidified.
[0004] A strand guide suitable for more reliable guidance of a strand typically includes a relatively large number of individual, but closely cooperating, strand guide segments, each equipped with guide rollers and / or drive rollers positioned within a movable-side frame and a fixed-side frame, these guide rollers and / or drive rollers forming a so-called roller carpet with each other. The rollers may be continuous, but may be intermediately supported if the strand width is relatively wide. The fixed-side and movable-side rollers have partially different diameters depending on their distance from the casting surface in the mold, in which case opposing pairs of rollers usually have the same diameter. Each segment of the strand guide includes a support frame for the support rollers and guide rollers, which is also supported by a solid foundation such as concrete, steel, or reinforced concrete.
[0005] Even small misalignments between individual segments of a strand guide can lead to surface and / or internal defects in the strand being transported. Blooms, billets, etc., obtained from the transported strands, due to surface and / or internal defects, cannot be directly processed and may require manual, time-consuming, and costly post-processing such as polishing and / or flame treatment. However, manual post-processing is insufficient because the defects in the strand are often severe, potentially resulting in defective products such as flawed blooms. Furthermore, positional errors between strand guide segments can damage the components of the strand guide. Therefore, to prevent damage to the strand shell, it is crucial that the transitions between strand guide segments, and the inner guides within individual segments, adhere to the most ideal extension possible.
[0006] Conventional technology has shown that, in order to reduce damage to strands caused by inaccurate segment transitions in the strand guide, the strand guides of continuous casting equipment are inspected using a so-called roller gap checker. In this case, the roller gap checker is run through the strand guide and simultaneously detects the gap between the rollers of the strand guide, particularly between the rollers on the movable side and the rollers on the fixed side of the strand guide, and the mobility of the rollers. Based on the measurement data detected by the roller gap checker, inaccurate segment transitions of the rollers inside the segment, poorly mobile rollers, or increased wear of the roller body are identified. The strand guide elements thus identified as potentially causing damage are serviced through appropriate maintenance or replaced for service. However, the evaluation of the measurement data from the roller gap checker is usually done manually and therefore largely depends on the experience of the operator in charge. Furthermore, inaccuracies in segment transitions or poorly mobile rollers inside the segment have different effects on the various semi-finished products conveyed by the strand guide. For example, an inaccurate segment transition may not be a problem for one semi-finished product, while it may be a problem for another. This depends, for example, on quality requirements, subsequent further processing, the alloy / composition of the semi-finished product, or comparable variable conditions. However, the evaluation of measurement data from the roller gap checker is performed independently of the semi-finished product being conveyed and is not directly related to the conveyed semi-finished product, but only concerns the identification of inaccuracies in the strand guide. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to optimize the strand guide of a continuous casting facility, taking into consideration the semi-finished products being transported. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] This problem is addressed by the present invention, which provides a method for optimizing strand guides in continuous casting equipment, particularly in bloom casting equipment or billet continuous casting equipment. Steps include detecting the equipment status of the strand guide, In order to identify the impact of the equipment condition on the semi-finished products being transported in the strand guide, particularly on the semi-finished shells, the steps include evaluating the detected equipment condition, In order to reduce the impact of equipment conditions on semi-finished products being transported in a strand guide, the steps include: calculating adjustments in the strand guide based on an evaluation of the equipment conditions; The steps include making adjustments to the calculated strand guide, This is resolved by a method that includes [a specific method].
[0009] According to the method of the present invention, in the first step, the equipment condition of the strand guide is measured. For this purpose, for example, inspection equipment known in the prior art, in particular a roller gap checker and / or a spray nozzle checker, is used. These inspection equipment is run through an empty strand guide, and at this time, for example, the parameters of the rollers of the strand guide are measured (roller gap checker), or the parameters of the spray nozzles are measured (spray nozzle checker). According to the prior art, the data thus detected regarding the equipment condition of the strand guide is checked for the presence or absence of significant measurement data, and the corresponding areas of the strand guide are adjusted accordingly. In contrast, according to the present invention, the detected equipment condition is first evaluated to identify the precise impact of the equipment condition on the semi-finished products being conveyed in the strand guide, particularly on the semi-finished shells. That is, rather than simply looking for the presence or absence of significant measurement data, the actual impact of the detected equipment condition on the semi-finished products being conveyed in the strand guide is identified. According to the present invention, adjustments in the strand guide are then calculated based on the evaluation of the equipment condition in order to reduce the impact of the equipment condition on the semi-finished products being conveyed in the strand guide. In other words, the actual causes of the influence of the equipment condition on the semi-finished products being transported are determined, and these determined causes are reduced or completely avoided by adjustments made to suit the purpose of the strand guide. Finally, the adjustments made to the strand guide in this way are implemented to reduce or prevent any undesirable effects of the strand guide on the semi-finished products being transported.
[0010] According to aspects of the present invention, the equipment condition of the strand guide relates to one or more of the following parameters: the distance between the two segment rollers, particularly the movable and fixed segment rollers; the rotatability of the segment rollers; the angular change between the two segment rollers, particularly the movable and / or fixed segment rollers, etc. In particular, it is important to maintain a specified distance between the movable and fixed segment rollers, and the distance between the movable and fixed segment rollers is reduced along the conveying direction of the strand guide to accommodate the continuous shrinkage of the semi-finished shell. Due to cooling, the semi-finished shell shrinks (thermal shrinkage) along the conveying direction of the strand guide, and in order to ensure reliable guidance, the distance between the movable and fixed segment rollers is reduced along the conveying direction of the strand guide.
[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the semi-finished product is a bloom or a billet.
[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the evaluation of the detected equipment condition identifies the load on the semi-finished product, particularly on the semi-finished product shell, due to the equipment condition, and the calculated adjustment in the strand guide reduces the load identified by the evaluation. The influence of the present invention on the equipment condition is preferably the load on the semi-finished product being transported in the strand guide. This load causes so-called strand shell deformation, particularly with respect to the semi-finished product shell. Therefore, the method according to the present invention preferably calculates the load on the transported semi-finished product, particularly on the semi-finished product shell, due to the equipment condition. Thus, unacceptable loads on the semi-finished product, particularly on the semi-finished product shell, are avoided or reduced by the method according to the present invention.
[0013] According to aspects of the present invention, the load, with respect to the stretched and / or stressed state of a semi-finished product, particularly a semi-finished shell, allows for adjustments in the calculated strand guide to prevent the semi-finished product from exceeding its maximum permissible stretched and / or stressed state.
[0014] According to a further embodiment of the method of the present invention, the state of the secondary cooling system of the strand guide is detected, and the detected state of the secondary cooling system is taken into consideration when performing evaluation, calculation, and adjustment. In the process of detecting the state of the secondary cooling system of the strand guide, in particular, the nozzle state of individual nozzles of the secondary cooling system is detected. For detecting the nozzle state, for example, an acoustic sensor or a diaphragm sensor is used.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method includes a step of cleansing the detected data relating to the equipment status and / or the status of the secondary cooling system. Data cleansing is preferably performed after data detection and before evaluation. Data cleansing is useful for identifying significant measurements and for correcting or eliminating such measurements. Significant measurements are, for example, mismeasurements, which result, for example, from external influences in the strand guide or from incorrect subsequent processing of the measurement signal. An offset may also be considered to correct the position of measurement data detected inside the strand guide. Errors in measurement detection may result in an incorrect correspondence of measurements to positions in the strand guide. This incorrect correspondence is corrected by an offset, which may, for example, relate to length descriptions or descriptions relating to the strand guide, such as + / - 1 to X rollers.
[0016] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, cleansing is performed manually and / or, in particular, automatically based on an algorithm. The algorithm can, for example, provide the user with suggested modifications, which are evaluated by the user and either adopted or rejected. Based on the user's decision, the algorithm can improve its future predictions (self-learning algorithm).
[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the method according to the present invention includes the step of visualizing the detected equipment condition and / or the condition of the secondary cooling system for the operator of the strand guide. The visualization of the detected equipment condition has the advantage that operators, in particular maintenance workers, can quickly and reliably identify hazardous components of the strand guide, for example, to perform calculated adjustments. The visualization can also be used, for example, by development engineers or metalworkers when developing new continuous casting equipment or operating comparable continuous casting equipment.
[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, detected data relating to the equipment status and / or the status of the secondary cooling system are visualized with precise location in a virtual model of the strand guide. This significantly simplifies the identification of locations, particularly within the strand guide. Strand guides are typically part of metallurgical production equipment where unfavorable environments such as heat, contamination, and noise exist. Furthermore, strand guides extend over several meters in both horizontal and vertical directions. Therefore, it is advantageous if the precise location of significant measurement data, and especially the precise location of adjustments to be made in the strand guide, can be visualized as accurately as possible in advance, thereby enabling the operator to find the actual location in the strand guide as quickly as possible in the case of manual adjustments in the strand guide.
[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the visualization includes two parallel figures, in which the first figure shows the detected equipment status and / or secondary cooling system status, and the second figure shows a virtual model of the strand guide, where the selection of the dataset of detected equipment status and / or secondary cooling system status visually displays the corresponding locations in the strand guide model. A figure, in the sense of the present invention, is a diagram, in particular a graphic representation, of data, factual behavior, or information.
[0020] In aspects of the present invention, visualization additionally visualizes the effect of the strand guide on the conveyed semi-finished product, particularly localized excesses due to exceeding the stretch limit in the semi-finished product shell. Therefore, visualization also includes information for evaluating the detected equipment condition. When the stretch limit is exceeded in the semi-finished product shell being conveyed by the strand guide, strand shell deformation occurs, which has an undesirable effect on the quality of the semi-finished product and should therefore be avoided. Visualization according to the present invention allows for the quick, simple, and reliable identification of which areas of the strand guide have a specific effect on the conveyed semi-finished product. Preferably, it displays which areas, segments, or components (e.g., one or more rollers) of the strand guide are causing a predetermined effect, and more precisely, a load (e.g., exceeding the stretch limit) on the semi-finished product.
[0021] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the calculation of the adjustment in the strand guide is automated and performed in particular using an algorithm. The algorithm is a self-learning algorithm and is based on, for example, artificial intelligence, neural networks, numerical methods, etc.
[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, adjustments in a strand guide relate to one or more of the following operations: replacement of individual segments of the strand guide, shim adjustment of adjacent segments of the strand guide, adjustment of secondary cooling nozzles, adjustment of roller rotatability, or similar adjustments. Since the replacement of individual segments of the strand guide requires a disruption of production, such adjustments to the strand guide are mainly considered when the impact on the semi-finished products being conveyed in the strand guide is significant. However, since regular maintenance periods are provided, according to the present invention, it is possible to identify the segments to be replaced in the next maintenance period and take preparatory measures. If the impact on the semi-finished products is not significant, or in the period until the replacement of a segment of the strand guide, "shim adjustment" of adjacent segments can be performed. When shim adjustment, the relative positional alignment of adjacent segments is adapted to ensure the least possible wear during transfer. For this purpose, for example, the mounting points of the segment frames are adjustable with respect to their positional alignment, and in particular, height adjustable. Individual adjustment of each mounting point allows the positional alignment of individual segments of the strand guide to be adapted and aligned with adjacent segments.
[0023] In aspects of the present invention, the execution of adjustments in the calculated strand guide is performed automatically or partially automatically after manual approval. The adjustments may be proposed automatically, for example, and can be manually approved by an operator. However, the adjustments may also be performed fully automatically without prior manual approval, and fully automated adjustments relate to mechanical / electrical adjustments in the strand guide, such as drive speed. Adjustments that are manually approved can then be evaluated, for example, by a self-learning algorithm to optimize the proposed adjustments.
[0024] According to an aspect of the present invention, the method further includes a modification of the continuous casting process to prevent the influence of the strand guide on the semi-finished product being conveyed. Thus, for example, the casting process performed beforehand can be adjusted in order to avoid an adverse influence by the strand guide. Thus, for example, when the casting process is decelerated, the semi-finished product shell has a longer time for growing in the mold, whereby subsequent adverse influences by the strand guide can be reduced. However, regulations of other processes must also be taken into consideration so that other processes can be appropriately carried out.
[0025] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the method includes a step of specifying the strand quality (for example, steel quality) that can be manufactured after the implementation of the adjustment in the calculated strand guide. In this case, this specification is performed in consideration of the deformation of the strand shell calculated by evaluation, as well as process data and the temperature of the continuous casting facility, particularly the strand guide. This information can be transmitted to the upper process and / or subsequent processes. Based on this, for example, further processing of the semi-finished product can be determined, for example, whether the semi-finished product is suitable for the assumed further processing.
[0026] In an aspect according to the present invention, the calculation of the adjustment in the strand guide is additionally performed in consideration of the process data of the strand guide. This includes, for example, technical regulations of the strand guide such as acceptable load, speed, hydraulic operation of the segment, or temperature, particularly the casting temperature.
[0027] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the method further includes detecting damage on the surface of the semi-finished product conveyed after passing through the strand guide and feeding back the detected information in order to optimize the evaluation of the detected equipment state. Therefore, the evaluation of the influence of the equipment state on the semi-finished product conveyed in the strand guide can be optimized by comparison with the detected damage on the surface of the semi-finished product. That is, it is checked whether the detected damage matches the influence of the strand guide calculated during the evaluation.
[0028] According to an advantageous aspect, the method according to the present invention includes measuring the temperature in the strand guide and considering the measured temperature when evaluating the detected equipment state and calculating the adjustment in the strand guide.
[0029] The object of the present invention is further solved by a computer program according to the present invention, which includes instructions for causing a computer to execute the method according to the present invention when the program is executed by the computer.
[0030] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0031] [Figure 1] It is a schematic view of a continuous casting facility including the corresponding strand guide. [Figure 2] It is a flowchart according to a first embodiment of the method according to the present invention for optimizing the strand guide of a continuous casting facility. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart according to a second embodiment of the method according to the present invention for optimizing the strand guide of a continuous casting facility. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing the visualization of the detected equipment state. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing the visualization of the influence on the semi-finished product conveyed in the strand guide. [Figure 6]Figure 5 shows a visualization including the effect of shim adjustment on the strand guide segments. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0032] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a continuous casting apparatus 1, which includes a strand guide 2. The continuous casting apparatus 1 in Figure 1 includes a ladle 3 containing molten material 4 (liquid metal) inside. The molten material 4 is discharged into a mold 6 via an intermediate container 5. The intermediate container 5 provides a buffer volume to ensure continuous casting operation, for example, when changing ladles. The molten material 4 is discharged into the mold 6, in which case the mold 6 is cooled. Inside the mold 6, the formation of the so-called strand shell (semi-finished shell) of the semi-finished product 7 (cast strand) begins.
[0033] A strand guide 2 is positioned following the mold 6 to further transport the semi-finished product 7. Inside the strand guide 2, the semi-finished product 7 is cooled with water until the strand is completely solidified. In this case, the cooling inside the mold 6 is called primary cooling, and the cooling inside the strand guide 2 is called secondary cooling.
[0034] A strand guide typically includes a relatively large number of individual, but closely cooperating, strand guide segments 8, each equipped with guide rollers and / or drive rollers positioned within a movable-side frame and a fixed-side frame, which together form a so-called roller carpet. The rollers may be continuous, but may be intermediately supported if the strand width is relatively wide. The fixed-side and movable-side rollers have partially different diameters depending on their distance from the casting surface in the mold 6, in which case opposing pairs of rollers usually have the same diameter. Figure 1 shows a curved strand guide 2 having vertical and horizontal sections, which begins as a vertical extension below the mold 6 and continues to a horizontal run-out section 9. Each segment 8 of the strand guide 2 includes a support frame for the support rollers and guide rollers, which is also supported in place.
[0035] Even small misalignments between individual segments 8 of the strand guide 2 can lead to quality problems in the semi-finished products 7 being transported. Blooms, billets, etc., obtained from the transported semi-finished products 7 may not be able to be processed directly due to surface defects, for example, and may require post-processing by manual, time-consuming, and costly polishing and / or flame treatment. However, since the quality defects in the semi-finished products are extremely serious, manual post-processing is insufficient, and there is a risk of producing defective products such as flawed blooms. Furthermore, positional adjustment errors between segments 8 of the strand guide 2 may damage the components of the strand guide 2. Therefore, in order to prevent damage to the strand shell, it is important that the transitions between segments 8 of the strand guide 2, and the inner guides of individual segments 8, are as accurate as possible.
[0036] To avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, the present invention discloses a method 10 for optimizing the strand guide 2 of a continuous casting equipment 1, particularly a bloom casting equipment or a billet continuous casting equipment.
[0037] Figure 2 shows a flowchart according to a first embodiment of Method 10 according to the present invention for optimizing the strand guide 2 of a continuous casting apparatus 1. The first step of Method 10 according to the present invention is to detect the equipment state of the strand guide 2. The equipment state of the strand guide 2 relates in particular to one or more of the following parameters: the distance between the two segment rollers, in particular the movable side segment roller and the fixed side segment roller; the rotatability of the segment rollers; the angular change between the two segment rollers, in particular the movable side and / or the fixed side, etc. The detection of the equipment state may also include the state of the secondary cooling system of the strand guide 2, in which case the detected state of the secondary cooling system is considered in subsequent steps of Method 10 according to the present invention. The state of the secondary cooling system can be detected by, for example, an acoustic sensor, a diaphragm sensor or other sensor.
[0038] In the second step of Method 10 according to the present invention, the detected equipment condition is evaluated 12. This evaluation 12 identifies the effect of the equipment condition on the semi-finished product 7 being conveyed in the strand guide 2, particularly on the semi-finished product shell. The semi-finished product 7 is, for example, a bloom or billet. The evaluation 12 of the detected equipment condition specifically identifies the load on the semi-finished product 7, particularly on the semi-finished product shell, due to the equipment condition. The load on the semi-finished product shell may lead to deformation of the strand shell. This load relates in particular to the stretched and / or stressed state of the semi-finished product 7, particularly the semi-finished product shell.
[0039] In the third step of Method 10 according to the present invention, adjustments to the strand guide 2 are calculated 13 based on an evaluation of the equipment condition 12 in order to reduce the influence of the equipment condition on the semi-finished product 7 being conveyed in the strand guide 2. The calculated adjustments to the strand guide 2 13 reduce the load on the semi-finished product 7 being conveyed in the strand guide 2, in particular, which are optionally identified by the evaluation 12. In this case, the calculated adjustments to the strand guide 2 13 preferably prevent the semi-finished product 7 from exceeding the maximum allowable stretching and / or stress conditions. The calculation 13 of the adjustments to the strand guide 2 is preferably automated and performed using an algorithm, in particular a self-learning algorithm, artificial intelligence, a neural network, etc. The calculated adjustments to the strand guide 2 13 relate to one or more of the following, for example: replacing individual segments 8 of the strand guide 2, shimming adjacent segments 8 of the strand guide 2, adjusting the secondary cooling nozzle, adjusting the roller rotatability, or similar adjustments. The calculation 13 of the adjustments in the strand guide 2 may additionally take into account the process data of the strand guide 2.
[0040] Optionally, the temperature in the strand guide 2 can be additionally measured, and the measured temperature is then taken into consideration when evaluating the detected equipment condition 11 and calculating the adjustment 13 in the strand guide 2.
[0041] In the final fourth step of method 10 according to the present invention, adjustments are made to the calculated strand guide 2. The adjustments to the calculated strand guide 2 are made automatically or partially automatically after manual approval. Manual approval can be used, for example, to improve the self-learning algorithm, which then suggests adjustments that are very likely to be made thereafter.
[0042] The following extension of Method 10 according to the present invention relates to a step of detecting damage on the surface of the semi-finished product 7 being transported after passing through the strand guide 2 and feeding back the detected information in order to optimize the evaluation 12 of the detected equipment condition.
[0043] Figure 3 shows a flowchart according to a second embodiment of Method 10 according to the present invention for optimizing the strand guide 2 of a continuous casting equipment 1. According to the second embodiment, Method 10 according to the present invention additionally includes a step of cleansing 15 the detected data with respect to the equipment condition and / or the condition of the secondary cooling system. Cleansing 15 is performed before evaluation 12 of the detected equipment condition. Cleansing 15 corrects or eliminates, for example, offsets and / or identified mismeasurements. Cleansing 15 is performed manually and / or automated, in particular, based on an algorithm.
[0044] A second embodiment of Method 10 according to the present invention, shown in Figure 3, further includes an additional step of visualizing 16 the detected equipment condition and / or secondary cooling system condition for the operator of the strand guide 2. Thus, problematic areas of the strand guide can be more easily identified. The visualization 16 can also be used by development engineers or metalworkers, for example, when developing a new continuous casting equipment 1 or operating a comparable continuous casting equipment 1. Preferably, the detected data 11 regarding the equipment condition and / or secondary cooling system condition is visualized in a positional manner in a virtual model of the strand guide 2. A visualization 16 including two parallel figures is particularly advantageous, in which case the first figure shows the detected equipment condition and / or secondary cooling system condition, and the second figure shows a virtual model of the strand guide 2, where the selection of the data set of detected equipment condition and / or secondary cooling system condition visually displays the corresponding position in the model of the strand guide 2. The visualization 16 can additionally visualize the effect of the strand guide 2 on the transported semi-finished product 7, particularly localized excesses due to exceeding the stretch limit value in the shell of the semi-finished product 7. Therefore, the visualization 16 (indicated by the dashed arrow in Figure 3) can also include information from the evaluation 12 of the detected equipment condition 11. The visualization 16 (indicated by the dashed arrow in Figure 3) can be considered as an aid for the user in deciding whether or not to actually implement the calculated adjustment 13.
[0045] Method 10 according to the present invention may further include modifications to the continuous casting process to prevent the influence of the strand guide 2 on the conveyed semi-finished product 7. In this case, casting parameters such as the casting speed are adjusted.
[0046] A further optional step of method 10 according to the present invention is to identify the manufacturable strand quality, in particular the manufacturable steel quality, after performing adjustments 14 in the calculated strand guide 2.
[0047] Figure 4 shows a visualization of the detected equipment state of the strand guide 2. Visualization 16 shows a first Figure 17 in the upper range, which shows the detected equipment state. In this case, the roller spacing inside the strand guide 2 is shown, and the first Figure 17 shows a first curve 19 showing the gap dimension between the fixed roller and the movable roller at a given time point. A second curve 20 similarly shows the aforementioned gap dimension at a second time point. Furthermore, the upper limit 21 and lower limit 22 of the allowable gap dimension are shown in the first Figure 17. In the lower range of visualization 16, a second Figure 18 is shown, which shows a virtual model of the strand guide 2. According to Figure 4, the individual segments 8 of the strand guide 2 are shown.
[0048] Figure 5 shows a visualization 16 of the effect 16 on the semi-finished product 7 being transported by the strand guide 2. The effect of the strand guide 2 on the semi-finished product 7 being transported by the strand guide 2 is shown in the first upper Figure 17 of Figure 5. In this case, curve 23 shows the stretching of the semi-finished product shell. Furthermore, the first Figure 17 also shows the allowable deformation of the strand shell as curve 24. In the lower range of the visualization 16, a second Figure 18 is shown, which shows a hypothetical model of the strand guide 2 with its individual segments 8 belonging to it. From the visualization 16 shown in Figure 5, it is directly apparent that the stretching 23 of the semi-finished product shell in the range between the second segment 8 and the third segment 8 of the strand guide 2 exceeds the allowable stretching 24 of the strand shell. Method 10 according to the present invention allows the transition between the second segment 8 and the third segment 8 of the strand guide 2 to be adjusted in order to reduce the calculated stretching 23 of the semi-finished product shell. This can be achieved by shimming the second and third segments 8 of the strand guide 2 to reduce the elongation 23 of the semi-finished shell, i.e., by optimizing the relative positional adjustment of these segments, thereby ensuring that the allowable deformation 24 of the strand shell is not exceeded.
[0049] Figure 6 shows a visualization 16 according to Figure 6, in which case the effect of shimming the second segment 8 and the third segment 8 is additionally visualized. Figure 6, second 18, additionally shows the mounting points 25 of the individual segments 8. These mounting points 25 are adjustable to adapt the positional adjustment of the individual segments 8. By adjusting the mounting points 25 of the second segment 8 and the third segment 8 of the strand guide 2 shown in Figure 6, second 18, these segments can be shimmed. That is, the positional adjustment of the second segment 8 and the third segment 8 of the strand guide 2 is adapted. Through optimization, the elongation of the semi-finished shell of the semi-finished product 7 being conveyed in the strand guide 2 can be reduced. This is illustrated by the shaded area 26 in Figure 6, first 17. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0050] 1. Continuous casting equipment 2 Strand Guide 3 ladle 4. Molten material 5. Intermediate container (buffer volume) 6. Mold 7 Semi-finished products 8 (strand guide) segments 9 Running section 10 ways 11. Detection of equipment status (of strand guides) 12. Evaluation of equipment condition 13. Calculation of (strand guide) adjustments 14. Implement the calculated adjustments. 15. Cleansing of detected data 16. Visualization of equipment status 17. Figure 2 (of visualization) 18. Figure 1 (of the visualization) 19 (Fixed side) gap 20 (movable side) gap 21 Upper limit (of gap dimension) 22 Lower limit (of gap dimension) 23. Stretching of semi-finished shells 24. Allowable deformation of the strand shell 25 (segment) mounting points 26 Reduced stretch (of semi-finished shells)
Claims
1. A method (10) for optimizing a strand guide (2) of a continuous casting equipment (1), particularly a bloom casting equipment or a billet continuous casting equipment, The steps include detecting the equipment status (11) of the strand guide (2), In order to identify the effect of the equipment condition on the semi-finished product (7) being transported in the strand guide (2), particularly on the semi-finished product shell, the steps include: evaluating (12) the detected (11) equipment condition; In order to reduce the influence of the equipment condition on the semi-finished product (7) being transported by the strand guide (2), the steps include: calculating (13) the adjustment in the strand guide (2) based on the evaluation (12) of the equipment condition; The steps include: performing the adjustment (14) on the calculated (13) strand guide (2); Method (10) including the following.
2. The method (10) according to claim 1, wherein the equipment state of the strand guide (2) relates to one or more of the following parameters: the distance between the two segment rollers, particularly the movable segment roller and the fixed segment roller; the rotatability of the segment rollers; the condition of the segment roller bearings; the condition of the spray nozzle; the wear of the segment rollers; the position of the movable segment; the pressure of the hydraulic cylinder; and the change in angle between the two segment rollers, particularly the movable and / or fixed segment rollers.
3. The method (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the semi-finished product (7) is a bloom or a billet.
4. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the evaluation (12) of the detected (11) equipment condition identifies the load on the semi-finished product (7), particularly on the semi-finished product shell, due to the equipment condition, and the adjustment in the strand guide (2), calculated (13), reduces the load identified by the evaluation (12).
5. The method (10) of claim 4, wherein the load is calculated (13) with respect to the stretched and / or stressed state of the semi-finished product (7), particularly the semi-finished shell, and the adjustment in the strand guide (2) prevents the semi-finished product from exceeding the maximum allowable stretched and / or stressed state.
6. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further detecting the state of the secondary cooling system of the strand guide (2), and taking into consideration the detected state of the secondary cooling system when performing the evaluation (12), calculation (13), and adjustment (14).
7. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising the step of cleansing (15) the data detected (11) with respect to the equipment state and / or the state of the secondary cooling system.
8. The cleansing (15) is the method (10) of claim 7, wherein the cleansing (15) takes into account an offset relating to the data and / or identifies and corrects or eliminates the mismeasurement.
9. The method (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the cleansing (15) is performed manually and / or automated in particular based on an algorithm.
10. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising the step of visualizing (16) the detected (11) state of the equipment and / or the state of the secondary cooling system for the operator of the strand guide (2).
11. The method (10) of claim 10, wherein the detected (11) data relating to the equipment status and / or the status of the secondary cooling system is visualized (16) in a virtual model of the strand guide (2) with respect to its position.
12. The visualization (16) comprises two parallel figures, in which the first figure shows the detected (11) equipment state and / or the state of the secondary cooling system, and the second figure shows the virtual model of the strand guide (2), and the selection of a dataset of the detected (11) equipment state and / or the state of the secondary cooling system visually displays the corresponding positions in the model of the strand guide (2), the method (10) according to claim 11.
13. The visualization (16) further visualizes the effect of the strand guide (2) on the transported semi-finished product (7), particularly local excess due to exceeding the stretch limit in the shell of the semi-finished product (7), according to any one of claims 10 to 12 (10).
14. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the calculation (13) of the adjustment in the strand guide (2) is automated, and in particular performed using an algorithm.
15. The adjustment in the strand guide (2) is a method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, relating to one or more of the following operations: replacing individual segments (8) of the strand guide (2), shimming adjacent segments (8) of the strand guide (2), adjusting the secondary cooling nozzle, adjusting the roller rotation, or similar adjustments.
16. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the execution (14) of the adjustment in the calculated strand guide (2) is performed automatically or partially after manual approval.
17. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising modifications to the continuous casting process to prevent the influence of the strand guide (2) on the semi-finished product (7) being transported.
18. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising the step of identifying the strand quality that can be manufactured after the adjustment in the calculated (13) strand guide (2) is performed.
19. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the calculation (13) of the adjustment in the strand guide (2) further takes into account process data from the strand guide (2).
20. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising the step of detecting damage on the surface of the semi-finished product (7) being transported after passing through the strand guide (2) and feeding back the detected information in order to optimize the evaluation (12) of the equipment condition detected (11).
21. The method (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 20, further comprising the step of measuring the temperature in the strand guide (2) and taking the measured temperature into consideration when evaluating the detected equipment state (12) and calculating the adjustment (13) in the strand guide (2).
22. A computer program, which includes an instruction that causes the computer to execute the method (10) described in any one of claims 1 to 21 when the computer executes the program.