Spray Nozzle Adjuster for Continuous Casting Strand Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray nozzle adjustment devices in continuous slab casting plants are prone to malfunction due to thermal stress and are difficult to maintain, especially when dealing with different strand widths, leading to uneven cooling and potential cracks in metal slabs.
Innovation Solution
The spray nozzle holder is attached to an adjusting piston with an axial movement, positioned in a freely accessible area outside the thermal influence zone, and is connected to a stable actuating device that allows for synchronous adjustment of multiple nozzles, ensuring optimal coolant distribution and minimizing the number of adjustment devices needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spray nozzles are arranged in a parallel link system with lever mechanisms for adjustment, then the coolant application can be adjusted for different slab widths, but the articulated connections are prone to malfunction due to thermal stress and dirt accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adjustment mechanism from the hot zone by positioning the actuating device on the outer side of the strand guide, remote from thermal influences. This separates the control function from the harsh thermal environment, eliminating thermal stress on articulated connections while preserving adjustment capability for different slab widths
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into two functional segments: the spray nozzle holder with nozzles positioned in the hot zone for coolant application, and the actuating device with adjustment mechanisms positioned in the cool zone for control. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal environment, improving reliability while maintaining adaptability
2Manufacturing precision
If complex kinematic chains with articulated connections are used for nozzle adjustment, then precise positioning can be achieved, but the devices are difficult to maintain and repair due to inaccessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device containing all adjustment mechanisms is extracted and positioned on the outer side of the strand guide where it is freely accessible. This allows maintenance personnel to easily access, inspect, and repair the positioning mechanisms without disassembling the strand guide structure, while the spray nozzles remain precisely positioned in the hot zone
Solution Approach 2:
A rigid connection element serves as an intermediary, transmitting positioning forces from the accessible actuating device to the spray nozzle holder in the inaccessible hot zone. This mediator allows precise control to be exerted remotely without requiring direct access to the nozzle positioning points during maintenance
3Measurement precision
If multiple adjustment devices are used for each spray nozzle, then individual positioning control is achieved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spray nozzles are combined into a single spray nozzle holder assembly that can be positioned simultaneously. The actuating device controls the entire assembly through rigid connections, reducing the number of independent adjustment mechanisms from one per nozzle to one per assembly, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining precise positioning control
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances maintenance accessibility, stabilizes the nozzle system, and ensures uniform coolant application across varying strand widths, reducing the risk of cracks and improving cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the spray nozzle holder (10) is firmly connected to the actuating piston (11) of an adjustment device (12)... The adjustment device (12) comprises a hydraulically or pneumatically actuable pressure cylinder (40)
Implementation Method 2
spray nozzles (4, 5, 6, 7, 8), with which fan-shaped coolant jets (9a, 9b) are applied to a broad side surface (1a, 1b) of the metal strand (1)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The subject matter of the invention is a spray-nozzle adjusting device in a strand guide (2) of a continuous casting plant for producing metal strands of different strand width, wherein the strand guide comprises strand guide rollers (3, 3a, 3b, 3c, ...) which are supported in a support frame (2a) and form a transport path (1c) for the metal strand, and at least two spray nozzles (5a, 5b) are assigned to this transport path in a plane lying normal to the strand delivery direction (R) between adjacent strand guide rollers, said spray nozzles (5a, 5b) each being connected to an adjusting device (12) for changing the distance between the spray nozzles and for changing the normal distance of the spray nozzles from the transport path. To ensure ease of maintenance and good accessibility of the adjusting device, it is proposed that a spray nozzle holder (10) be assigned to each spray nozzle (5a, 5b) arranged in a plane lying normal to the strand delivery direction and that the spray nozzle holder be fastened to an actuating piston (11) of at least one adjusting device (12), wherein, during an axial adjusting movement of the actuating piston, an adjusting movement of the spray nozzles which is parallel to this axial adjusting movement is effected, and the adjusting device (12) is fastened to the support frame (2a) of the strand guide (2) in a region lying at a distance from the transport path (1c).