Continuous casting is a process of producing steel billets, blooms, or slabs from molten metal in a continuous manner. It is a complex and challenging process that requires precise control and automation of various parameters such as temperature, speed, level, and cooling. Automation can improve the quality, productivity, and safety of the continuous casting process.
There are many automation solutions available for continuous casting machines, depending on the type, size, and configuration of the caster. Some of the common features of automation systems are:
Production plan handling and heat and slab tracking, which allow the system to monitor and record the production events and quality-related information from the tundish to the run-out area.
Tundish and mold level control, which ensure the stability and uniformity of the steel flow and prevent overflows or breakouts.
Mold temperature control and breakout detection and prediction, which prevent the formation of cracks and defects in the solidifying shell and alert the operator of any potential problems.
Primary and secondary cooling system control, which optimize the cooling rate and the metallurgical properties of the cast product.
Flexible and fast set-up in management of different continuous casting profiles, which enable the system to adapt to different casting conditions and requirements2.
