Uniform Secondary Cooling Pattern for Minimizing Surface Reheating of the Strand During Round Bloom Continuous Casting

Abstract

A uniform secondary cooling pattern (USCP) for minimizing surface reheating of the strand is proposed herein, based on a two-dimensional model calibrated according to measured results. The calculated results reveal the following: appropriate extension of the secondary cooling zone significantly reduces longitudinal surface reheating of the strand; a 30° misalignment angle between two adjacent rows of nozzles in cooling zones II–V significantly reduces transverse strand surface reheating; appropriate reduction in the specific water rate significantly reduces surface reheating of the whole strand. Furthermore, a USCP was determined, including secondary cooling length of 6.07 m, misalignment angle of 30°, and specific water rate of 0.26 L kg−1. This USCP has been successfully applied in a steel plant.