Detection of mold events using thermocouple measurements

As casters push the boundaries of safe and stable casting, it is important to provide the operators with sensors that can provide adequate warning about problems in the mold. In this paper, development work being done at different U. S. Steel facilities utilizing thermocouple measurements from the sticker detection system to detect mold events is described. Although the main objective of the sticker detection system is to detect and prevent unexpected terminations from stickers and scum entrapment in the mold, the detailed temperature measurements provide data that can be utilized to detect various events in the mold. In particular, methods have been developed to detect possible longitudinal face cracks in the mold and to monitor submerged entry nozzle deterioration during casting. In addition, the temperature measurements have been applied to a thermal map from which operators and researchers can determine the locations, the extent, and severity of mold events and semi-quantitatively measure the performance of advanced mold fluxes.