Liquid/solid interface monitoring during direct chill casting
AssigneeOlin Corporation
InventorsBrian G. Lewis, John C. Yarwood
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for monitoring the liquid/solid interface position of an alloy ingot being formed by either direct chill or electromagnetically enhanced direct chill casting systems comprising an inductive sensor wire disposed about the mold wall of the casting system, driving the sensor wire to cause a magnetic flux to penetrate into the ingot, and sensing the change in the impedance or components of the impedance of the system. Monitoring the liquid/solid interface position allows ready adjustment to operating controls, such as, containment/stirring inductors, cooling systems and casting parameters, thereby producing a desirable ingot.
Claims44
An apparatus for monitoring the liquid/solid interface position of an ingot being formed by a direct chill casting system having mold walls, starter block and coolant, said apparatus comprising:
- an inductive sensor wire disposed within about 3 mm of the inner surface of said mold wall of the direct chill casting system;
- a direct power source means for driving said inductive sensor wire causing a magnetic flux to penetrate into said ingot;
- and
- means for sensing a change in the impedance of said system.
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said impedance monitor sends a signal to a microprocessor which in turn signals a systems controller.
An apparatus for monitoring the liquid/solid interface position of an ingot being formed by an electromagnetically enhanced direct chill casting system having mold walls, starter block and coolant, said apparatus comprising:
- an inductive sensor wire disposed within about 3 mm of the inner surface of the mold wall of the electromagnetically enhanced direct chill casting system;
- a direct power source means for driving said inductive sensor wire causing a magnetic flux, said magnetic flux being independent from the flux generated by the electromagnetic coil, to penetrate into said ingot;
- and
- means for sensing a change in the impedance of said system.
A process for monitoring the liquid/solid interface position of an ingot being formed by a direct chill casting system having mold walls, starter block and coolant, said process comprising:
- positioning an inductive sensor wire within about 3 mm of the inner surface of said mold walls of said direct chill casting system;
- driving said inductive sensor wire at a predetermined frequency to generate a magnetic flux which penetrates into said ingot;
- and
- sensing a change in the impedance of said system.
A process for monitoring the liquid/solid interface position of an ingot being formed by an electromagnetically enhanced direct chill casting system having mold walls, starter block and coolant, said process comprising:
- positioning and inductive sensor wire within about 3 mm of the inner surface wall of said mold wall of said electromagnetically enhanced direct chill casting system;
- driving an inductive sensor wire at a predetermined frequency to generate a magnetic flux which penetrates into said ingot and which is independent of the flux generated by an electromagnetic coil;
- and
- sensing a change in the impedance of said system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.