Know Your Level: Operational Benefits of Establishing Accurate Mold Level and Control
(Room 205A)
08 May 17
11:00 AM
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11:30 AM
Tracks:
Mold Behavior Understanding
Investigation into irregular submerged-entry nozzle (SEN) erosion at Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Butler’s thin-slab casters revealed a significant error in the caster mold level control systems. Upon correcting the error, numerous operational benefits have been realized. Accurate mold level control has allowed for the development of an optimized SEN wear program, which has increased average sequence length and reduced yield loss due to tundish skulls. Improved mold level control has also reduced the occurrence of sticker breakouts, decreased the number of slab downgrades for longitudinal cracks and allowed for increased casting speeds on some grades.