Application Scope
Vertical continuous casting is used to produce ingots with diameters greater than 600 mm. It offers advantages such as high production efficiency, high material utilization, and dense microstructure. It can be used in the production of shafts, rings, and cylinders. In particular, the use of large-section hollow ingots can shorten the production process for rings and cylinders, improving production efficiency and significantly reducing costs. This technology can be applied to the manufacture of high-end shaft parts such as vehicle drive shafts and stepped shafts. Hollow parts can be used in gear rings and cylinder forgings for nuclear and thermal power plants, supporting key equipment in major projects.
Technical Overview
Currently, the primary method for producing large ingots is die casting. However, this method produces ingots with severe segregation, inclusions, shrinkage porosity, and looseness. The average ingot utilization rate is less than 60%. Furthermore, die casting has a long production cycle, low efficiency, and high energy consumption. The Institute of Metal Research has developed a continuous casting technology for large ingots. This technology involves continuously pouring molten metal into a water-cooled crystallizer, where it solidifies. A starter device continuously pulls the solidified portion out the bottom, achieving continuous casting of steel ingots. Due to the high cooling intensity and short solidification time, steel ingots produced using this continuous casting method are virtually free of segregation defects, with minimal inclusions, shrinkage cavities, and looseness defects, meeting forging requirements. Continuous casting reduces the amount of cut-off required for the riser and tail of die-cast ingots, increasing ingot utilization to over 85%. Furthermore, continuous casting improves production efficiency and reduces energy consumption and emissions. Technical Maturity: Mature Product. Hollow billets have been industrialized in Yongtong, Henan, for use in the production of container cylinders, increasing yield by over 15%.
Key Indicators (Features)
Once the equipment is operational, it will have an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of steel ingots, generating an output value exceeding 800 million yuan.
Large-section continuous casting round billets with a diameter of 900 mm or more
Hollow continuous casting billets with a diameter of 1200 mm
