Metallurgical Equipment

In the demanding environment of steel production, continuous casting lines must operate with absolute precision and reliability under extreme conditions: molten steel temperatures exceeding 1,500°C, high-intensity water cooling, scale buildup, and continuous 24/7 duty cycles. During a month-long production campaign at a major steel mill processing 200,000 tons of slab steel, a continuous casting line operated seamlessly, transforming molten metal into finished slabs. Hengli Hydraulics supplied a comprehensive range of custom-engineered cylinders for this critical application, including mold oscillation cylinders, segment clamping cylinders, dummy bar handling cylinders, and shear cylinders.

Mold Oscillation Cylinder (Hydraulic Oscillator):

• Piston Diameter: 160 mm

• Piston Rod Diameter: 100 mm

• Stroke: 60 mm

• Working Pressure: 25 MPa

• Function: Drives high-frequency, low-amplitude oscillation of the mold to prevent strand sticking and ensure surface quality during initial solidification.

Segment Clamping Cylinder (Strand Support Segment):

• Piston Diameter: 200 mm

• Piston Rod Diameter: 140 mm

• Stroke: 150 mm

• Working Pressure: 28 MPa

• Function: Applies precise, controlled clamping force to support and contain the solidifying strand as it bends and straightens through the casting arc.

Dummy Bar Disconnect Cylinder:

• Piston Diameter: 80 mm

• Piston Rod Diameter: 50 mm

• Stroke: 300 mm

• Working Pressure: 20 MPa

• Function: Controls the quick-release hook mechanism that separates the dummy bar from the strand head after threading is complete.

Hydraulic Shear Cylinder (Torch Cut-off):

• Piston Diameter: 220 mm

• Piston Rod Diameter: 160 mm

• Stroke: 2,500 mm

• Working Pressure: 30 MPa

• Function: Powers heavy-duty mechanical shears or positions cutting torches to sever the moving strand into precise slab lengths without stopping the casting process.

Tundish Gate Cylinder (Slide Gate Control):

• Piston Diameter: 100 mm

• Piston Rod Diameter: 60 mm

• Stroke: 120 mm

• Working Pressure: 21 MPa

• Function: Provides ultra-precise positioning of refractory slide gates to control molten steel flow from the tundish into the mold with millisecond response times.

Technical Highlights:

630 kN The massive clamping force generated by the segment cylinders on the bow and straightening sections, maintaining precise roll gaps under the ferrostatic pressure of a 300 mm thick strand. Operating at up to 30 MPa, these cylinders ensure consistent slab quality while withstanding continuous radiant heat loads.

All cylinders feature advanced high-temperature sealing systems with water-cooled gland regions and FKM seals, specifically designed to withstand scale contamination, continuous water spray, and ambient temperatures ranging from 10°C near the run-out table to over 300°C radiant heat near the mold zone.

Integrated magnetostrictive displacement sensors and high-response servo valves provide real-time position feedback with ±0.05 mm accuracy, enabling dynamic soft reduction control and precise oscillation curve generation for demanding steel grades such as peritectic and high-carbon steels.