The correct operation of the ladle slide has a direct impact on production safety, steel quality and equipment life. The following standardized operation procedures and precautions are applicable to continuous casting, die casting and other process scenarios.
1. Pre-operation check
(1) Confirmation of skidding system status
Refractory parts check:
Upper and lower slide plates are free of cracks, spalling or severe erosion (thickness of hole edges ≥ 60% of original size).
Seat brick intact, no traces of steel penetration.
Mechanical system check:
No leakage of hydraulic/electrical drive device, normal pressure gauge display (usually 10-15MPa ).
Slide rails free of slag and well lubricated (with graphite based high temperature grease ).
Sealing test:
Manual test slide 3 times to confirm that there is no jamming and no visible gap when closed.
(2) Ladle preparation
Bake the ladle to ≥800℃ (avoid thermal shock damage to the slide plate).
Confirm that the composition of steel and slide plate material match (such as stainless steel with ZrO₂-C slide plate ). 2.
2. Slide opening operation process
(1) Initial positioning
Make sure that the slide plate is completely closed (holes are misaligned and no molten steel flows out).
In the case of continuous casting, install a long spout (Shroud) and energize with an inert gas (e.g. Ar).
(2) Gradual opening
Trial opening with low flow (10%-20% opening):
Hydraulically push the lower slide slowly and observe the molten steel flow.
Check for molten steel splashing or slide leakage.
Adjust to process opening:
Adjust the opening (e.g. 30%-70% for continuous casting) according to the continuous casting pulling speed or mold casting demand.
Keep the flow rate stable and avoid drastic fluctuations.
(3) Operation Monitoring
Real-time monitoring parameters:
Slide opening (deviation from the set value ≤±0.5mm).
Steel flow (linked with the intermediate ladle liquid level control).
Sliding plate temperature (abnormal heating alarm threshold ≤300℃ ).
Abnormal treatment:
If steel leakage is found, immediately reduce the opening and check the compression force.
If the drive fails, switch to the backup system or manual mode.
3. Operation procedure of skateboard closing
(1) Normal closing (end of pouring)
Gradually reduce the opening:
Reduce the opening to 10% first to minimize the impact of steel flow.
Fast and complete closure:
The hydraulic system pulls back at full speed to ensure the holes are completely misaligned (action time <1 second ).
Seal confirmation:
Observe the bottom of the ladle No steel dripping, no residual steel flow in the long water outlet.
(2) Emergency shutdown (sudden failure)
Trigger the emergency stop button: directly cut off the hydraulic power, the spring compression mechanism automatically closes the slide plate.
Manual standby operation: use emergency lever to force closure (regular drills are required).
4. Slide plate replacement operation specification
(1) Replacement conditions
Slide plate hole erosion ≥ 40% of original thickness.
Penetrating cracks or serious leakage.
(2) Replacement procedure
Cooling down: The ladle is allowed to stand at ≤100℃.
Disassemble the old slide plate:
Release the compression device and remove the fixing bolts.
Clean the refractory sludge left on the contact surface of the seating blocks.
Install the new plate:
Apply aluminum-carbon refractory cement, making sure that it is flat and free of air bubbles.
Tighten the bolts in diagonal order (torque 50-70 N-m ).
Function test:
Slide 5 times with no load to make sure there is no jamming.
Low-flow test run (opening ≤ 20%) for the first pouring.
5. Safety Precautions
(1) Operator protection
Wear high-temperature resistant protective clothing, mask and gloves.
Do not stand underneath the ladle or within the movement range of the slide drive mechanism.
(2) Equipment safety
When the slide is open, it is strictly prohibited to hit the ladle or adjust the opening degree quickly (anti-splash).
When the hydraulic system is out of service, turn off the power and relieve the pressure.
(3) Environment Management
Keep the pouring area dry to prevent water vapor from contacting the hot molten steel and causing an explosion.
Cover spilled molten steel with dry magnesium sand and do not flush with water.
