Mould powder thickness has a direct impact on lubrication and heat transfer in the continuous casting mould, which represent crucial factors for steel quality of the cast products. The ability to keep a constant powder thickness is therefore a key requirement to produce high-quality steel.

UT-POWDER system is based on Ergolines ULD (Ultrasonic Level Detector), an innovative ultrasonic sensor for the contactless detection of meniscus position, and it is typically combined with Ergolines MPF (Mould Powder Feeder). When the steel level is controlled by a pre-installed radiometric sensor, which is affected by both steel and powder, the ULD steel level signal is used to control the powder flow rate of MPF in closed-loop mode, ensuring a constant powder thickness and a stable steel meniscus.

Maintain the powder thickness constant in the mould is a very important task to avoid level fluctuation and to improve steel quality keeping constant the heat transfer, the lubricating powder film and also increasing the surface quality. Automatic Mould Powder Feeding system – MPF is a device designed for CCM with protected pouring in which it is necessary to automate the powder feeding on the liquid pool into the mould. The automatic Mould Powder Feeding system – MPF is designed to work for any casting section and casting format (billets, blooms and slab).

OPT-POWDER is a system for mould powder thickness control.

Steel quality is deeply related with the ability to keep a constant powder thickness over the liquid bath and to ensure reproducible powder feeding conditions. The OPT-POWDER system is based on a new-generation sensor, specifically designed by Ergolines to measure the position of the powder surface thanks to laser line triangulation technology. The OPT-POWER signal is used to drive Ergolines MPF (Mould Powder Feeder), enabling to keep a constant powder thickness with a homogeneous powder distribution over the liquid bath. The IPD system can be used in combination with either a radiometric (for small sections) or an inductive mould level control system