Linking of Casting and Rolling- A Key Technology for the Future of Steel
The commercial introduction of the first casting-direct rolling line was based on the link of conventional casters and a continuous hot strip mill, which started production at the integrated plant of NKK Fukuyama works, Japan,in 1984. The challenge to produce quality steel at increased production rates in a linked operation required special attention regarding casting rates, mould fluid flow, mould heat removal and plant logistics in order to succeed. Despite the commercial success and economic advantages achieved in Japanese plants, direct casting-rolling did not lead to a global trend, probably due to high investments required or missing preconditions like layout or logistics. The breakthrough was achieved in the late 80ties by the introduction of thin slab casting. It took entrepreneurial leaders like Ken Iverson -founder of Nucor steel -to produce hot rolled coils in an EAF based mini-mill plant economically at a much lower production scale compared to integrated mills. At this time Siemens already played a crucial role in providing the main drives and automation packages to Nucor and to the development of CSP (Compact Strip Production). Due to its low break-even production of 1.0-1.2 Mt/y HRC, a steady growth of CSP plants, especially for the production of commodity grades were experienced and resulted in commercialisation on a global scale in the US, Asia and Europe. In the past 20 years this technology has been refined but basically never changed its arrangement of thin slab caster-tunnel furnace-hot rolling mill. In parallel other thin slab casting and rolling technologies emerged from different European and Japanese plant builders promoting slightly thicker slabs and other arrangements to improve the quality level of HRC (Hot Rolled Coils) or to increase the economy-of-scale effect resulting in ISP (Inline Strip Production), fTSR (flexible Thin Slab Rolling), CONROLL and QSP (Quality Strip Production) processes. By end of the 90ties the application window was further widened by introduction of medium slab casting for plate and special grade production in the US market and in China at Angang to link several medium slab casters to one high capacity HSM (Hot Strip Mill) and to fully utilize the HSM capacity, known as the ASP (Anshan Strip Production) process. In the new millennium research concentrated on material development at casting-rolling plants operated either in semi-endless modes or using the full capabilities of the finishing mill finally resulting in the revolutionary ESP (Endless Strip Production) Technology from Arvedi which links casting and rolling to one uninterrupted chain the first time. In conclusion casting and rolling processes are matured today and able to produce HRC at high production and quality levels. Different technologies are used to supply rolled goods to different markets from cold rolled substitute markets up to high quality plate grade markets, all utilizing the advantages of the hot link. If asked if the linkage of casting and rolling will be helpful for current and future steel grade development we would clearly answer with a yes especially considering the past, the present as well as the newest developments including endless operation.
thin slab ESP ISP temperature control ultra thin gauges material properties high casting speed
Flick Andreas Wagner Anton
Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH & Co, 4031 Linz, Austria
国际会议
2009年薄板坯连铸连轧国际研讨会(TSCR 2009)(2009 International Symposium on Thin Slab Casting and Rolling)
南京
英文
73-79
2009-05-13（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）