DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING HOT-ROLLED METAL STRIPS

Abstract

A device for producing hot-rolled metal strips has a casting machine that produces and transports slabs in a transport line of the casting machine. A rolling mill forms the slabs into corresponding metal strips during transport along a transport line of the rolling mill. A combination transport and temperature-influencing device is arranged between the casting machine and the rolling mill transports the slabs at least along the transport line of the rolling mill, feeds the slabs to the rolling mill and sets the temperature of the slabs to a rolling temperature. A surface device is arranged between the casting machine and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device and processes and/or treats and/or inspects at least one of the surfaces of the slabs. A temperature-influencing device is arranged between the casting machine and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device and modifies the temperature of the slabs.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A device (1) for producing rolled metal strips, comprising: a casting machine (10), which is designed to produce and transport slabs (B) in a transport line of the casting machine (CLC); a rolling mill (50), which is designed to form the slabs (B) into corresponding metal strips by rolling during transport along a transport line of the rolling mill (CLM); a combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40), which is arranged between the casting machine (10) and the rolling mill (50), and which is designed to transport the slabs (B) to or along the transport line of the rolling mill (CLM), to feed the slabs (B) to the rolling mill (50) and to set the temperature of the slabs (B) to a rolling temperature; a surface device (20), which is arranged between the casting machine (10) and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40), and which is designed to process and/or treat and/or inspect at least one of the surfaces of the slabs (B); and a temperature-influencing device (30), which is arranged between the casting machine (10) and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40), and which is designed to modify the temperature of the slabs (B), wherein multiple routes are provided, which implement different process lines for the slabs (B), at least in sections, wherein the surface device (20) is arranged in a first route and the temperature-influencing device (30) is arranged in a second route and is designed in such a manner that the slabs (B) pass through either the surface device (20) or the temperature-influencing device (30).

17. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the temperature-influencing device (30) comprises a combination heating and cooling device with a heating device (31) and a cooling device (32), such that the slabs (B) can be selectively heated or cooled by the temperature-influencing device (30), wherein the heating device (31) comprises an inductive heating device and/or wherein the cooling device (32) is designed to realize a rapid cooling of the slabs (B) by applying a coolant.

18. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the surface device (20) is designed to process at least one surface of the slabs (B) by grinding and/or milling and/or scarfing.

19. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40) comprises: one or more roller tables (41); and/or one or more thermal insulation devices; and/or one or more inductive heating elements (45); and/or one or more furnaces (42, 46); and/or one or more slab discharge devices for discharging slabs (B) from the transport line of the casting machine (CLC) and/or transport line of the rolling mill (CLM); and/or one or more slab feed devices for feeding slabs (B) into the transport line of the casting machine (CLC) and/or transport line of the rolling mill (CLM).

20. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the transport line of the casting machine (CLC) and the transport line of the rolling mill (CLM) coincide, and wherein the surface device (20), the temperature-influencing device (30) and the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40) are arranged one behind the other in one and the same transport line.

21. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the transport line of the casting machine (CLC) and the transport line of the rolling mill (CLM) are different and run in parallel, wherein the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40) is further designed to perform the transport of the slabs (B) from the transport line of the casting machine (CLC) into the transport line of the rolling mill (CLM).

22. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein a third route is provided, along which the slabs (B) skip both the surface device (20) and the temperature-influencing device (30) and can thus be introduced immediately into the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40).

23. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the rolling mill (50) is a hot rolling mill and is designed to form the slabs (B) at least partially from the casting heat of the casting machine (10).

24. The device (1) according to claim 16, further comprising a control device (100) which is designed to control the process control of the slabs (B) as a function of measured and/or calculated process parameters comprising an alloy and/or temperature of the slabs (B).

25. The device (1) according to claim 24, wherein the control device (100) is designed to heat or cool slabs (B) by the temperature-influencing device (30) in such a manner that a slab surface temperature before entering the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40) is outside a critical temperature range (T.sub.kritisch) defined by a lower threshold value (T.sub.u) of 600° C. and an upper threshold value (T.sub.o) of 850° C.

26. The device (1) according to claim 24, wherein the control device (100) is designed to feed the slabs (B) cast by the casting machine (10) to the rolling mill (50) without intermediate storage in a slab storage area.

27. The device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the casting machine (10) is configured for casting medium slabs having a thickness in the range of 110 to 200 mm.

28. A method for producing rolled metal strips, comprising: a) casting a slab (B) by a casting machine (10); b) transferring the slab (B) to a combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40); and c) hot rolling the slab (B) in a rolling mill (50) to form a metal strip, wherein complete cooling of the slab (B) does not take place after casting on the way to the rolling mill (50), and wherein a slab temperature in its core does not fall below 600° C.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein following step a), as a function of one or more process parameters, the slab (B) is transported immediately into the combination transport and temperature-influencing device (40), wherein temperature influencing is carried out by the temperature-influencing device (40) and/or wherein processing and/or treatment and/or inspection of at least one surface of the slab (B) is carried out by a surface device (20).

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the slab is a medium slab having a thickness in the range of 110 to 200 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figure. The following are shown:

[0037] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a device for producing metal strips, in particular hot-rolled metal strips;

[0038] FIG. 2 a schematic illustration of a casting machine;

[0039] FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of a device for producing hot-rolled metal strip in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment;

[0040] FIGS. 4a to 4e schematic illustrations of a combination transport and temperature-influencing device in accordance with different exemplary embodiments;

[0041] FIG. 5 a schematic illustration of the configurations, communication and operation of the control device 100 in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. In doing so, identical, similar or similarly acting elements are provided with identical reference signs in the figures, and a repeated description of such elements is partially omitted, in order to avoid redundancy.

[0043] FIG. 1 schematically shows the basic structure of a device 1 for producing metal strips, in particular hot-rolled metal strips.

[0044] The device 1 comprises a casting machine 10, preferably implemented as a vertical curved machine, also referred to as an “arc caster.” However, the casting machine 10 can be realized in other manners as long as it provides a casting strand that can be subsequently cut into slabs and further processed. Further, a plurality of casting machines 10 may be provided for casting a plurality of strands in parallel, or the casting machine 10 can be designed for casting a plurality of parallel strands.

[0045] FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary casting machine 10. The molten metal to be cast is fed to an ingot mold 11 of the casting machine 10, for example from a casting ladle. The ingot mold 11 brings the molten metal into the desired slab shape as it solidifies gradually from the outside inward through the cooled ingot mold walls. The ingot mold 11 is preferably an ingot mold made of copper plates (or plates of a copper alloy, which may be coated), in the case of medium slabs with plane-parallel plates on the broad sides and narrow sides, which are adapted for a comparatively high casting thickness of, for example, 140 mm or more. If required by the casting thickness or casting radius, the copper plates can have a funnel-shaped contour and/or be curved in a direction of transport corresponding to the casting radius of a strand guide 12.

[0046] The casting strand S, which has not yet solidified, emerges downward from the ingot mold 11, then continues to be guided downward in the direction of transport along the strand guide 12, and then is deflected into the horizontal in a bending region while it gradually cools down. It should be noted that, in general, the direction of transport in the casting machine 10 does not denote a constant direction vector, but can depend on the strand or slab position, as the case may be, along the device 100. After being diverted to the horizontal, the casting strand S is conveyed along a transport line of the CLC casting machine.

[0047] The strand guide 12 comprises rollers 13 that transport the casting strand S and can be adjusted for thickness reduction in accordance with LCR (“liquid core reduction”) or DSR (“dynamic soft reduction”) in such a manner that the transport gap in which the casting strand is transported along the direction of transport gradually narrows. The strand guide 12 can be constructed in a segmental manner, for example by two or more curved segments similar in construction, which curved segments form a bending region of the strand guide 12. During transport, the casting strand S is cooled actively or passively, for example by splash water, within the framework a secondary cooling process, causing it to solidify gradually from the outside to the inside.

[0048] A shaping of the casting strand S caused by the casting machine 10, in particular a strand guide 12, is referred to as “original shaping”; in contrast to “forming,” which refers to a shaping by a forming unit such as a rolling mill, for example.

[0049] The bending region of the casting machine 10 is followed by a straightening region, in which the casting strand S is brought into horizontal alignment. Rollers 13 are also provided here for guiding and transporting the casting strand S. One or more of the rollers 13 are drive rollers and drive the casting strand S forward in the direction of transport; other rollers 13 serve to guide and align the casting strand S. In this respect, the rollers 13 form means for driving and bending the casting strand S. Downstream of the casting machine, additional devices may be arranged.

[0050] The device 1 further has a cutting device 14, which is arranged in the transport line CLC behind the straightening region of the casting machine 10. The cutting device 14 is used to cut or divide, as the case may be, the casting strand S into slabs B. The cut is made along the slab thickness. “Slab thickness” is the dimension of the slab that is perpendicular to the extension of length and perpendicular to the width (in FIG. 2, perpendicular to the paper plane) of the slab. Thereby, the cutting device 14 is designed to cut the casting strand S during conveying, that is, during the movement of the casting strand S along the transport line CLC. Preferably, the cutting device 14 is a shear, in particular a pendulum shear. In this case, the shear is designed to track the transport movement of the casting strand S during the cutting operation, and one or more cutting blades cut the strand in a movement vertical to the casting strand S. In contrast to a flame cutter, a shear has the advantage that the cutting time is less than 5 minutes, preferably less than one minute, and no deburring of the slab head/foot is required.

[0051] The slabs B to be cast are preferably medium slabs, that is, slabs B with a thickness in the range of approximately 90 to 250 mm, preferably 110 to 200 mm. The casting speed is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 7 m/min, particularly preferably in the range of 1 to 4.8 m/min.

[0052] Upstream or downstream of the cutting device 14, a decoupler 15 can be provided, for example in the form of a dummy bar tilter, which is designed to be able to decouple the casting strand S from the process line if necessary, for example when starting up the system.

[0053] The device 1 can have one or more descaling devices 16 that are arranged upstream and/or downstream of the cutting device 14, depending on the configuration.

[0054] One or more heating devices 17, preferably inductive, using gas burners or operating electrically, can be installed at different positions in the process line. They can perform the object of the heating device 31, individually or in combination. Preferably, one or more heating devices 17 are located substantially directly upstream of the cutting device 14 or decoupler 15, as the case may be, if present, and/or downstream of the cutting device 14. On the one hand, heating devices 17 of this type may help to shorten the cooling section, and, on the other hand, they simplify slab logistics.

[0055] Furthermore, an inspection system 18 for checking the slab quality, for example the surfaces of the slabs B, can be installed in spatial proximity, downstream of the casting machine 10.

[0056] Returning to FIG. 1, the device 1 further comprises a rolling mill 50, which is preferably a hot rolling mill. The rolling mill 50 has one or more rolling mill stands, preferably each of 4-high design with two working rolls forming the roll gap and two backup rolls, and can be operated in reversing mode or in tandem. The rolling mill 50 can be designed as a roughing mill and/or finishing mill. The transport path of the slabs B through the rolling mill 50 is along a transport line CLM, which can coincide with the transport line of the casting machine CLC (see FIGS. 3, 4a, 4b, 4c) or can differ therefrom (see FIGS. 4d and 4e).

[0057] In terms of process technology, between the casting machine 10 and the rolling mill 50 there is a combination of assemblies comprising, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, a surface device 20, a temperature-influencing device 30 and a combination transport and temperature-influencing device 40 (also abbreviated herein as “CTT”). The nature and spatial arrangement of the assemblies can vary, as shown in the following exemplary embodiments. The combination of the assemblies 20, 30, 40 is selected in such a manner that the device 1 enables the processing of different products, in particular both surface-sensitive products and temperature-sensitive products, along individual process steps, wherein the products are fed to the rolling process directly following the casting process, that is, in particular without intermediate storage of the products in a slab storage area.

[0058] In addition to the surface device 20, the temperature-influencing device 30 and the CTT 40, further assemblies may be arranged between the casting machine 10 and the rolling mill 50, for example further cutting devices, emergency roller tables, additional heating/cooling elements, thermal insulation hoods, general transport roller tables and the like. The arrangement of such assemblies/devices is preferably between the casting machine 10 and the CTT 40.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the surface device 20 and the temperature-influencing device 30 are arranged in parallel, thus forming alternative routes for the slabs B. Furthermore, a third route is provided, which acts as a bypass in that the slabs B bypass, that is, skip, both the surface device 20 and the temperature-influencing device 30 and can be introduced into the CTT 40 immediately following casting.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows an alternative exemplary embodiment with which the surface device 20, the temperature-influencing device 30 and the CTT 40 are arranged in one and the same transport line. Furthermore, by way of example, an additional heating device 60, preferably in the form of an inductive heating element, is provided directly downstream of the outlet of the casting machine 10. This results in an additional flexibility advantage for temperature control, especially for slow cast slabs B. Furthermore, the cutting device 14 specified above can be installed as an assembly of the casting machine 10 or separately in the process line. A further cutting device 70 can be installed for emergencies/breakdowns in order to further divide and discharge a casting strand S exiting the casting machine.

[0061] A control device 100 is provided, which is in communication with the various assemblies 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, actuators, sensors and the like, and is designed to control process control as a function of process parameters, such as the alloy and temperature of the cast product.

[0062] A method for producing hot-rolled metal strips directly following the casting process, that is, without intermediate storage of the slabs B in a slab storage area, can comprise the following steps: a) producing a slab B with a predetermined alloy and dimension by means of the casting machine 10; b) transferring the slab B to the CTT 40; c) hot-rolling the slab B in the rolling mill 50 to form a strip. Thereby, the forming in the rolling mill 50 takes place at least partly from the casting heat, that is, there is no complete cooling of the slab B after casting on the way to the rolling mill 50. The above wording “directly following the casting process” thus means that there is no logistical removal of slab B to a slab storage area and that the slab temperature in its core preferably does not fall below 600° C. The slab is largely “in motion” throughout. The production sequence is dictated by the production cycles of the casting machine.

[0063] Between steps a) and b), further processing steps may be initiated in accordance with a signal from the control device 100. In other words, following the casting process, a routing decision can be made to transport the slab(s) B through the surface device 20, the temperature-influencing device 30, or bypassing both immediately into the CTT 40. The route decision can be made manually or automatically, for product batches or on an individual slab basis, for example depending on at least one measured or calculated process parameter. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the route decision implies different transport routes at least in sections, while in the case of FIG. 3, the route decision relates solely to the selective processing of the slabs B or non-processing by the corresponding assemblies 20, 30, 40, etc. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of the assemblies 20, 30, 40 may be movable into or out of the process line as required.

[0064] The surface device 20 is a device for processing and/or treating and/or inspecting one or more surfaces of the slabs B.

[0065] For example, the surface device 20 can comprise material-removing surface finishing, which can be used, for example, to process products with special surface requirements. Such special requirements on product surfaces are made, for example, for use as an automotive outer skin, electrical steel strip or for optical applications. Alternatively or additionally, the surface device 20 can be designed to remedy any surface defects resulting from the casting process, such that they are removed before further process steps such as rolling take place. This means that, in such a case, it is a surface treatment that goes beyond mere scale removal.

[0066] Surface processing is performed on at least one surface of the slab B to be processed, wherein preferably both the top and bottom sides of the slab B as well as the longitudinal edges are processed. The material removal per surface is preferably in the range of 0 to 10 mm, particularly preferably 1 to 3 mm. The feed rate of the slab B can be in the range of 5 to 50 m/min. The surface processing preferably takes place at a slab surface temperature of greater than 600° C., particularly preferably greater than 900° C., such that no removal from storage and cooling of the slabs B in a slab storage area is required for the surface processing.

[0067] The surface device 20 is preferably a flame scarfing device, which is designed for the material-removing processing of the relevant surfaces of the slabs B. In accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment, the surface device 20 can comprise a grinding device or milling device for machining one or more slab surfaces. Alternatively or additionally, the surface device 20 can comprise an inspection device, which is designed to detect surface properties of the slabs by means of contact or on a non-contact basis. The surface information determined in this way may be used by the control device 100 for further process control.

[0068] In terms of process technology, the surface device 20 is implemented without intermediate storage. With regard to the layout of the device 1, this can mean that the surface device 20 is arranged in the transport line of the casting machine CLC. Where appropriate, the surface device 20 can be designed to be removable from the process line when not in use. Alternatively, the surface device 20 can be arranged outside but close to the process line, such that the slab B is discharged from the process line for processing and then returned. Preferably, in such case, the slabs B are returned at a slab surface temperature of greater than 600° C.

[0069] The temperature-influencing device 30 preferably comprises a combination heating and cooling device with a heating device 31 and a cooling device 32.

[0070] The temperature-influencing device 30 is used in particular for producing crack-sensitive products, for example micro-alloyed steels. If such alloys are run into the CTT 40 immediately after the casting process, that is, in a certain temperature range, undesirable precipitation of microalloys in the layers close to the edges can occur, which can lead to cracking or other quality defects in subsequent steps. Such critical temperature range refers to the surface temperature of slab B and is referred to as T.sub.kritisch with a lower threshold value T.sub.u and an upper threshold value T.sub.o. For a majority of crack-sensitive alloys, T.sub.u is approximately 600° C. and T.sub.o is approximately 850° C.

[0071] In such a case of crack-sensitive products, the temperature-influencing device 30 selectively heats or cools the slabs B passing through it so as to ensure that the slab surface temperature is outside the critical temperature range T.sub.kritisch. For this purpose, the control device 100 controls either the heating device 31 or the cooling device 32 accordingly, such that the surface temperature of the slab B does not fall within the specified temperature window. This is preferably effected as a function of a measured or otherwise determined slab surface temperature. If the control device 100, possibly in cooperation with a corresponding sensor, determines that the slab surface temperature at the inlet of the temperature-influencing device 30 is above T.sub.o or below T.sub.u, no temperature influencing by the temperature-influencing device 30 is necessary. If the slab surface temperature is within T.sub.kritisch, the slab B is either heated or cooled by the temperature-influencing device 30, depending on the direction in which the slab B can reasonably be brought out of the temperature window T.sub.kritisch. If both directions are possible, the heating of the slab B by the temperature-influencing device 30 is preferred.

[0072] The heating device 31 is preferably an inductive heating device, which enables the rapid and individual setting of the heating power with a compact design. Alternatively or additionally, a gas-powered or electric-powered continuous furnace can be applied.

[0073] The cooling device 32 is preferably designed to realize a rapid cooling of the slabs B by applying a cooling medium, preferably cooling water. The quantity of cooling water applied is preferably greater than 500 m.sup.3/h/m.sup.2, particularly preferably greater than 650 m.sup.3/h/m.sup.2, applied over a cooling section length of preferably 3 to 10 m, particularly preferably 4 to 6 m, such that a near-surface temperature reduction to a temperature below T.sub.u takes place at different slab speeds. “Near-surface” in this connection means a penetration depth of up to 15 mm from the slab surface. The exposure time of the cooling water is preferably less than 3 minutes. Alternatively or in addition to rapid cooling, laminar cooling or other cooling equipment can be installed.

[0074] One advantage of near-surface cooling is that the core temperature of slab B is not affected, or only slightly affected, whereas the surface temperature drops to a temperature at which cracking due to microprecipitation is avoided. The core temperature not being lowered or only slightly lowered facilitates subsequent reheating of slab B to the desired hot rolling temperature, whereby the required heating power and heating time can be minimized compared with heating a completely cooled slab B from a slab storage area. This results in significant energy savings.

[0075] The heating device 31 of the temperature-influencing device 30 is also advantageous for the production of Si steel, since the overall temperature can be maintained at a desired level and the temperature setting prior to hot rolling, which is to be set to ensure a final rolling temperature, is subject to less fluctuation. The aluminum nitrides precipitated on the surface during solidification of the slab B are brought back into solution and held there in order to precipitate them again in a targeted manner during hot rolling. The time required for dissolving the aluminum nitrides can thus be distributed between different aggregates, specifically the temperature-influencing device 30 and the CTT 40 described below, such that more flexible process control, a shorter system layout and shorter dwell times in the CTT 40 can be realized.

[0076] The combination transport and temperature-influencing device 40 is used to logistically feed the slabs B to the rolling mill 50 at the alloy-dependent temperature and temperature distribution required or desired in terms of process technology. The temperature influencing of the slabs B and the logistic transport take place simultaneously.

[0077] Depending on whether the slab B is conveyed directly from the casting machine 10 into the CTT 40 or whether intermediate process steps such as surface treatment and/or temperature influencing have taken place, an individual inlet temperature in the CTT 40 results. Thus, the heating power and/or dwell time of the slab B in the CTT 40 is preferably adaptable to maintain a temperature in the outlet of the CTT 40 that ensures the suitable rolling temperature in the inlet of the rolling mill 50.

[0078] The CTT 40 is controlled by the control device 100, which takes into account any process steps that may have been performed in advance.

[0079] The structure of the CTT 40 is preferably variable with regard to the type of temperature influencing and logistics. This is illustrated below on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

[0080] In a first, simple variant, the CTT 40 comprises a roller hearth furnace that performs both temperature equalization and transport of the slab B. The use of a roller hearth furnace can cause surface defects and/or running marks in the product due to accumulated scale on the furnace rollers, for which reason it can be advisable to consider alternative designs for the CTT 40, particularly with regard to crack-sensitive and/or surface-sensitive products.

[0081] FIG. 4a shows such an alternative variant, with which the CTT 40 comprises a roller table 41 as a transport element, preferably with a thermal insulation device, in combination with at least one, preferably a plurality of inductive heating elements 45. The heating elements 45 may be integrated throughout the roller table. The arrangement of a plurality of inductive heating elements 45 makes it particularly easy to set the temperature individually.

[0082] The simple mechanical design variant shown in FIG. 4a permits a compact structure that is particularly suitable for a system configuration with which the transport line of the casting machine CLC and the transport line of the rolling mill CLM are the same. If the transport lines CLC, CLM of the casting machine 10 and the rolling mill 50 are identical, individual slabs B or an endless material to be rolled may be conveyed into the rolling mill 50.

[0083] FIG. 4b shows a further variant, with which the CTT 40 comprises one or more walking beam furnaces 42 arranged one behind the other. Such a sequence of walking beam furnaces 42 allows a highly compact structure, preferably for system configurations with which the transport lines CLC, CLM of the casting machine 10 and the rolling mill 50 are the same. If the transport lines CLC, CLM are identical, individual slabs B or an endless material to be rolled may be conveyed into the rolling mill 50.

[0084] FIG. 4c shows a further variant, with which, starting from the design of FIG. 4a, one or more slab discharge device(s) and/or slab feed device(s) are installed transverse to the transport line CLC, CLM. This increases system flexibility in that not only can slabs B be fed to the rolling mill 50 directly following the casting process, but slabs B may also be discharged to another station, for example a slab storage area, or fed from another station, for example a slab storage area, into the transport line CLC, CLM. Furthermore, an emergency discharge can be carried out in this manner, for example in the event of a breakdown of the casting machine 10 or the rolling mill 50. The slab transport transverse to the conveying direction can be carried out, for example, via a slab ferry 43 and/or a corresponding roller table element 44. Such a possibility of feed and/or discharge of slabs B transverse to the transport line CLC, CLM is not only possible starting from the basic structure of FIG. 4a, but is generally implementable for any design of the CTT 40, for example starting from the design of FIG. 4b.

[0085] In accordance with a further variant of the CTT 40, the transport lines CLC, CLM of the casting machine 10 and the rolling machine 50 are not identical, but are spaced apart and parallel, as shown in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 4d and 4e. This enables a particularly compact design.

[0086] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4d, the slabs B are transported in the respective transport lines CLC, CLM via a plurality of roller tables 41, if necessary with a thermal insulation device. The transport transverse to the transport lines CLC and CLM can be carried out via one or more walking beam furnaces 46. The walking beam furnaces 46 may be electric and/or gas-fired. Through a walking beam furnace 46, a transport and temperature influencing can simultaneously take place. When multiple walking beam furnaces 46 are used, the furnaces may vary in the operating ranges of their temperature levels and/or cycle times. This allows the dwell time of the slabs B in the walking beam furnaces 46 to be controlled individually.

[0087] In accordance with the variant shown in FIG. 4e, the transport and heating of the slabs B in the transport lines CLC and/or CLM is carried out via roller tables 41 with integrated heating elements 45, which are preferably inductive heating elements. The transport of the slabs B transverse to the transport lines CLC, CLM is carried out with the aid of one or more slab ferries 43.

[0088] The possible combinations of transport elements and heating elements in the CTT can be further combined as desired.

[0089] Based on the designs of FIGS. 4d and 4e, it is possible to install one or more slab discharge device(s) and/or slab feed device(s) along the transport lines CLC, CLM. This extends the system flexibility in that not only slabs B can be fed to the hot rolling mill 50 directly following the casting process, but also slabs B can be discharged to another station, for example a slab storage area, or entered from another station, for example a slab storage area, into the corresponding transport line CLC, CLM. Furthermore, an emergency discharge can be carried out in this manner, for example in the event of a breakdown of the casting machine 10 or the rolling mill 50. The slab transport transverse to the conveying direction can be carried out, for example, via a slab ferry 43 and/or a corresponding roller table element 44.

[0090] An exemplary configuration of the control device 100 is further described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0091] The control device 100 is connected in terms of signal technology to the components of the device 1 to be controlled and/or read out, thus in particular to the casting machine 10, the surface device 20, the temperature-influencing device 30, the CTT 40 and the rolling mill 50. Communication between the control device 100 and the system components to be controlled and/or read out can be wired or wireless, digital or analog. The control device 100 can receive and/or transmit corresponding signals (control signals, data, etc.) accordingly, wherein signal transport in one direction as well as in both directions falls under the term “communication” in this connection. Thereby, the control device 100 does not necessarily have to be realized by a central computing device or electronic control system; rather, decentralized and/or multi-level systems, control networks, cloud systems and the like are included. The controller can also be an integral component of a higher-level system control system, or can communicate with one.

[0092] The control device 100 preferably comprises one or more process models or at least an interface to one or more process models. For communication with the devices to be controlled or read out, as the case may be, it is irrelevant whether the required calculations are performed in a process model connected to the control device 100 and the calculations are communicated to the control device 100 or whether the control device 100 comprises the process model itself.

[0093] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, the control device 100 communicates with a process model of the casting machine PMC and a process model of the rolling mill PMM. The process models PMC, PMM may comprise overlapping sub-models, which preferably cover the region relevant for the control device 100 between the casting machine 10 and the rolling mill 50. Alternatively, only one of the specified regions can cover the relevant region or an independent sub-model can be implemented.

[0094] The control device 100 can communicate with system controls of lower levels, that is, controls associated with the corresponding facilities.

[0095] The control device 100 is designed to map the process control and process parameters from the casting machine 10 to the rolling mill 50. Thereby, relevant data, such as the slab temperature or final rolling temperature, from the process model of the casting machine PMC and the process model of the rolling mill PMM are communicated to the control device 100.

[0096] Data exchange with a production planning system or a process control planning system can facilitate the work of the control device 100 and automate the process control, the necessary calculations and the transmission of the control signals.

[0097] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, the control device 100 obtains a data set of a product to be produced from a process control planning system, for example a so-called “level 3 system,” and thus receives information about the planned production steps and the final specifications of the finished product. Data is now present in the control device 100, which defines the production steps and affects the corresponding settings of the devices 10, 20, 30, 40, 50.

[0098] The settings of the casting machine 10 and the rolling mill 50 may be based on extensive technological/physical model calculations, such that information is available at the output of the casting machine 10, for example, about the slab alloy, slab geometry, slab temperature, slab speed and/or slab surface. The information may be obtained by calculation and/or measurement (for example, temperature measurement, surface inspection, etc.). The corresponding values/information are provided in the control device 100.

[0099] Taking into account the information provided by the casting machine 10, the control device 100 now determines the parameters required for further process control, in particular the slab speed downstream of the casting machine 10, and sets them on the relevant components.

[0100] The control device 100 determines whether to subject the slab B to processing and/or inspection in the surface device 20 and initiates such process, if necessary.

[0101] The control device 100 uses the transmitted slab temperature to calculate whether temperature influencing in the temperature-influencing device 30 is necessary for the alloy at hand. If such temperature influencing is required, the control device 100 calculates the setting of a corresponding cooling power or heating power of the temperature-influencing device 30 from the required heat flow.

[0102] The control device 100 calculates the slab temperature to be maintained at the end of the CTT 40 and related parameters such as slab speed, minimum dwell time in the CTT 40, possibly the heating power to be set based on the geometric dimensions, in particular thickness and length of the slab B, and the like.

[0103] If necessary, it may be necessary to feed further data from intermediate steps into the control device 100 as the basis for calculation, as illustrated by arrows in FIG. 5.

[0104] The device 1 for producing metal strips, in particular hot-rolled metal strips, illustrated herein can be used with a high degree of flexibility in terms of the product range and at the same time requires a minimum input of energy. Depending on the system layout, highly compact arrangements and/or production modes may be realized.

[0105] To the extent applicable, any of the individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments may be combined and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0106] 1 Device for producing metal strips [0107] 10 Casting machine [0108] 11 Ingot mold [0109] 12 Strand guide [0110] 13 Rolls [0111] 14 Cutting device [0112] 16 Descaling device [0113] 17 Heating device [0114] 18 Inspection system [0115] 20 Surface device [0116] 30 Temperature-influencing device [0117] 31 Heating device [0118] 32 Cooling device [0119] 40 Combination transport and temperature-influencing device [0120] 41 Roller table [0121] 42 Walking beam furnace [0122] 43 Slab ferry [0123] 44 Roller table segment [0124] 45 Heating element [0125] 46 Walking beam furnace [0126] 50 Rolling mill [0127] 60 Additional heating device [0128] 70 Further cutting device [0129] 100 Control device [0130] S Casting strand [0131] B Slab [0132] PMC Process model of the casting machine [0133] PMM Process model of the rolling mill [0134] CLC Transport line of the casting machine [0135] CLM Transport line of the rolling mill