Equipment and method for producing flat rolled products

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation 1 and a method for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, which installation: i) comprises at least one continuous casting device 3 by means of which a flat strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm can be continuously cast; ii) comprises a separating device 4 arranged downstream of the at least one continuous casting device 3 by means of which the flat strand material can be separated into individual thick slabs; iii) comprises a hot rolling mill 5 by means of which the thick slabs can be rolled into the flat rolled products, which hot rolling mill 5 comprises a roughing line 8 and a finishing line 9 each having at least one rolling stand and which are arranged in a common transport line T1 with the at least one continuous casting device 3; iv) comprises a hot rolling mill 5 by means of which the thick slabs can be rolled into the flat rolled products, which hot rolling mill 5 comprises a roughing line 8 and a finishing line 9 each having at least one rolling stand and which are arranged in a common transport line T1 with the at least one continuous casting device 3; at least one thick slab insertion device 15 arranged transversely to the transport line T1 and positioned between the separating device 4 and the hot rolling mill 5; and v) at least one electric heater 7 for direct heat insertion arranged upstream of the hot rolling mill 5 in the transport direction, in particular upstream of the rough rolling line 8 in the transport direction, via which at least the thick slabs coming from the continuous casting device 3 arranged in the common transport line can be heated all over to the rolling temperature.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation and a method for producing flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel slabs and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, and in a further aspect to the use of at least one electric heater, in particular one electric heater, for direct heat injection, arranged upstream of a hot rolling mill in the transport direction for heating thick slabs having a thickness of at least 160 mm to the hot rolling temperature. [Background technology]

[0002] The prior art discloses conventional installations and methods in which thick slabs are heated firstly by using gas-operated heating devices, either directly using the heat of casting or only after intermediate storage in a slab store, and then fed to a hot rolling mill. Heating thick slabs in gas-fired heating devices requires, on the one hand, high fuel quantities, especially when the thick slabs come from a slab store and need to be heated from a temperature similar to room temperature to at least 1000°C, and, on the other hand, long heating times. The use of fossil fuels, especially natural gas, additionally induces high CO2 emissions.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus in which a thick slab is fed to a hot rolling mill directly using the heat of casting. The edges of the thick slab are heated to the appropriate hot rolling temperature by a series of inductive edge heaters arranged one after the other. While the targeted heating of the edges does indeed prevent the slab from cooling in the middle, this type of heater does not allow the targeted heating of the entire thick slab. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 6562223B Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In view of the above background, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide an improved installation compared to the prior art for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel slabs and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, as well as an improved method compared to the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by an installation having the features of claim 1 as well as by a method having the features of claim 12. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The installation for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel slabs and / or non-ferrous metal slabs is a continuous casting device, by means of which a strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm can be continuously cast; a separating device disposed subsequent to the continuous casting device, by means of which the flat strand material can be separated into individual thick slabs; a hot rolling mill through which the thick slab can be rolled into the flat rolled product; the hot rolling mill comprises a roughing line and a finishing line, each having at least one rolling stand, and is arranged in a common (first) transport line with at least one of the continuous casting apparatuses; at least one thick slab insertion device disposed transversely to the transfer line and positioned between the separation device and the hot rolling mill; and at least one electric heater for direct heat injection, arranged upstream of the hot rolling mill in the transport direction, in particular upstream of the roughing line in the transport direction, Through the heater, at least the thick slabs coming from the continuous casting machines arranged in a common transport line are completely Hot It can be heated to the rolling temperature.

[0008] With the equipment according to the invention, thick slabs can be heated to a predetermined rolling temperature as required. Electric heaters for direct heat injection, arranged in the transport direction before the hot rolling mill, in particular before the roughing line in the transport direction, thereby allow individual temperature control in relation to the cast steel quality.

[0009] Under the term "thick slab" are understood, within the meaning of the present invention, slabs having a minimum thickness of at least 160 mm, advantageously at least 180 mm, and even more advantageously at least 200 mm. Since the maximum thickness of the thick slab is technically limited based on currently available continuous casting equipment, the maximum thickness of the thick slab is preferably 300 mm, more preferably 250 mm. Thick slabs of this type typically have widths in the range of 800 to 2500 mm, preferably in the range of 1000 to 2300 mm.

[0010] The production of thick slabs compared to thin slabs has several advantageous effects: On the one hand, the yield can be increased solely in terms of throughput, and therefore a higher degree of utilization of the hot rolling mill can be achieved. Similarly, thick slabs have a significant advantage over thin slabs in terms of quality: thick slabs have a smaller surface area per ton of material cast compared to thin slabs. The unevenness of the transported slabs in the transport line can be reduced. The smaller surface area of ​​material cast per ton reduces the formation of scale and results in fewer casting residues and surface defects, which can reduce material loss due to the removal of these casting residues and surface defects.

[0011] In the present application, under the term "electric heater", also referred to as electric heater for direct heat insertion, electric thick slab preheating heater, electric thick slab postheating heater, electric rough strip heater or electric supplemental thick slab heater, generally understood is an electrically operable device, through which the thick slab can be heated by means of an electric current. The electric heater can advantageously comprise an inductive heater, a conductive heater, an electric heater with indirect resistive heating, etc. It is particularly advantageous for the electric heater to be an inductive heater or a conductive heater. Inductive heaters, due to the thickness range of the thick slabs, can advantageously operate on the longitudinal magnetic field principle and allow rapid heating due to high energy density. In conductive heaters, each thick slab forms part of the current circuit and is therefore heated directly via the current passing through the thick slab, which allows very high efficiency (close to 1) and particularly rapid heating.

[0012] Inductive and / or conductive electric heaters additionally have the advantage that they can consist of a series connection of individual mechanism units for the near-surface region as well as for the core of the thick slab.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, an electric tunnel furnace can also be provided, which is likewise operated via a resistance heater.

[0014] With the equipment according to the invention, the temperature profile within each thick slab can be adjusted so that this temperature profile is specifically adapted to the subsequent rough rolling process, and in particular to the cooling that occurs during rough rolling. Insofar as cold spots (so-called "skid marks") that occur on the surface of thick slabs, for example when using walking beam furnaces, are detected, these cold spots can be specifically eliminated by short heating, which can improve the quality of the flat rolled product that is then produced. Short heating can also reduce scale formation, which can improve yield and surface quality. Furthermore, the installation according to the invention allows the individual heating of each thick slab to the temperature level required by the industry, respectively, without these thick slabs being overheated or undercooled.

[0015] Under the concept "all over" it is understood, within the meaning of the present invention, that the thick slab is heated to a pre-given rated temperature over the entire surface and in a specific thickness of the thick slab during its passage through the electric heater.

[0016] The rated temperature of the thick slab is sufficiently uniform and / or identical in its three-dimensional extension, with the permissible temperature difference being ≦±80°C, preferably ≦±50°C, particularly preferably ≦±20°C of the target / rated temperature.

[0017] The rated temperature facilitates further processing of the thick slabs: a non-uniformly heated thick slab may induce variable forming conditions in further processing, e.g., during rolling, and thus may not provide any uniform forming across the length and / or width of the thick slab, and thus increase the proportion of scrap in the required preparation cuts. Non-uniform temperatures can also induce non-uniform texture variations and geometric errors, such as flatness errors. By early adjustment of the overall heated temperature level, these problems and errors can be avoided or at least limited in their occurrence. The time-consuming devices and processes for compensating for these errors can be simplified or omitted entirely. Interference between the desired effect and the resulting response from non-uniform temperature levels is likewise minimized.

[0018] Advantageously, the electric heater for the direct heat injection is configured in such a way that the thick slab can be heated all over via the electric heater, in other words, such a heater allows not only specific heating of the edges but also heating of the middle part of the thick slab located between these edges. A further advantage of such an electric heater for direct heat injection, arranged in the transport direction before the hot rolling mill, in particular before the roughing line in the transport direction, is that this allows maximum utilization of the casting heat, which allows energy savings of more than 70% compared to conventional removal from the slab store.

[0019] Further advantageous configurations of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. The features individually recited in the dependent claims can be combined with one another in an industrially advantageous manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features recited in these claims are specifically and explicitly defined and explained in the description, whereby further advantageous embodiments of the invention are realized.

[0020] It should be pointed out that the installation according to the invention is adapted and intended solely for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel slabs and / or non-ferrous metal slabs. In such installations, the thick slabs then produced can be stored intermediately without any problems or easily transported from a second transport line, unlike installations intended for the production of thin slabs, due to their typical dimensions. Thick slabs usually have a length of less than 12 m, and in some cases even less than 10 m, while thin slabs usually have a length of at least 25 m and must be transported and stored accordingly with more effort. Furthermore, the flat rolled products of this type of equipment differ from equipment intended for the production of thin slabs, so that specific steel qualities, such as peritectic steel qualities or steel qualities with very high requirements for surface quality, cannot be produced in the required quality on conventional thin slab equipment.

[0021] In particular, it is possible for the length of each thick slab for hot insertion to correspond not only to the individual coil length but also to a multiple of this coil length, since transport transverse to the transport line and further handling steps are eliminated.

[0022] Advantageously, the continuous casting apparatus is configured such that strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm can be continuously cast using the continuous casting apparatus, which can be configured, for example, as a single-wire or multi-wire continuous casting apparatus.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment variant, the installation can comprise at least one electric rough strip heater arranged upstream of the finish rolling line in the transport direction, which rough strip heater is particularly preferably configured in such a way that the flat rolled raw product can be heated over the entire surface via this rough strip heater. Via this rough strip heater, the rolled flat rolled raw products leaving the rough rolling line at a temperature of, for example, less than 1000°C can be heated particularly energy-efficiently to a specific predetermined temperature for the finish rolling process, so that the properties desired for each flat rolled product can be adjusted. Thus, for example, the temperature difference between the head and the end of the rolled flat rolled product can be effectively compensated, which allows for higher rolling stability and therefore a higher yield. The resulting more uniform temperature distribution also allows for a smaller final strip thickness and more uniform mechanical properties of the produced flat rolled product.

[0024] Insofar as absolute temperatures are given in this application, these are therefore solely the average temperatures of the respective substrates.

[0025] At least one of the thick slab insertion devices is advantageously configured as a transport and heating device, via which transported and / or intermediately stored thick slabs can, if necessary, be heated entirely to the hot rolling temperature. The transport and heating device is configured such that the temperature can be increased and / or maintained simultaneously with the transport or sequentially. Advantageously, the thick slab insertion device is configured in the form of a walking beam furnace, which comprises at least one segment, which comprises an electrically operated heating element and / or a gas-operated combustor.

[0026] The installation constructed in this manner is therefore provided with a first transport line, through which the thick slabs can be temporarily heated to the hot rolling temperature using an electric heater for direct heat input directly under the utilization of the casting heat, and subsequently fed to the hot rolling mill. A second transport line can be provided parallel to the first transport line, via which thick slabs, which have been stored intermediately and / or cooled to 400 to 800°C, usually in a slab storage area and / or a heat retention pit, are heated to the hot rolling temperature via a thick slab feeder and then fed directly to the rolling process. Alternatively or additionally, thick slabs cast in a second continuous casting device can be fed to the rolling process via a thick slab feeder.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment variant, at least one, preferably two or more, thick slab insertion devices are arranged between the electric heater for direct heat insertion and the roughing line. In a further advantageous embodiment variant, the installation can additionally comprise at least one, preferably two or even multiple thick slab insertion devices between the separation device and the electric heater for direct heat insertion.

[0028] In addition to at least one thick slab insertion device, it is possible to connect at least one electric thick slab preheater, preferably on the inlet side, in front of the thick slab preheater, which is particularly preferably configured in such a way that the thick slab can be heated all over via the thick slab preheater. This electric thick slab preheater is particularly worthy of consideration when the flat rolled product to be produced requires a higher temperature for a short period of time, for example to adjust mechanical properties such as strength, and when the subsequently passing thick slab insertion device can be operated at a lower temperature level than required for the flat rolled product to be produced.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment variant, at least one electric thick slab post-heating heater is connected downstream of at least one of the thick slab insertion devices on the exit side, and the electric additional thick slab heater is particularly advantageously configured in such a way that the thick slab can be heated all over via the electric additional thick slab heater. Particularly advantageously, in this connection it is provided that at least one electric thick slab post-heating heater is arranged between at least one thick slab insertion device and the rough rolling line. On the one hand, for the sake of optimal energy production and, on the other hand, for the best possible adaptation to the logistical and technological requirements of the rolling plant, an electric thick slab postheater on the exit side further increases the plant's flexibility.

[0030] Additionally, the installation can include at least one electrical supplemental thick slab heater, which is advantageously pre-connected to at least one electrical thick slab post-heating heater.

[0031] On the one hand, in order to reduce production losses due to transition widths when changing the casting width, and on the other hand, in order to balance the wear of the work rolls in the finishing rolling stands and to ensure optimal results in terms of strip profile and / or strip flatness over the largest possible stroke of the installation, the rolling mill should allow for specific rolling program profiles, since when using the same slab width, the availability in the hot rolling mill is reduced due to the increased number of required work roll changes. Advantageously, the roughing line therefore comprises, in the transport direction, besides the first and / or second roughing stand, at least one upsetting device, which advantageously comprises at least one slab upsetting press and possibly at least one, preferably several upsetting machines. In some cases, the use of an upsetting device, such as a slab upsetting press in combination with at least one upsetting machine, can ensure the required optimum rolling program related to width and profile, since larger and / or constant slab widths can be cast. Advantageously, the upsetting device is configured in such a way that a reduction in the slab width of up to 450 mm, preferably up to 350 mm, is possible. Additionally, the use of additional upsetting machines allows a further reduction in the slab width of up to 100 mm.

[0032] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment variant, the installation can be provided with a control device with an associated computing unit, which control device is designed for controlling and / or regulating the installation on the basis of minimized energy consumption and / or maximized throughput and / or on the basis of product properties and / or product dimensions.

[0033] For the adjustment of the equipment on the basis of minimized energy consumption, for example, the required temperature levels, possible heating steps, possible heaters, possible temperature losses, and / or possible temperature insertions inside the equipment are optimized so that the equipment is adjusted with minimized energy consumption. The calculation unit can then advantageously use physical process models, which map the thermal behavior and calculate suggestions for adjusting the equipment.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, the control device can control the equipment so that maximum throughput is achieved. To this end, groups of batches in particular thickness, width and / or length dimensions can be formed by optimizing the casting sequence, the insertion sequence, the transport device and / or by operating the rolling equipment at its design limits, and the throughput can be increased using these groups of batches. In particular, maintenance cycles such as roll change times, mold change times and / or mold rebuild times can be taken into account simultaneously. The grouping of batches and / or sequences according to product dimensions has the advantage that material losses due to transition pieces at width or thickness changes can be eliminated as much as possible. Control of the plant, subject to product characteristics, can likewise be performed by the calculation unit. For example, if an extremely high surface quality is required, the calculation unit can adjust a correspondingly slower casting speed, more intensive descaling, corresponding temperature guidance, etc. Likewise, more optimal magnetic, mechanical and / or geometrical characteristics can be optimized.

[0035] In order to effectively reduce the energy and / or temperature losses of the thick slabs and / or flat rolled raw products in the rough rolling line during the transportation process, the installation can additionally be equipped with specifically arranged insulation hoods, which can be configured as active or passive insulation hoods. Active insulation hoods are preferably operated electrically or with a combustor using "greenly" produced hydrogen as fuel.

[0036] Therefore, in an advantageous embodiment variant, the installation can be equipped with a plurality of insulating hoods between the separating device and the electric heater for direct heat injection, and possibly between the electric heater for direct heat injection and the hot rolling mill, in particular the roughing line.

[0037] In a further advantageous embodiment variant, the installation can additionally comprise a plurality of insulating hoods inside the roughing lines, which can be arranged, for example, in the transport direction before and / or after one swaging device and possibly before and / or after one roughing line and / or before and / or after each roughing line.

[0038] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: Advantageously, with the equipment according to the invention: A method for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, The method comprises the steps of: i) Continuous casting of flat strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm; This flat strand material is subsequently separated into the individual thick slabs; iia) when the thick slabs come from continuous casting machines arranged in a common transport line, heating the thick slab to a temperature of at least 1000°C using an electric heater for direct heat insertion; and iib) when the thick slab is transported laterally from the second transport line into the first transport line; heating the thick slab to a temperature of at least 1000°C using at least one additional heater and / or thick slab insertion device; iii) hot rolling the heated thick slab to the hot rolling temperature into the flat rolled product by first rough rolling the thick slab and subsequently finish rolling the thick slab; The method includes the steps of:

[0039] Advantageously, said thick slab having a temperature of at least 500° C. is fed to a first electric heater for direct heat input.

[0040] It is further provided that the rough rolled flat rolled product is advantageously heated using an electric rough strip heater to a temperature of at least 950°C before the rough rolled flat rolled product is finish rolled into a flat rolled product.

[0041] In yet another aspect, the present invention further relates to the use of at least one electric heater, in particular an inductive heater, for direct heat injection, arranged upstream of a hot rolling mill in the transport direction for heating thick slabs having a thickness of at least 160 mm to the hot rolling temperature.

[0042] The present invention and its technical scope will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be pointed out that the present invention should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments. In particular, unless explicitly shown otherwise, it is equally possible to extract partial aspects of the matters illustrated in the drawings and combine them with other elements and concepts from the description and / or drawings of this application. It should be pointed out in particular that the figures, and in particular the illustrated size ratios, are only approximate: the same reference signs refer to the same objects, and therefore, in some cases, the description can be supplemented by reference to other figures. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a modification of the first embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a variation of the second embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a modification of the third embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a modification of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a modification of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram of an embodiment variant of the roughing rolling line; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] 1 shows a variant of the first embodiment of an installation 1 for the production of rolled products consisting of thickly cast steel and / or non-ferrous metal slabs. The installation 1 comprises a continuous casting device 3 arranged in a transport line T, which is configured here for continuously casting strand material having a thickness in the range of 200 to 250 mm. The resulting strand material (not shown) is then immediately separated into individual thick slabs using a separating device 4, such as a swing shear or a strand material combustor, and is fed directly, under the use of the casting heat, to a hot rolling mill 5, in which the thick slabs are then firstly rough rolled and subsequently finish rolled.

[0045] For this purpose, the installation 1 has, in the first transport line T, a roller table 6 which extends through the installation 1 . The roller table 6 can be covered in sections by several active or passive insulating hoods 22, of which only two are shown by way of example in the variant of the embodiment under consideration, so that the energy and temperature losses of the thick slabs on their way to the hot rolling mill 5 can be kept as low as possible.

[0046] Despite the thermal shielding, the thick slabs on their way to the hot rolling mill 5 typically cool to an average temperature of 800 to 900°C. According to the invention, it is therefore intended that the thick slabs are heated all over, in the transport direction, before the hot rolling mill 5 to the hot rolling temperature of 1100 to 1300° C. by means of an electric heater 7 for direct heat insertion. In the variant of the embodiment in question, this heater 7 is configured as a longitudinal magnetic field inductor and thus allows for short-term heating of the cooled thick slabs to the specific hot rolling temperature.

[0047] Furthermore, a variant of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a control device S, which comprises a calculation unit B. This calculation unit is able to calculate operating adjustments with minimized energy consumption. The control device S is then connected in signal technology to the plant 1 and adjusts the plant 1 for the production of thick slabs as required for this purpose. In a comparable manner, additionally and / or alternatively, the optimization of the operating adjustments can be carried out according to the maximum throughput and / or product characteristics and / or product dimensions.

[0048] In Figure 2, yet another embodiment variant of the installation 1 according to the invention is shown. In difference to the embodiment variant shown in Figure 1, the installation 1 additionally comprises an electric rough strip heater 10 between the roughing line 8 and the finishing line 9 of the hot rolling mill 5. The electric rough strip heater 10 is likewise configured as a longitudinal magnetic field inductor or inductor combination, so that the rough-rolled flat product can be heated all over via the rough strip heater 10. By means of the rough strip heater 10, the rough-rolled flat product, which leaves the rough rolling line 8 with a temperature of less than 1100°C, is heated particularly energy-efficiently to a predetermined temperature of 950 to 1100°C, which is characteristic for the finish rolling process.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment variant of the installation 1 according to the invention. Complementary to the embodiment variant shown in FIG. 2, the installation 1 comprises a second transport line T2, which comprises a second roller table 6.2 arranged parallel to the first transport line T1, a second continuous casting device 11, which is also designed for the purpose of continuously casting strand material having a thickness in the range of 200 to 250 mm, and a second separating device 12. The second separating device 12 can also be configured in the form of a swing shear or a strand material combustor. As can be seen from the differences, the second roller table 6.2 can also be covered in sections by a number of active or passive insulating hoods 22.

[0050] The thick slabs produced in this line are on the one hand stored and cooled in a slab store 13 arranged immediately after the second separator 12. Furthermore, it is possible for the individual thick slabs to be stored in a heat retention pit 14 with less temperature loss.

[0051] As can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 3, the plant 1 in this embodiment variant additionally comprises a thick slab insertion device 15, which is configured as a gas-operated transport and heating device, and is arranged between the electric heater 7 for direct heat insertion and the roughing line 8 and transversely to the transport direction.

[0052] In addition to the thick slab insertion device 15, the installation 1 is equipped with two electric thick slab preheaters 16.1, 16.2, which are connected upstream to the thick slab insertion device 15 on the entry side. Both of these preheaters 16.1, 16.2 are likewise configured as longitudinal field inductors or inductor combinations, so that the rough-rolled flat product can be heated all over via these preheaters.

[0053] In both Figures 4 and 5, two alternative embodiment variants of the installation 1 according to the invention are shown. In the embodiment variant illustrated in Figure 4, the installation 1 comprises a series of two electric heaters 7, 17, which are arranged in the transport direction between the slab store 13 and the roughing line 8. In contrast to this, in the variant of the embodiment according to Figure 5, a series of three electric heaters 7, 17, 18 is arranged between the slab store 13 and the roughing line 8. Furthermore, the variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 5 comprises electric heaters 16.1, 16.2 arranged in the second transport line T2. This large number of heaters 7, 16.1, 16.2, 17, 18 allows for a particularly individual and power-related design and operation of these heaters without power loss or an over-sized design.

[0054] All heaters 7, 10, 16.1, 16.2, 17, 18 in these embodiments are shown only diagrammatically and typically comprise a plurality of individual inductors which can be passed through in succession. Individual connection and disconnection, as well as individual power adjustment, allows for very precise adjustment of the desired, e.g., required, temperature rise. Alongside inductors configured exclusively as longitudinal field inductors, there are also combined trains of longitudinal and transverse field inductors which can be passed through in succession.

[0055] In a variant of the embodiment according to Fig. 1, additional thick slabs can be introduced into the first transport line T1 by means of a thick slab introduction device 15, at a location located upstream or downstream of the electric heater 7 for direct heat introduction. A fully or partially cooled thick slab is then introduced from the slab store 13 into the thick slab introduction device 15 and simultaneously heated to the hot rolling temperature and transported.

[0056] 2, a further thick slab can likewise be introduced into the first transport line T1 by means of a thick slab introduction device 15, at a location located upstream of the electric heater 7 for direct heat introduction. A fully or partially cooled thick slab is then introduced into the thick slab introduction device 15 from the slab store 13 or, alternatively, from the heat retention pit 14, and simultaneously heated to the hot rolling temperature and transported.

[0057] The arrangement and number of the thick slab insertion devices 15 can be variably configured accordingly. In known constructions, the thick slab insertion devices 15 can be electrically and / or gas-operated continuous furnaces and / or walking beam furnaces. Alternatively, a heater associated with the thick slab insertion devices 15 can preheat the thick slabs to a slightly elevated temperature, and the transport then takes place without active heat input, preferably via an insulated transport path or walking beam.

[0058] Before this thick slab is then fed to the rolling process via the first roller table 6.1, the thick slab, which has been stored and cooled in the slab storage section 13 or which has been stored at 200 to 800°C in the heat retention pit 14 and only slightly cooled, can be heated to the hot rolling temperature via the thick slab feeder 15.

[0059] 6 shows an additional embodiment variant of the roughing line 8, which in the transport direction comprises a swaging device 19 and at least one first and preferably second roughing stands 20, 21, each having one horizontal and preferably one vertical roll stand. Likewise, a series of insulating hoods 22 are provided in order to minimize energy and / or temperature losses of the thick slabs or rough-rolled flat products in the roughing line 8. The present application relates to the invention described in the claims, but may also include the following as other aspects. 1. Installations (1) for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel slabs and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, which installations: i) comprising at least one continuous casting device (3) by means of which flat strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm can be continuously cast; ii) comprising a separating device (4) arranged subsequent to at least one of the continuous casting devices (3), by means of which the flat strand material can be separated into individual thick slabs; iii) a hot rolling mill (5) through which the thick slabs can be rolled into the flat rolled products; The hot rolling mill (5) comprises a roughing line (8) and a finishing line (9), each having at least one rolling stand, and is arranged in a common transport line (T1) with at least one continuous casting apparatus (3); iv) at least one thick slab insertion device (15) arranged transversely to the transport line (T1) and positioned between the separating device (4) and the hot rolling mill (5); and v) at least one electric heater (7) for direct heat injection, arranged in the transport direction before the hot rolling mill (5), in particular in the transport direction before the roughing line (8), Via the heater, at least the thick slabs coming from the continuous casting apparatus (3) arranged in a common transport line can be heated to the rolling temperature all over. A facility (1) characterized by: 2. The installation (1) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electric rough strip heater (10) arranged upstream of the finishing rolling line (9) in the transport direction. 3. The installation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the thick slab insertion devices (15) is configured as a transport and heating device, via which transported and / or intermediately stored thick slabs can be heated to the hot rolling temperature. 4. The installation (1) described in item 3 above, characterized in that at least one thick slab insertion device (15) is arranged between the electric heater (7) for direct heat insertion and the roughing line (8). 5. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one thick slab feeder (15), advantageously configured as a transport and heating device, is connected upstream on the feed side with at least one electric thick slab preheater (16.1, 16.2). 6. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one thick slab inserting device (15), advantageously configured as a transport and heating device, is downstream of at least one electrical supplementary thick slab heater (17) on the exit side. 7. The installation (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one electrical supplementary thick slab heater (17) is arranged between at least one thick slab insertion device (15) and the roughing line (8). 8. Installation (1) according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising at least one additional electric thick slab heater (18), which is advantageously connected upstream to the electric thick slab heater (17). 9. The system further comprises a control device (S) having an associated calculation unit (B), the control device (S) being The plant (1) is adapted to control and / or regulate the plant (1) based on minimized energy consumption and / or maximized throughput and / or based on product characteristics and / or product dimensions, 9. The equipment (1) according to any one of 1 to 8 above. 10. Installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the roughing line (8) comprises, in the transport direction, at least one upsetting device (19) and at least one first and preferably second roughing stand (20, 21). 11. Installation (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the upsetting device (19) comprises at least one slab upsetting press and possibly at least one, advantageously several upsetting machines. 12. Advantageously, using the installation (1) according to any one of the above items 1 to 11, 1. A method for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, the method comprising the method steps: i) Continuous casting of flat strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm; This flat strand material is subsequently separated into the individual thick slabs; iia) when the thick slabs come from continuous casting machines (3) arranged in a common transport line (T1), Heating the thick slab to a temperature of at least 1000°C using an electric heater (7) for direct heat insertion; and iib) when the thick slab is transported laterally from the second transport line (T2) into the first said transport line (T1), heating the thick slab to a temperature of at least 1000°C using at least one additional heater (16.1, 16.2) and / or a thick slab insertion device (15); iii) hot rolling the heated thick slab to the hot rolling temperature into the flat rolled product by first rough rolling the thick slab and subsequently finish rolling the thick slab; A method comprising the steps of the method of claim 1. 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the thick slab having a temperature of at least 500°C is fed to an electric heater for direct heat input. 14. The rough rolled flat rolled product is subjected to a finishing process before the rough rolled flat rolled product is finish rolled into a flat rolled product. 14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the heating is carried out using an electric rough strip heater (10) to a temperature of at least 950°C. 15. Steps ii) and / or iii) are performed by using a control device (S): 15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the method is controlled so as to achieve the minimum energy consumption and / or maximum throughput and / or product characteristics and / or product dimensions calculated by the calculation unit (B). 16. For heating thick slabs having a thickness of at least 160 mm to the hot rolling temperature; Use of at least one electric heater (7) for direct heat injection, arranged before the hot rolling mill (5) in the transport direction (T1). [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 equipment 3 (First) continuous casting equipment 4 (First) Separation Device 5. Hot rolling mill 6.1 First Roller Table 6.2 Second Roller Table 7. Heater for direct heat insertion 8 Roughing Line 9 Finishing Rolling Line 10 Coarse Strip Heater 11 (Second) continuous casting device 12 Second Separation Device 13 Slab Storage 14 Heat retention pit 15 Thick slab insertion device 16.1 Preheater 16.2 Preheater 17 Supplemental (post-heat) heater 18 Supplemental (post-heat) heater 19 Upsetting device 20 (First) Roughing Stand 21 (Second) Roughing Stand 22 Insulated Hood T(1) First transport line T(2) Second transport line S control device B. Computing Unit

Claims

1. 1. An installation (1) for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel slabs and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, said installation comprising: i) comprising at least one continuous casting device (3) by means of which flat strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm can be continuously cast; ii) a separating device (4) arranged subsequent to at least one of the continuous casting devices (3), by means of which the flat strand material can be separated into individual thick slabs; iii) a hot rolling mill (5) through which said thick slabs can be rolled into said flat rolled products; The hot rolling mill (5) comprises a roughing line (8) and a finishing line (9), each having at least one rolling stand, and is arranged in a common transport line (T1) with at least one continuous casting device (3); iv) at least one thick slab insertion device (15) arranged transversely to said transport line (T1) and positioned between said separating device (4) and said hot rolling mill (5); and v) at least one electric heater (7) for direct heat injection, arranged in the transport direction before the hot rolling mill (5), i.e. before the roughing line (8) in the transport direction; via said heater, at least the thick slabs coming from the continuous casting devices (3) arranged in a common transport line can be heated to the hot rolling temperature all over, and The transport line (T1) comprises a roller table (6) having a plurality of insulating hoods (22).

1. An installation (1).

2. 2. The installation (1) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electric rough strip heater (10) arranged upstream of the finish rolling line (9) in the transport direction.

3. 2. The installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the thick slab insertion devices (15) is configured as a transport and heating device, via which transported and / or intermediately stored thick slabs can be heated to the hot rolling temperature.

4. 4. The installation (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one thick slab insertion device (15) is arranged between the electric heater (7) for direct heat insertion and the roughing line (8).

5. 2. The plant (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one thick slab feeder (15), which is preferably configured as a transport and heating device, is connected in front of at least one electric thick slab preheater (16.1, 16.2) on the inlet side.

6. 2. The plant (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one thick slab feeder (15), preferably configured as a transport and heating device, is downstream of at least one electrical supplementary thick slab heater (17) on the exit side.

7. 7. The installation (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one electrical supplementary thick slab heater (17) is arranged between at least one thick slab insertion device (15) and the roughing line (8).

8. 7. The installation (1) according to claim 6, further comprising at least one additional electric thick slab heater (18), which is connected upstream to the electric thick slab heater (17).

9. Furthermore, the system comprises a control device (S) having an associated calculation unit (B), the control device (S) The plant (1) is adapted for controlling and / or regulating the plant (1) based on minimized energy consumption and / or maximized throughput and / or based on product characteristics and / or product dimensions, 2. The installation (1) according to claim 1 .

10. 2. The installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the roughing line (8) comprises, in the transport direction, at least one swaging device (19) and at least one first or second roughing stand (20, 21).

11. 11. Installation (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the upsetting device (19) comprises at least one slab upsetting press and at least one or several upsetting machines.

12. Advantageously, with the installation (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, 1. A method for the production of flat rolled products consisting of thick cast steel and / or non-ferrous metal slabs, the method comprising the method steps: i) Continuous casting of flat strand material having a thickness of at least 160 mm; The flat strand material is subsequently separated into the individual thick slabs; ii) if the thick slabs come from continuous casting machines (3) arranged in a common transport line (T1), Heating the thick slab to a temperature of at least 1000°C using an electric heater (7) for direct heat insertion; and iib) when said thick slab is transported from the second transport line (T2) laterally into the first said transport line (T1), heating the thick slab to a temperature of at least 1000°C using at least one additional heater (16.1, 16.2) and / or a thick slab insertion device (15); iii) hot rolling the heated thick slab to the hot rolling temperature into the flat rolled product by first rough rolling the thick slab and subsequently finish rolling the thick slab; A method comprising the steps of the method of claim 1.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the thick slab having a temperature of at least 500°C is fed to an electric heater for direct heat input.

14. The rough rolled flat rolled product is subjected to a finishing process before the rough rolled flat rolled product is finish rolled into a flat rolled product.

13. The method of claim 12, characterized in that the heating is performed using an electric rough strip heater (10) to a temperature of at least 950°C.

15. The steps ii) and / or iii) are carried out by using a control device (S):

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the control is performed in such a way that a low energy consumption and / or a maximum throughput and / or product characteristics and / or product dimensions calculated by the calculation unit (B) are achieved.

16. Use of at least one electric heater (7) for direct heat injection, arranged upstream of the hot rolling mill (5) in the transport direction (T1), for heating thick slabs having a thickness of at least 160 mm to the hot rolling temperature.

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