Method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill, and hot rolling mill

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill for producing flat and / or long metal products using a hot rolling method in which a starting product provided for a forming operation in the rolling mill, at least before and / or after at least one forming stage, undergoes at least one first and one second temperature conditioning in at least two different kinds of temperature conditioning units (3,4), wherein the method comprises controlling the load distribution between the different kinds of temperature conditioning units (3,4) and the temperature conditioning units (3,4) are controlled at least on the basis of one or more boundary conditions, which are selected from a group of boundary conditions comprising a forming temperature for the rolled stock for achieving particular product properties, the material properties of the rolled stock, the kind and number of intended forming stages, the planned reduction in thickness of the rolled stock in each forming stage and / or across all forming stages, the target rolling temperature before and / or after each forming stage. The invention also relates to a hot rolling mill, preferably for performing the method.

Description

[0001] Method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill and hot rolling mill

[0002] The invention relates to a method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill for producing metal flat and / or long products using a hot rolling process in which an input product, for example in the form of semi-finished products provided from a continuous casting plant or from a warehouse as rolled stock, is formed.

[0003] The method according to the invention relates both to the control of the forming temperature and / or the corresponding automation of combined casting and rolling plants and to the control of the forming temperature and / or the corresponding automation of conventional rolling plants.

[0004] Combined casting and rolling plants are plants that produce strands of metal in a continuous primary forming process (continuous casting) and partially utilize the enthalpy contained in this strand, which was added to the material during the upstream melting process, in order to save the preheating step before hot forming.

[0005] Examples of such systems are described in publications EP 1 469 954 B2, EP 2 346 625 B1 and EP 2 416 900 B1.

[0006] The latest generation of combined casting and rolling mills comprises one or more primary forming devices for casting slabs with die dimensions of 40–165 mm and two or more spatially separated groups of rolling stands for forming the strand into an intermediate strip or hot strip. These groups are referred to as a roughing mill, a finishing mill, and, if applicable, an intermediate mill. i Such systems or processes carried out thereon are described, for example, in the publications DE 102020 214 427 A1, DE 10 2020 209 299 A1 and EP 2 195 124 B1, EP 2 569 104 B1, EP 2 957 358 A1, EP 2 957 359 A1, EP 3 175 933 A1, EP 3 175 934 A1, EP 2 209 573 B1 and EP 3 943 210 A1.

[0007] In these combined casting and rolling mills, the temperature of the processed material must be adjusted to the process requirements of the forming process, the surface quality, and the material-related processes to achieve the desired mechanical, electromagnetic (e.g., for grain-oriented or non-grain-oriented electrical steel strip), or physical properties. For this temperature adjustment, one or more temperature conditioning devices are provided in the casting and rolling mills described in the patent literature.

[0008] In conventional hot strip mills, slabs are heated in a furnace to temperatures of approximately 1250°C. In a roughing mill, they are rolled into roughing strips at temperatures exceeding 1100°C using roughing stands. In finishing stands, the roughing strips are rolled into finished strips at temperatures between 800°C and 950°C, depending on the desired quality of the finished product. In the special case of ferritic rolling, even lower rolling temperatures are used.

[0009] Temperature conditioning devices described in the literature include tunnel furnaces, induction heating devices, intermediate strip cooling systems and the like.

[0010] The known temperature conditioning devices each have different thermal properties, in particular, different inertias in setting and / or regulating the temperature, and are heated using a variety of energy sources. For example, tunnel kilns are heated by combustion of fossil fuels, as well as by indirect electrical heating using resistance heating elements.

[0011] During the hot rolling process, precise and rapid temperature control of the strip is important. The temperature of the rolled stock before and / or during forming must be maintained as precisely as possible in order to achieve the desired structural properties of the product to be manufactured. In addition, it is also sensible and necessary to design the rolling process to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible with regard to energy consumption and, in particular, the type of energy source used. These considerations play a particularly important role in the design of a hot rolling mill or rolling line. The design of a rolling line is a long-term decision. The service life of a rolling line is often several decades. If the product mix produced on the line or the prices of the energy sources used change during its service life, adaptation is only possible to a limited extent.

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill, which ensures the fastest and most precise temperature control possible and in particular the fastest possible control of the temperature of the rolling stock before at least one forming stage.

[0013] In particular, the method according to the invention is intended to enable an adaptation of the temperature control with regard to changing product requirements and / or with regard to changing energy prices and / or the availability of certain energy sources on the market.

[0014] Finally, the method is intended to enable the operation of a hot rolling mill that is optimized with regard to greenhouse gas emissions. The invention is further based on the object of providing a hot rolling mill for the production of metal flat and / or long products for implementing the method.

[0015] The problem underlying the invention is solved by the features of claim 1 relating to a method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill. The object is further solved by the features of the independent claim 12 relating to a hot rolling mill which is particularly suitable, intended, and designed for carrying out the method.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill for producing metal flat and / or long products using a hot rolling process, in which an input product provided for a forming process in the rolling mill is subjected to at least a first and a second temperature conditioning in at least two different temperature conditioning units at least before and / or after at least one forming stage, wherein the method comprises controlling the load distribution between the different temperature conditioning units and the temperature conditioning units are regulated at least as a function of one or more boundary conditions selected from a group of boundary conditions comprising a forming temperature for the rolling stock to achieve certain product properties, the material properties of the rolling stock,The type and number of planned forming stages, the planned thickness reduction of the rolled stock per forming stage and / or across all forming stages, and the target rolling temperature before and / or after each forming stage. The load distribution can be controlled by appropriate regulation of the individual temperature conditioning units, at least taking into account the boundary conditions listed above and, in particular, depending on further boundary conditions, such as optimal operation of the temperature conditioning units or the entire rolling mill in terms of energy or emissions.

[0017] Advantages of the method according to the invention are that the temperature conditioning can be adapted to a specific product to be produced, depending on the product and, where appropriate, current energy prices and energy availability. Product properties to be aimed for when operating the hot rolling process according to the invention are achieving the target dimensions in terms of thickness, width, and profile of the metal strip, as well as the flatness, surface quality, and material properties of the metal strip as a product of the hot rolling process. With regard to the operation of the hot rolling mill using the method according to the invention, the method enables reduced energy consumption and increased yield.The reduced energy requirement results in particular from the fact that with the method according to the invention, several temperature conditioning units can be combined to set an optimal forming temperature and can be controlled individually and cooperatively.

[0018] Preferably, a first temperature conditioning unit is designed as a heating furnace for providing pre-tempered semi-finished products, preferably ingots, or as a soaking furnace for tempering input products coming from the casting heat, preferably for tempering slabs, thin slabs, or billets. If the process comprises a hot rolling process using a combined casting and rolling mill, a first temperature conditioning unit is arranged, for example, directly downstream of a casting machine or downstream of a caster. At least one second temperature conditioning unit can be arranged downstream of the first temperature conditioning unit and upstream of a first forming stage.

[0019] In a particularly preferred variant of the method according to the invention, the temperature conditioning of the input product is carried out by two temperature conditioning units arranged directly one behind the other before a first forming stage.

[0020] If the process is operated as a conventional hot rolling process, a heating furnace can be provided as the first temperature conditioning unit for preconditioning the semi-finished products provided from this heating furnace, for example in the form of slabs.

[0021] Regardless of the type of rolling process, it can advantageously be provided that the first temperature conditioning unit is continuously operated at a constant temperature, while a second, downstream temperature conditioning unit can be operated intermittently or at a variable temperature. The intermittent operation of the second temperature conditioning unit allows the temperature of the rolling stock to be precisely adjusted and, in particular, controlled depending on specific boundary conditions with minimal energy consumption.

[0022] A first temperature conditioning unit within the meaning of the present invention is one that is arranged first in the direction of travel of the hot rolling process after a primary forming device, for example, a casting machine, and before a forming device. According to the invention, temperature conditioning is carried out using at least two different temperature conditioning units. "Different" within the meaning of the present invention means that the temperature conditioning units used can have a different design and / or can be operated with different energy sources.As temperature conditioning units, for example, temperature conditioning units can be provided which are selected from a group of temperature conditioning units comprising fossil-heated tunnel furnaces, non-fossil-heated tunnel furnaces, electrically heated tunnel furnaces, induction furnaces with one or more inductors, direct application of the rolling stock with a fuel gas flame (DFI / Direct Flame Impingement), flameless porous burners, coil boxes, Steckel furnaces, pre-strip cooling systems, rapid cooling systems, laminar cooling systems or the like.

[0023] The invention is not limited to the use of two temperature conditioning units; rather, within the meaning of the invention, several temperature conditioning stages can be provided in the form of temperature conditioning units arranged in groups.

[0024] At least two different temperature conditioning units can be provided in a rolling train of the hot rolling mill, each before and / or after at least one forming stage and / or between at least two forming stages.

[0025] A tunnel kiln, for example as the first temperature conditioning unit in the sense of the invention, can be designed, for example, with heating by combustion of fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas), with heating by combustion of non-fossil fuels (e.g. coupling gases, hydrogen, synthetic fuels) or with indirect electrical heating in the form of resistance heating elements.

[0026] Additionally, for example, as a second or additional temperature conditioning unit, the use of heating devices powered by the combustion of fossil or non-fossil fuels, but which do not meet the definition of an industrial furnace according to VDMA 24202 due to the lack of an outer shell, may be provided. An example of this is a booster with direct flame impingement.

[0027] Furthermore, at least one temperature conditioning unit can also be implemented as a flameless porous burner. Combustion in a porous burner does not take place in an open flame, but rather in fine cavities within a porous structure, e.g., a high-temperature-resistant ceramic foam.

[0028] According to the invention, an inductor can be provided, preferably as a second or additional temperature conditioning unit. The use of an inductor as a temperature conditioning unit has the advantage that it can be easily switched on or off with little control inertia. Furthermore, an inductor can be designed in multiple stages and operated with electricity from renewable energy sources.

[0029] In an expedient variant of the method according to the invention, a first temperature conditioning unit can be provided as a heating furnace for providing preheated semi-finished products or as an equalizing furnace for thin slabs from a casting machine of a continuous casting plant.

[0030] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control of the at least one temperature conditioning unit is carried out in an optimizer of a process automation system of the hot rolling mill, specifying an optimization strategy and optimizing a higher-level optimization criterion for the hot rolling process. The optimizer can, for example, be located upstream of or above a Level 2 automation system of the hot rolling mill. For the purposes of the invention, an optimizer is understood to be a computer-implemented algorithm that executes a software-based, automated, asset-supported optimization process.

[0031] The optimization criterion can be selected from a group of optimization criteria comprising minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing the energy requirements of the rolling mill, minimizing equipment wear, maximizing the output of the rolling mill and maximizing product quality or a combination of the aforementioned optimization criteria.

[0032] In an advantageous variant of the method, it is provided that a preferably automated optimization decision is carried out by means of at least one method based on an evaluation of process data from the process automation, in particular using a computer-implemented method for recognizing setting value patterns in a Level 2 automation.

[0033] The preferably automated optimization decision can also be made based on model-based calculations. For example, the optimization decision can be based on calculations of temperature models, Level 2 models, finite difference models, finite element models, forming models, or cooling models of the processes involved.

[0034] Conveniently, a preferably automated optimization decision can be made using at least one method based on machine learning methods. Such methods can be implemented, for example, using artificial neural networks, deep artificial neural networks, decision trees, ensemble methods based on decision trees, linear or nonlinear regression models with or without regularization, and support vector machines with linear, polynomial, or other kernel functions.

[0035] The method according to the invention can, for example, be carried out using at least two temperature conditioning units with different thermal inertia and / or with different thermal efficiencies. As already indicated above, the use of at least two temperature conditioning units operated with different forms of energy or energy sources can be advantageous. This can be particularly advantageous with regard to a selection from energy sources currently available on the market at lower prices. For example, a certain energy source may be inexpensive and available, whereas another energy source is more expensive and less available. In this case, it is advantageous if the load distribution between different temperature conditioning units is controlled with a view to particularly low energy consumption and favorable CO2 emissions.

[0036] The method can, for example, be characterized by a load distribution between two different temperature conditioning units controlled according to an optimization criterion. In principle, the invention can also provide for specifying a load distribution between the temperature conditioning units and regulating it accordingly.

[0037] In a particularly preferred and expedient variant of the method, it can be provided that a forecast of the energy availability and / or energy costs, preferably related to different energy sources, is taken into account as a boundary condition when controlling the load distribution.

[0038] The forecast of energy availability and / or energy costs can also be carried out, for example, using a prediction method based on machine learning methods.

[0039] The object underlying the invention is further achieved by the provision of a hot rolling mill for producing metal flat and / or long products, wherein the hot rolling mill is designed in particular to carry out the method according to one of the claims, wherein the hot rolling mill further comprises a plurality of forming devices arranged in one or more groups, preferably in the form of rolling stands arranged in at least one rolling train for hot forming a metal input material and at least two temperature conditioning units selected from a group of temperature conditioning units comprising fossil-heated tunnel furnaces, non-fossil-heated tunnel furnaces, electrically heated tunnel furnaces, induction furnaces with one or more inductors, direct impingement of the rolling stock with a fuel gas flame (DFI / Direct Flame Impingement), flameless porous burners, coil boxes, Steckel furnaces, pre-strip cooling systems, rapid cooling systems,Laminar cooling systems, wherein at least two different temperature conditioning units are provided in the rolling mill, each of which is arranged in front of and / or behind at least one forming device or a group of forming devices and / or between at least two forming devices or a group of forming devices.

[0040] The hot rolling mill can comprise several forming devices arranged in groups and, arranged in groups in front of and / or behind the groups of forming devices, temperature conditioning units of different designs.

[0041] In an advantageous and expedient embodiment of the hot rolling mill according to the invention, it is provided that the temperature conditioning units, which are preferably arranged in groups in a rolling train, each have a different thermal inertia and / or a different thermal efficiency and / or are heated with different types of energy and / or different energy sources.

[0042] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

[0043] They show:

[0044] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a combined casting and rolling plant according to the invention,

[0045] Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a combined casting and rolling plant according to the invention,

[0046] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a strategy for lowering the temperature in a temperature conditioning unit with buffer effect by a downstream temperature conditioning unit,

[0047] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating a strategy for rapid temperature changes with a first temperature conditioning unit with higher thermal inertia and higher efficiency than a downstream second temperature conditioning unit, Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating the strategy for temperature conditioning with different energy sources and

[0048] Figure 6 Examples illustrating the control behavior of two temperature conditioning units arranged one behind the other, in which a first temperature conditioning unit has a higher inertia and a higher efficiency than a downstream second temperature conditioning unit.

[0049] The invention is explained below using the example of a combined casting and rolling mill. However, the invention is fundamentally not limited to such a hot rolling mill or hot rolling process; rather, the invention can also relate to a conventional hot rolling process in which already finished semi-finished products are provided from a furnace for forming in the rolling mill. In this case, the furnace is considered the first temperature conditioning unit according to the invention.

[0050] The casting and rolling mill 1 shown in Figure 1 can, for example, be designed as a thin slab casting and rolling mill or a so-called CSP mill. This casting and rolling mill 1 comprises a casting machine 2 and two temperature conditioning units 3, 4 arranged directly one behind the other downstream of the casting machine 2, of which the upstream temperature conditioning unit is a first temperature conditioning unit 3, and the temperature conditioning unit arranged directly downstream of the first temperature conditioning unit 3 is a second temperature conditioning unit 4. The first and second temperature conditioning units 3, 4 form a first group 5 of temperature conditioning units. Downstream of the first group 5 of temperature conditioning units 3, 4, several forming devices in the form of rolling stands 6 are arranged, forming a first group 7 of forming devices.Downstream of the first group 7 of forming devices, further temperature conditioning units TKA-n are arranged in a second group 8 of temperature conditioning units TKA-n. Immediately downstream of these, further forming devices in the form of rolling stands 6 are arranged, which are combined to form a second group of forming devices 9.

[0051] In the described embodiment, the first group of forming devices 7 can form a roughing train of the hot rolling mill, whereas the second group 9 of forming devices forms a finishing train of the hot rolling mill. Finally, downstream of this second group 9 of forming devices, another temperature conditioning unit TKA-n is arranged, behind which the finished rolled strip is wound into a coil by means of a coiler 10.

[0052] The casting and rolling mill 1 can comprise several rolling lines. One rolling line of the casting and rolling mill 1 is shown. The first temperature conditioning unit 3 can, for example, be designed as a roller hearth furnace, which is heated in a known manner with fossil energy, whereas the second, downstream temperature conditioning unit 4 can be designed as an induction furnace, which comprises one or more stages or inductors. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 1, the first group of temperature conditioning units 5 is arranged directly upstream of the first group 7 of forming devices. For the method according to the invention, the second group of temperature conditioning units 8 is arranged between the first group 7 of forming devices and the second group 9 of forming devices and is optional, just as the other temperature conditioning units TKA-n provided in the rolling line are optional.The method according to the invention comprises controlling the temperature of the rolling stock by means of temperature conditioning units TKA-n arranged in groups as a function of one or more boundary conditions of the preferably multi-stage forming process, wherein the control is carried out by optimizing at least one higher-level optimization criterion or by applying a higher-level optimization strategy for the hot rolling process.

[0053] Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram for an optimization strategy for lowering the temperature in the first temperature conditioning unit 3 of the first group of temperature conditioning units 5. The optimization strategy or the higher-level optimization criterion can equally well be applied to further temperature conditioning units TKA-n arranged in groups.

[0054] In Level 1 of process automation, the temperature of the rolled stock measured at the outlet of the first temperature conditioning unit 3 is recorded. If the temperature is constant and within a target range, the next product / input product is considered. In Level 2 of process automation, in which the setting value calculation and / or specification for Level 1 automation usually takes place, a target temperature for the inlet of the rolled stock into a first forming device and its outlet temperature downstream of the first forming device are estimated or predicted. If the predicted target temperature is sufficient, control and / or activation of the second temperature conditioning unit 4 is not necessary. If the target temperature is insufficient, a control system initiates control and / or an increase in the outlet temperature of the rolled stock by correspondingly controlling the second temperature conditioning unit 4.The second temperature conditioning unit 4 is only used for a small proportion of products, for example, when this is required to meet specific quality requirements of the finished product / product / finished strip. This significantly reduces the overall energy consumption of the casting and rolling mill 1.

[0055] Figure 4 illustrates an optimization strategy that takes into account both the optimization criterion of minimizing energy consumption and the optimization criteria of minimizing equipment wear, maximizing rolling mill output, and maximizing product quality.

[0056] Figure 2 shows a simpler example of the casting and rolling plant 1 according to the invention, which comprises a furnace with a buffer function as the first temperature conditioning unit 3 behind a casting machine 2, behind which a further furnace is arranged as the second temperature conditioning unit 4.

[0057] The first temperature conditioning unit 3 can be designed as an electrically heated tunnel kiln, while the second temperature conditioning unit 4 can be designed as a DFI booster. Depending on the (current) energy price, the heating ratios between combustion and electrical heating can be shifted. Furthermore, the lower flexibility of the kiln chamber temperature can be compensated for by the booster, which can flexibly adjust the material temperature supplied by the kiln for each product.

[0058] The first and second temperature conditioning units 3, 4 are arranged upstream of a plurality of rolling stands in a rolling line. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the casting / rolling mill 1 or the hot rolling mill according to the invention comprises further units such as shears, cooling sections, rulers, roller tables, and other units not mentioned here. Figure 2 shows the temperature profile of the rolling stock below the casting / rolling mill 1, with the dashed line illustrating the temperature of the rolling stock when the rolling mill is operated using the method according to the invention, and the solid line illustrating the temperature of the rolling stock without application of the method according to the invention. The method according to the invention clearly enables more energy-efficient operation of the rolling mill.

[0059] The first temperature conditioning unit 3 is, for example, a fossil-fuel-fired tunnel kiln which has a high level of efficiency and a high level of temperature stability as well as a high control inertia, whereas the second temperature conditioning unit 4 has a relatively low control inertia and a relatively lower thermal efficiency than the first temperature conditioning unit 3. The curves drawn below the temperature conditioning units 3, 4 illustrate the temperature profile over the transport path of the rolled stock from the inlet into the first temperature conditioning unit 3 to the outlet of the second temperature conditioning unit 4. The first, upper graph illustrates the slow temperature rise of the rolled stock in relation to a first product. A target temperature is already reached at the outlet of the first temperature conditioning unit 3. Switching on or offIn this case, increasing the temperature of the second temperature conditioning unit 4 is not necessary.

[0060] The graph below illustrates the temperature profile of a rolled stock for a second product with rapid heating of the second temperature conditioning unit 4. In this case, a higher forming temperature or target temperature may be desired for the product to be manufactured / finished strip before a forming process. This higher target temperature is not reached at the outlet of the first temperature conditioning unit 3, so that the second temperature conditioning unit 4 must be switched on accordingly so that the target temperature is reached at the outlet of the second temperature conditioning unit 4. The temperature profile further below illustrates rapid intervention by the second temperature conditioning unit 4 in the event that the first temperature conditioning unit 3 reaches a higher but still insufficiently high target temperature of the rolled stock at its outlet.

[0061] The last and lowest temperature profile corresponds to a stable manufacturing process of the second product, in which intervention of the temperature control for the second temperature conditioning unit 4 is not necessary.

[0062] In general, the process according to the invention allows for permanent reduction of furnace chamber temperatures, which allows the use of non-cooled (dry) furnace rollers and thus further significant energy savings. High slab drawing temperatures are only required for certain products (wide, strong, thin), so these can be reheated on demand using a booster. The combination of both heating units enables optimal temperature conditioning in each case.

[0063] List of reference symbols

[0064] 1 casting and rolling mill

[0065] 2 Casting machine 3 First temperature conditioning unit

[0066] 4 second temperature conditioning unit

[0067] TKA-n additional temperature conditioning units

[0068] 5 first group of temperature conditioning units

[0069] 6 Rolling stands 7 First group of forming devices

[0070] 8 second group of additional temperature conditioning units

[0071] 9 second group of forming devices

[0072] 10 reels

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for controlling the forming temperature in a hot rolling mill for producing metal flat and / or long products using a hot rolling process, in which an input product provided for a forming process in the rolling mill is subjected to at least a first and a second temperature conditioning in at least two different temperature conditioning units (3, 4) at least before and / or after at least one forming stage, wherein the method comprises controlling the load distribution between the different temperature conditioning units (3, 4) and the temperature conditioning units (3, 4) are regulated at least as a function of one or more boundary conditions selected from a group of boundary conditions comprising a forming temperature for the rolling stock to achieve certain product properties, the material properties of the rolling stock, the type and number of the intended forming stages,the planned thickness reduction of the rolled stock per forming stage and / or across all forming stages, the target rolling temperature before and / or after each forming stage.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which a first temperature conditioning unit (3) is designed as a heating furnace for providing pre-tempered semi-finished products, preferably blocks, or as a compensation furnace for tempering input products coming from the casting heat, preferably for tempering slabs, thin slabs or billets.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the control of the load distribution between the Temperature conditioning units are optimized with optimization of at least one higher-level optimization criterion for the hot rolling process in an optimizer of a process automation system of the hot rolling mill.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the optimization criterion is selected from a group of optimization criteria comprising minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing the energy requirements of the rolling mill, minimizing equipment wear, maximizing the output of the rolling mill, maximizing product quality or combinations of the optimization criteria listed above.

5. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that a preferably automated optimization decision is carried out by means of at least one method based on an evaluation of process data from the process automation, in particular using a computer-implemented method for recognizing setting value patterns in a Level-2 automation.

6. Method according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a preferably automated optimization decision is made on the basis of model-based calculations.

7. Method according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that a preferably automated optimization decision is carried out by means of at least one method based on machine learning methods.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the use of at least two temperature conditioning units (3.4) with different thermal inertia and / or with different thermal efficiency.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by the use of at least two temperature conditioning units (3.4), which are operated with different forms of energy.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that in controlling the load distribution of the temperature conditioning units, a forecast of energy availability and / or energy costs, preferably related to different energy sources, is taken into account as a boundary condition.

11. Hot rolling mill for the production of metal flat and / or long products, in particular for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising several forming devices arranged in one or more groups (7, 9), preferably in the form of rolling stands (6) arranged in at least one rolling train for the hot forming of a metal input material and at least two temperature conditioning units (3, 4, TKA-n), which are selected from a group of temperature conditioning units comprising fossil-heated tunnel furnaces or reheating furnaces, non-fossil-heated tunnel furnaces or reheating furnaces, electrically heated tunnel furnaces, encapsulated roller tables, induction furnaces with one or more inductors, direct impingement of the rolling stock with a fuel gas flame (DFI / Direct Flame Impingement), flameless porous burners, coil boxes, Steckel furnaces, pre-strip cooling, rapid cooling, laminar cooling,wherein at least two different temperature conditioning units are provided in the rolling mill, each of which is arranged in front of and / or behind at least one forming device or a group of forming devices and / or between at least two, forming devices or a group of forming devices.

12. Hot rolling mill according to claim 11 as a combined casting-rolling plant (1) with at least one first temperature conditioning unit (3), preferably immediately downstream of a continuous casting plant, and with at least one second differently designed temperature conditioning unit (4) arranged immediately downstream of the first temperature conditioning unit (3) and preferably upstream of a first forming device.

13. Hot rolling mill according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized by a plurality of forming devices (7, 9) arranged in groups and temperature conditioning devices of different designs arranged in groups in front of and / or behind the groups of forming devices.

14. Hot rolling mill according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the temperature conditioning units, which are preferably arranged in groups in a rolling train, each have a different thermal inertia and / or a different thermal efficiency and / or are heated with different types of energy and / or energy sources.

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