Composite Casting-Rolling Layout for Ultra-Thin Hot Strip Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current metalurgy techniques lack an energy-efficient method for producing ultra-thin warm tapes with high capacity, as existing systems face limitations in throughput and stability, especially in achieving thicknesses below 1.2 mm, and require additional cold rolling processes.

Innovation Solution

A Gieß-Walz composite system with separate strand casting systems and a Brammen manipulator to evenly heat bridges to rolling temperature, followed by a pre-rolling plant, coil box, and multi-frequency rolling mill to produce high-quality ultra-thin warm tapes with a capacity between 3.5 and 5 million tons per annum.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional hot rolling mills are used to produce thin strips, then high throughput is achieved, but final strip thickness must exceed 1.2 mm requiring subsequent cold rolling

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidfinal strip thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rolling process is segmented into roughing mill (for thickness reduction) and finishing mill (for final thickness control), allowing the system to achieve both high throughput and ultra-thin final thicknesses below 1.2 mm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new dimension by integrating multiple continuous casting plants (two or three strands) feeding into a single rolling mill, enabling high capacity production of ultra-thin strips without requiring subsequent cold rolling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If conventional continuous casting and hot rolling are combined, then stable casting conditions are achieved, but casting speed is limited to approximately 6 m/min

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecasting stabilityVSAvoidcasting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the casting process into multiple independent continuous casting plants, each operating at stable speeds while collectively increasing total throughput beyond the limitation of individual casting speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple copies of continuous casting plants are used in parallel, each maintaining stable casting conditions while the aggregate output achieves high production capacity without requiring individual casting speeds to exceed 6 m/min

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves high production capacity and quality while reducing energy consumption by ensuring consistent heating and thermal insulation, enabling the production of ultra-thin warm tapes without the need for downstream cold rolling.

Implementation Method 1

The produced slabs are thermally insulated and fed to a slab manipulator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

In the walking beam furnace, which is, for example, gas- or oil-fired, the slabs from the continuous casting plants are heated uniformly to rolling temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4297918B1Composite casting and rolling system and method for producing hot strip having a final thickness of less than 1.2 mm on the composite casting and rolling system
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP4297918B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4297918B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP4297918B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a casting-rolling integrated plant and to a method for producing a hot strip with a final thickness of < 1.2 mm on the casting-rolling integrated plant. The problem addressed by the invention is that of specifying a casting-rolling integrated plant of this kind and a method of this kind, by means of which high-quality ultra-thin hot strip with high capacitance, i.e. with a capacitance between 3.5 and 5.5 M t/a, can be produced by extrusion and hot rolling on the casting-rolling integrated plant. This problem is solved by a casting-rolling integrated plant according to claim 1.