US 5,924,318 AGranted

Plant capacity of optimizing method for use with Steckel mill

AssigneeIPSCO Enterprises Inc.

InventorJonathan Dorricott

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Abstract

An optimizing method for improving the efficiency of production is provided for a steel rolling mill using a Steckel mill to roll steel slab to end-product thickness, and associated downstream equipment of limited capacity to generate strip and/or plate end-product. The optimizing method allows for continuous processing of steel slab of a mass within the capacity limits of the Steckel mill and equipment upstream of the Steckel mill, but in excess of the capacity of the associated downstream equipment, by first rolling the slab in the Steckel mill to intermediate coilable thickness, and then severing the intermediate steel product to produce two derivative segments, one of a target mass within the limit of capacity of the coiler furnaces and downstream equipment, and another, typically smaller, residual segment. The residual segment is disposed of, optionally first milled to end-product thickness in the Steckel mill, and transferred to conventional downstream equipment. In the meantime, the target segment is held within a coiler furnace. The target segment is subsequently milled and finished to end-product thickness. The method improves the efficiency of production in a steel rolling mill.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method of optimizing the production of a steel rolling mill that includes a Steckel mill,

the operation of said rolling mill being limited at least in part by an applicable limiting flow-through parameter being one of (i) at least one strip flow-through capacity parameter for a strip end-product, and (ii) at least one plate flow-through capacity parameter for a plate end-product;
the method including the rolling of a maximum-weight slab exceeding the applicable flow-through capacity parameter and the severing of the slab to obtain an end-product of a target weight and target dimensions, the target weight of the particular end-product of target dimensions being limited by the applicable limiting flow-through capacity parameter;
the Steckel mill having associated therewith upstream and downstream coiler furnaces for coiling steel up to a coiler furnace thickness limitation, and downstream equipment for further processing and handling of the steel following its rolling;
the method comprising the steps of:
(a) flat-pass rolling the maximum-weight slab in the Steckel mill to produce an interim steel product of a severable thickness not exceeding the coiler furnace thickness limitation;
then
(b) transversely severing the interim steel product into two portions, viz a pre-determined target portion selected to be substantially of the target weight, and a residual surplus portion;
then
(c) coiling the target portion within a selected one of the coiler furnaces pending further processing, so that further processing of the surplus portion outside the selected coiler furnace precedes further processing of the target portion, and such that further processing of the surplus portion will not interfere with subsequent processing of the target portion;
(d) further processing the surplus portion to obtain a surplus end-product;
and
(e) after commencement of step (d), further processing the target portion to obtain the target end-product.

9 more elements

A method of optimizing the production of a steel rolling mill that includes a Steckel mill,

the operation of said rolling mill being limited at least in part by an applicable limiting flow-through parameter being one of (i) at least one strip flow-through capacity parameter for a strip end-product, and (ii) at least one plate flow-through capacity parameter for a plate end-product;
the method including the rolling of a maximum-weight slab exceeding the applicable flow-through capacity parameter and the severing of the slab to obtain an end-product of a target weight and target dimensions, the target weight of the particular end-product of target dimensions being limited by the applicable limiting flow-through capacity parameter;
the Steckel mill having associated therewith upstream and downstream coiler furnaces for coiling steel up to a coiler furnace thickness limitation and downstream equipment for further processing and handling of the steel following its rolling;
the method comprising the steps of:
(a) flat-pass rolling the maximum-weight slab in the Steckel mill to produce an interim steel product of a severable thickness exceeding the coiler furnace thickness limitation;
then
(b) transversely severing the interim steel product into two portions, viz a pre-determined target portion selected to be the target weight, and a residual surplus portion;
then
(c) transferring the residual surplus portion downstream for final processing to obtain a surplus end-product;
and then
(d) flat-pass rolling the target portion in the Steckel mill to further reduce the target portion.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/870,470Filed 6 Jun 1997 · continuation
Priority: 7 Jun 1995
Granted: 20 Jul 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B21B 1/34
In reversing single stand mills, e.g. with intermediate storage reels for accumulating work: by hot-rolling
B21B 2015/0014
Cutting or shearing the product: transversely to the rolling direction
B21B 2015/0071
Arrangements for performing additional metal-working operations specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in…
B21B 2261/18
Product parameters: weight