Method and plant for integrated monitoring and control of strip flatness and strip profile

A thin cast strip plant for producing thin cast strip with a controlled strip geometry by continuous casting comprising:

• (a) a thin strip caster having a pair of casting rolls having a nip therebetween;
• (b) a metal delivery system capable of forming a casting pool between the casting rolls above the nip with side dams adjacent the ends of the nip to confine the casting pool;
• (c) a drive capable of counter-rotating the casting rolls to form solidified metal shells on the surfaces of the casting rolls and cast thin steel strip through the nip between the casting rolls from the solidified shells;
• (d) a hot rolling mill having work rolls with work surfaces forming a roll gap therebetween through which cast strip from the thin strip caster may be rolled;
• (e) a device connected to the hot rolling mill capable of affecting the geometry of strip processed by the hot rolling mill in response to control signals;
• and
• (f) a control system capable of calculating a differential strain feed-back from longitudinal strain in the strip by comparing a exit thickness profile with a target thickness profile derived from a measured entry thickness profile, capable of generating control signals in response to the differential strain feed-back and an allowable strip flatness error range, and connected to the device to cause the device to affect the geometry of strip processed by the hot rolling mill in response to the control signals.