EP3197618A1

EP3197618A1 - Method for quickly converting a single-train continuous casting plant for slabs into a multi-train continuous casting plant for billets, and vice versa

Info

Publication number: EP3197618A1
Application number: EP15748193.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johann Penn; Thomas Penn
Original assignee: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH
Current assignee: Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH
Priority date: 2014-09-23
Filing date: 2015-07-23
Publication date: 2017-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-23
Also published as: RU2017107961A; RU2689259C2; RU2017107961A3; EP3197618B1; AT516300A1; AT516300B1; WO2016045818A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for converting a single-train continuous casting plant for slabs (1) into a multi-train continuous casting plant for billets (101), and vice versa. The object of the invention is to reduce the time required for the conversion. The object of the invention is achieved by means of the following steps: i) decoupling the water supply from the mould (2) and decoupling the hydraulic system from the oscillating unit (3) of the continuous casting plant; ii) removing the mould (2) and the oscillating unit (3) and installing a common support frame (111) for a plurality of billet trains (K) in the region of the machine head of the continuous casting plant, wherein the common support frame (111) is connected to the main body (6) of the continuous casting plant; iii) installing one mould (102) for casting liquid steel into a billet train (K) and one oscillating unit (103) for oscillating the mould (102) per billet train (K), wherein a plurality of oscillating units (103) are connected to the common support frame (111); iv) coupling the water supply to the moulds (2) and coupling the hydraulic supply to the oscillating units (3); v) decoupling the water supply and hydraulic supply from the segments (4a...4n); vi) releasing the segments (4a...4n) from the rear construction (7) of the continuous casting plant, and removing the segments (4a...4n) from the continuous casting plant; vii) connecting roller pairs (104a...104i) for guiding a plurality of billet trains (K) to the rear construction (7), wherein the billet trains (K) are supported on both sides by a roller pair (104a...104i) and cooled by cooling nozzles; viii) coupling the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs (104a...104i) to the water supply; ix) connecting at least one extraction unit (108) for extracting a plurality of billet trains (K) from the moulds (102) to the rear construction (7); x) coupling the extraction unit (108) to the hydraulic supply.

Description

description

Process for the rapid conversion of a single-strand slab continuous casting plant into a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant and vice versa

Field of engineering

The present invention relates to the technical field of continuous casting. Continuous casting today casts the majority of the world steel produced annually in continuously operated continuous casters into strands of varying cross-sections (e.g., slabs, billets, billets, profiles).

Both continuous casting plants for the continuous casting of liquid steel into a billet with billets or slabs are known. On the one hand, the present invention relates to a method for the rapid conversion of a single-strand slab caster (ie, a continuous casting plant for continuous casting of liquid steel into a strand having a slab cross-section) into a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant (ie, a continuous casting plant for continuous casting of liquid steel into multiple strands having a billet cross section ).

On the other hand, however, the invention also relates to a method for the rapid conversion of a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant into a single-strand slab continuous casting plant.

PRIOR ART Both methods for converting a single-strand slab continuous casting plant into a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant and vice versa are known in principle. In this case, a continuous casting of a type by a time-consuming conversion converted into a continuous casting plant of the other type. However, since the replacement of the mold (s), the oscillating unit (s) for the mold (s) and the strand guide takes a long time, the plant operator can not respond promptly to cyclical variations in the demand for slab or billet strings. Thus, on the one hand, the plant operator can not fully utilize his existing continuous casters or sell the strands, which are currently in less demand, with maximum profit, or, on the other hand, he can not cover a temporary demand. Both cases are unsatisfactory for the plant operator. Finally, the plant operator can not operate his continuous caster during the conversion, resulting in significant output losses (which are proportional to the conversion time).

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for the rapid conversion of a single-strand slab

To specify a continuous casting plant in a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant and a process for the rapid conversion of a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant into a single-strand slab continuous casting plant.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims. Specifically, the object is achieved by a method for converting a single-strand slab continuous casting into a multi-strand billet-strand casting, wherein the continuous slab caster comprises:

a mold for pouring liquid steel into a slab strand and an oscillating unit for oscillating the mold;

a strand guide for supporting, guiding and cooling the slab strand, wherein the strand guide comprises a plurality of hydraulic Has slidably adjustable segments, the slab strand is cooled in the segments by cooling nozzles and optionally reduced in thickness, the segments with a

Rear structure mechanically and fluidly connected to one hydraulic and one water supply;

comprising the method steps:

i) disconnecting the water supply from the mold and uncoupling the hydraulic supply from the oscillating unit; (ii) removal of the mold and the oscillating unit and installation of a common support frame for several billet strands in the

Area of the machine head of the continuous casting plant, wherein the common support frame is connected to the mainland of the continuous casting plant;

iii) installation of a mold for pouring liquid steel into a billet strand and one oscillating unit each for oscillating the mold per billet strand, wherein a plurality of oscillating units are connected to the common support frame;

iv) coupling the water supply to the molds and coupling the hydraulic supply to the oscillating units; v) disconnecting the water supply and hydraulic supply from the segments;

vi) releasing the segments from the rear construction of the

Continuous casting plant and removal of segments from continuous casting plants;

vii) connecting pairs of rollers for guiding a plurality of billet strands to the rear structure, the billet strands being supported on both sides by a pair of rollers and cooled by cooling nozzles;

viii) coupling the cooling nozzles of the pairs of rollers to the water supply;

ix) connecting at least one pull-out unit for pulling out a plurality of billet strands from the molds with the

Behind construction;

x) coupling the pull-out unit to the hydraulic supply.

By the conversion process according to the invention can both continuous slab caster with a straight or a curved Mold are quickly converted into a multi-strand billet caster. For this purpose, the machine head (ie, the mold and the oscillating unit) of the continuous slab caster is first rebuilt. After uncoupling the water supply from the mold and the hydraulic supply from the oscillating unit and removing the machine head of the continuous slab caster, a common support frame is installed and connected to the mainland of the continuous caster. In the common support frame, the oscillating units and the oscillating molds of the billet caster are used. Thanks to the common support frame, the installation and removal of the machine head of the multi-strand billet continuous caster can be carried out very quickly. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the oscillating units and molds of the multi-strand billet continuous casting machine are not even solved by the common support frame, but installed and removed as a module. After coupling the water supply to the molds and the coupling of the hydraulic supply to the

Oscillating units, the functioning of the machine head is restored. Subsequently, the segments of the continuous slab caster are released from the rear construction and removed, preferably extended over rails. To the

Leading and supporting the billet strands, roller pairs are connected to the existing rear construction. In order to cool down the billet strands in the area of the roller pairs, the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs are connected to the existing water supply of the continuous casting machine. Finally, at least one extraction unit - e.g. in the form of a pair of rollers with driven rollers - for extracting several billet strands from the molds connected to the rear construction of the continuous casting and the extraction unit connected to the hydraulic laulikversorgung the continuous casting.

Both in the water and hydraulic supplies, it is advantageous if the coupling and uncoupling of these compounds by coupling or uncoupling so-called quick couplings. As a result, the conversion time can be further reduced.

If a billet strand leaves the die of the billet continuous casting machine bent with a radius of curvature, it is advantageous if the pairs of rolls in the

Strand guide of the billet strand casting machine are connected to the rear structure such that for the radius of curvature Rioi the billet-strand casting machine applies 0.9 * Ri <Rioi ^ l, l * Ri, preferably Rioi = Ri _/ where Ri the radius of curvature of the

Slab continuous casting machine is. This measure makes the best use of the existing space in the continuous casting plant; In addition, this choice allows high casting speeds. If a billet string is the mold of the billet

Continuous casting machine leaves straight in the vertical direction, it is advantageous if after the mold of the billet - continuous casting a bending device for deflecting the vertical billet strand is arranged on a circular arc with radius.

In order to optimally utilize the given space and to enable high casting speeds, it is advantageous if the pairs of rolls in the strand guide of the billet continuous casting machine are connected to the rear construction such that the radius of curvature of the billet continuous casting machine Rioi is 0.5 Ri, where Ri is the radius of curvature of the slab continuous casting machine. The object of the invention is also achieved by a method according to claim 7. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

Specifically, the object is achieved by a method for converting a multi-strand billet-strand casting into a single-strand slab continuous casting, wherein the billet continuous casting plant comprises: - A common support frame for several billet strands, and per billet strand per a mold for potting liquid steel in a billet strand and one each

Oscillating unit for oscillating the mold;

a strand guide for supporting, guiding and cooling the billet strands, the strand guide having a plurality of pairs of rolls for guiding a plurality of billet strands and cooling nozzles for cooling the billet strands, the pairs of rolls being connected to a rear construction of the continuous casting plant;

- At least one pullout unit for removing the billet strands from the molds;

comprising the method steps:

i) decoupling the at least one extraction unit from the hydraulic supply of the continuous casting plant, releasing the extraction unit from the rear construction and removing the extraction unit from the continuous casting plant;

ii) decoupling the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs from the water supply;

iii) releasing the pairs of rollers from the rear construction and

Removing the pairs of rolls from the continuous casting plant;

(iv) installation of several hydraulically adjustable segments for guiding and cooling the slab strand into the continuous casting plant, connecting the segments to the rear structure, and coupling the segments to the water and hydraulic supply to the continuous casting plant so that the slab strand in the segments is cooled by cooling nozzles and optionally reduced in thickness;

v) decoupling the water supply from the molds and decoupling the hydraulic supply from the oscillating units of the continuous caster;

vi) removal of the common support frame and the dies used therein and oscillating units of the continuous casting plant and installation of a mold for pouring liquid steel into a slab strand and an oscillating unit for oscillating the mold; vii) coupling the water supply to the mold and coupling the hydraulic supply to the oscillating unit of the continuous caster. Also in this method, the machine head of the

multi-strand billet continuous casting machine are quickly removed by the common support frame and the machine head of the slab continuous casting are used quickly. In addition, of course, the existing rear construction as well as the existing water and hydraulic supplies can be reused.

If the slab strand leaves the mold of the slab continuous casting machine bent with a radius of curvature, it is advantageous if the segments in the slab guide of the slab continuous casting machine with the

For the radius of curvature Ri of the slab continuous casting machine, the following applies: Rioi / 1.1 ^ Ri ^ Rioi / 0.9, preferably Ri = Rioi, where Rioi is the radius of curvature of the billet-type continuous casting machine. This makes the best use of the existing space and enables a high casting speed.

If the slab strand leaves the mold of the slab continuous casting machine in the vertical direction, it is advantageous if, after the mold of the slab continuous casting machine, a bending device for deflecting the vertical slab strand is arranged on a circular arc path with radius.

In order to optimally utilize the given space and to enable high casting speeds, it is advantageous if the segments in the strand guide of the slab continuous casting machine are connected to the rear structure in such a way that the radius of curvature Ri of the slab continuous casting machine is Rioi Ri 2 * Rioi where Rioi is the radius of curvature of the billet-type casting machine. Brief description of the drawings

Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of non-limiting embodiments, wherein the following figures show:

1 is a representation of a single-strand slab

continuous casting plant

2 is a representation of a multi-stranded billet -

Continuous casting machine with straight mold

3 shows a representation of a multi-strand billet continuous casting plant with curved molds

4 shows a representation of a machine head of a

multi-strand billet caster with curved molds with a common support frame for three strands

Description of the embodiments

1 is a single-strand slab continuous casting 1 with a straight mold 2, an oscillating unit 3, a strand guide 4, consisting of a bending device 5 for bending the vertical slab strand B on a circular arc with radius R and a total of 14 hydraulically adjustable segments 4a. .4n shown. The segments 4a ... 4h serve to guide the slab strand B on the circular arc R or Ri and to cool the slab strand by cooling nozzles and, if necessary, to reduce its thickness (for example by a soft core or liquid core reduction). The following segments 4i ... 4n serve to guide the slab strand B horizontally and, if necessary, to further reduce the thickness of the slab strand B.

Above the actual slab continuous casting plant 1, certain parts, such as the mold 2, the oscillating unit 3, the bending device 5 and a segment 4a... 4n have been shown in detail. provides. The thick line between the slab caster 1 shown below and the detailed representation symbolizes the local relationship between the different representations.

As shown in Figure 1, the oscillating unit 3 is mechanically connected to the mainland 6 of the continuous casting and fluidly connected to a hydraulic supply; Furthermore, of course, the mold 2 is connected to the water supply. In addition, the segments 4a ... 4n each with the

Rear construction 7 releasably mechanically connected and fluidly connected to one hydraulic and one water supply. By means of the hydraulic supply, the slab strand B can be reduced in its thickness by the at least four hydraulic cylinders of each segment. Through the supply of water, the slab strand B can be cooled by cooling nozzles.

By converting the single-strand slab continuous casting 1 of Figure 1 in a multi-strand billet-strand casting 101 (see Figure 2 or 3), the temporally fluctuating need for either slabs or billets can be satisfied in a timely manner and the conversion times are kept low. This is done by having as many parts as possible (e.g.

Rear construction 7, the mainland 6 but also the existing water and hydraulic connections in the area of the machine head and in the area of the strand guide 4) can be reused for both types of plant. In order not to complicate the figures unnecessarily, was dispensed with the representation of the hydraulic and water supplies.

During conversion, the procedure is as follows:

First, the water supply from the mold 2 and the hydraulic supply from the oscillating unit 3 are disconnected. This is done by uncoupling quick couplings. Subsequently, the mold 2 and the oscillating unit 3 is removed and instead a common support frame 111 (see FIG. 4) for three billet strands K. In the common support frame 111, three oscillating units 103 and three molds 102 are used with billet format. The common support frame 111 is connected to the mainland 6. By coupling the water supply to the dies 102 (ideally only one water inlet and one drain for three molds, ie per support frame) and coupling the hydraulic supply to the oscillator units 103 (ideally again only one pressure line and one tank line for three oscillating units, ie per Support frame), the operability of the machine head of the billet continuous caster 101 is established. Subsequently, the segments 4a ... 4n are disconnected from the water and hydraulic supply, the segments released from the rear structure 7 and extended from the continuous casting over the rails shown; In addition, the bending device 5 is removed. Instead of the bending device 5 and the segments 4 of the continuous slab caster, a bending device 105 for a plurality of billet strands K and a plurality of pairs 104a... 104e for supporting and guiding the billet strands K is again arranged in FIG. As shown in Fig. 2, the roller pairs 104a ... 104i are connected to the existing rear construction 7 and the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs are connected to the existing water supply. In order to enable the extraction of the billet strands K from the molds 102, a plurality of pairs of rollers are formed as pull-out units, wherein the pairs of rollers are driven by a motor. For this purpose, these pairs of rollers are connected to a hydraulic connection. From FIG. 2 it can be seen that not all slab segments have been replaced by pairs of rolls. In general, this is not necessary since the billet strands are typically not reduced in thickness in the horizontal outlet region.

In contrast to the straight molds 102 of the billet continuous casting plant in FIG. 2, the billet casting plant of FIG. 3 has curved molds 102. The bent molds 102 eliminate the need for a bending device for the billet strands K to install. This will further accelerate the conversion.

4, finally, a machine head of a

multi-strand billet-type continuous casting 101 shown with curved dies 102. Each bent mold 102 is oscillated by an oscillating unit 103, with three

In turn, oscillating units 103 are supported on the common support frame 111. Specifically, the common support frame 111 is installed below the slab mold 2, which of course is removed prior to installation.

Since the conversion of a multi-strand billet-type continuous casting plant 101 into a single-strand slab continuous casting plant 1 essentially proceeds in the opposite direction to conversion from a single-strand slab continuous casting plant 1 into a multi-strand billet-type continuous casting plant 101, this conversion process is also familiar to a person skilled in the art sufficiently disclosed. When converting the multi-strand billet-type continuous casting plant 101 of FIG. 3 into a single-strand slab continuous casting plant 1, the procedure is as follows:

First, the pull-out units 108 are uncoupled from the hydraulic supply of the continuous casting installation 101, the pull-out units 108 are released from the rear construction 7 and removed from the continuous casting installation. Subsequently, the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs 104a... 104g are also decoupled from the water supply, the roller pairs are released from the rear construction 7 and removed from the continuous casting installation. Furthermore, a plurality of hydraulically adjustable segments 4a ... 4n (see FIG. 1) for guiding and cooling the slab strand B are introduced into the continuous casting plant and the segments 4a

Rear construction 7 connected. Finally, the segments 4a... 4n are coupled to the water supply and the hydraulic supply of the continuous casting plant so that the slab strand B in the segments 4a... 4n can be cooled by cooling nozzles and optionally reduced in thickness. In connection to the conversion of the strand guide 4, the water supply to the dies 102 and the hydraulic supply is disconnected from the oscillating units 103 of the continuous casting. Then, the common support frame 111 and the molds 102 and oscillating units 103 inserted therein are removed, and instead, a mold 2 for casting liquid steel into a slab strand B and an oscillating unit 3 for oscillating the mold 2 are installed. By coupling the water supply to the mold 2 and the coupling of the hydraulic supply to the oscillating unit 3, the functionality of the machine head is restored.

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that it is not necessary either in the conversion process according to claim 1 or in the conversion process according to claim 7, the process steps exactly in the order given, e.g. i to x in claim 1 and i to vii in claim 7, respectively. For example, the steps v to x in claim 1 are also performed before the steps i to iv. The same applies to claim 7.

The scope of the invention also includes the conversion of a multi-strand (e.g., double-stranded) continuous slab caster into a plurality (e.g.

multi-strand billet continuous casters and vice versa fall. In this case, the process steps are repeated several times, i. each once per slab strand, performed.

Although the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 single-strand slab caster

2 mold for the continuous slab caster

3 Oscillating unit for the continuous slab caster

4 strand guide for the continuous slab caster 4a ... 4n segment of the strand guide

5 bending device

6 mainland

7 rear construction

101 multi-strand billet caster casting plant

102 Mold for the billet caster

103 Oscillating unit for the billet caster

104 Strand guide for the billet caster 104a ... l04i pair of rolls

105 Bending equipment for the billet caster 108 Extension unit

111 common support frame

B slab strand

K stick strands

R, Ri, Rioi radius of curvature

Claims

claims

A process for converting a single-strand continuous slab caster (1) into a multi-strand billet continuous caster (101), the continuous slab caster (1) comprising:

- A mold (2) for casting of liquid steel in a slab strand (B) and an oscillating unit (3) for oscillating the mold (2);

- A strand guide (4) for supporting, guiding and cooling of the slab strand (B), wherein the strand guide (4) has a plurality of hydraulically adjustable segments (4a ... 4n), the slab strand (B) in the segments (4a ... 4n) is cooled by cooling nozzles and optionally reduced in thickness, the segments (4a ... 4n) with a rear structure (7) are mechanically connected and each with a hydraulic and a water supply fluidly;

comprising the method steps:

i) disconnecting the water supply from the mold (2) and disconnecting the hydraulic supply from the oscillating unit

(3) the continuous casting plant;

ii) removal of the mold (2) and the oscillating unit (3) and installation of a common supporting frame (111) for a plurality of billet strands (K) in the region of the machine head of the continuous casting plants, the common supporting frame (111) being connected to the mainland (6) the continuous casting plant is connected;

iii) installation of one mold (102) each for pouring liquid steel into a billet strand (K) and one each

Oscillating unit (103) for oscillating the mold (102) per billet string (K), wherein a plurality of oscillating units (103) are connected to the common support frame (111);

iv) coupling the water supply to the molds (2) and coupling the hydraulic supply to the oscillating units (3);

v) disconnecting the water supply and hydraulic supply from the segments (4a ... 4n); vi) releasing the segments (4a ... 4n) from the rear construction (7) of the continuous casting plant and removing the segments (4a ... 4n) from the continuous casting plant;

vii) connecting pairs of rollers (104a... 104e) for guiding a plurality of billet strands (K) to the rear construction (7), the billet strands (K) being supported on both sides by a pair of rollers (104a... 104) and cooled by cooling nozzles become; viii) coupling the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs (104a ... l04i) to the water supply;

ix) connecting at least one extension unit (108) to the

Extracting a plurality of billet strands (K) from the molds (102) with the rear construction (7);

x) coupling the extraction unit (108) to the hydraulic supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a billet strand (K) leaves the mold (102) of the billet continuous casting machine (101) bent with a radius of curvature (R, Rioi).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the roller pairs (104a ... l04i) in the strand guide (104) of the billet-strand casting machine (101) in such a way

Behind construction (7) are connected, that applies to the radius of curvature Rioi the billet-strand casting machine (101)

0.9 * Ri Rioi where Ri is the radius of curvature of the slab continuous casting machine (1).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a billet strand (K) leaves the mold (102) of the billet continuous casting machine (101) straight in the vertical direction.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that after the mold (102) of the billet-strand casting machine (101) a bending device (105) for deflecting the vertical billet strand (K) on a circular arc path with radius (Rioi) is arranged.

6. The method according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the roller pairs (104a ... l04i) in the strand guide (104) of the billet-strand casting machine (101) are so connected to the rear construction (7) that for the

The radius of curvature Rioi of the billet strand casting machine (101) is 0.5 * Ri ^ Rioi ^ Ri, where Ri is the radius of curvature of the continuous slab caster (1).

7. A method for converting a multi-strand billet continuous casting (101) in a single-strand continuous slab caster (1), wherein the billet -Stranggießanlage

(101) comprises:

a common support frame (111) for a plurality of billet strands (K), and one billet per billet strand (K)

(102) for casting liquid steel into a billet strand (K) and in each case an oscillating unit (103) for oscillating the mold (102);

- A strand guide (104) for supporting, guiding and cooling the billet strands (K), the strand guide (104) a plurality of pairs of rollers (104a ... l04i) for guiding a plurality of billet strands (K) and cooling nozzles to cool the billets (K), wherein the roller pairs (104a ... l04i) with a

Rear construction (7) of the continuous casting machine are connected;

- At least one pullout unit (108) for removing the

Billet strands (K) from the dies (102);

comprising the method steps:

i) uncoupling the at least one extension unit (108) from the hydraulic supply of the continuous casting installation, releasing the extension unit (108) from the rear construction (7) and removing the extension unit (108) from the continuous casting installation;

ii) decoupling the cooling nozzles of the roller pairs (104a ... l04i) from the water supply;

iii) releasing the roller pairs (104a... 104) from the

Rear construction (7) and removal of the roller pairs

(104a ... l04i) from the continuous caster;

iv) Installation of several hydraulically adjustable segments (4a ... 4n) for guiding and cooling the slab strand (B) in the Continuous casting plant, connecting the segments (4a ... 4n) with the rear construction (7), and coupling the segments (4a ... 4n) to the water supply and the hydraulic supply of the continuous casting plant, so that the slab strand (B) in the segments ( 4a ... 4n) is cooled by cooling nozzles and optionally reduced in thickness;

v) disconnecting the water supply from the dies (102) and disconnecting the hydraulic supply from the

Oscillating units (103) of the continuous casting plant;

vi) Removal of the common support frame (111) and therein Kokillen (102) and oscillating units (103) of the continuous casting and installation of a mold (2) for casting of liquid steel in a slab strand (B) and an oscillating unit (3) for oscillating the mold (2);

vii) coupling the water supply to the mold (2) and

Coupling of the hydraulic supply to the oscillating unit (3) of the continuous casting plant.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the slab strand (B) the mold (2) of the slab continuous casting machine (1) bent with a radius of curvature (R, Ri) leaves.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the segments (4a ... 4n) in the strand guide (4) of the continuous slab caster (1) are so connected to the rear structure (7) that for the radius of curvature Ri of the slabs -Stranggießmaschine (1) applies Rioi / 1.1 <Ri <Rioi / 0.9, preferably Ri = Rioi, where Rioi is the radius of curvature of the billet continuous casting machine (101).

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a slab strand (B) leaves the mold (2) of the continuous slab caster (1) straight in the vertical direction.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that after the mold (2) of the slab continuous casting machine (1) a Bending device (5) for deflecting the vertical slab strand (B) on a circular arc path with radius (Ri) is arranged.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the segments (4a ... 4n) in the strand guide (4) of the slab continuous casting machine (1) are so connected to the rear construction (7) that for the Radius of curvature Ri of the slab continuous casting machine (1) is Rioi ^ Ri <2 * Rioi, where Rioi is the radius of curvature of the billet continuous casting machine (101).