KR20030064761A - Method of providing steel strip to order - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of controlling a continuous steel strip casting process based on customer-specified requirements includes a general purpose computer in which product specifications of steel product ordered by a customer is entered. The computer is configured to automatically map the product specifications to process parameters/set points for controlling the continuous steel strip casting process in a manner to produce the customer ordered product, and in one embodiment produces a process change report detailing such process parameters/set points for operator use in physically implementing such process parameters/set points in the strip casting process. Alternatively, the computer may provide the process parameters/set points directly to the strip casting process for automatic control thereof in producing the customer ordered steel product. The process of the present invention is capable of substantially reducing the time between a customer request for a steel product and delivery thereof over that of conventional steel manufacturing processes.

Description

How to supply steel strip on order {METHOD OF PROVIDING STEEL STRIP TO ORDER}

Conventional steel industry processes to meet customer orders for steel products with specific mechanical and dimensional properties are complex and time consuming and typically require 10 weeks or more to run. FIG. 1 shows a flow chart illustrating the flow of a conventional process 10 for producing, for example, a steel strip product ordered by a customer, and the term “strip” as used herein refers to a product having a thickness of 5 mm or less. Will understand.

The process 10 begins with a step 12 in which the steel manufacturer receives a customer order that is typically described in terms of the desired quantity as well as the mechanical and dimensional requirements for the steel strip product. In step 14, the steel manufacturer then determines specific steel chemistry requirements to achieve the broad properties of the product from customer orders. Chemical requirements are selected from the extensive list of available treatment recipes for steel chemistries available (in most cases traceable to ingot casting / hot rolling techniques where chemistry is a major determinant of properties). In step 16, the steel manufacturer then casts corresponding to the operating parameters and / or set points for the steel casting process used to produce the steel slab from the molten steel formed according to the steel chemistry requirements. Determine the parameters. In step 18, the steel manufacturer first focuses on achieving the customer's dimensional requirements, such as thickness, and then develops downstream slab process requirements that work through additional downstream processing steps that may be required to achieve final product characteristics. Decide These downstream slab process requirements include, for example, (a) hot rolling mill furnace operating parameters and / or slab reheat parameters corresponding to the set point for the hot strip rolling mill processing apparatus, and (b) hot strip rolling mill processing apparatus. Hot rolling parameters corresponding to rolling mill rolling operation parameters and / or set points for (c) cold rolling corresponding to pickling and cold rolling operating parameters and / or set points for cold rolling mill processing equipment. Parameters, (d) one or more combinations of heat treatment operating parameters for the heat treatment apparatus and / or heat treatment parameters corresponding to the set points.

From step 18, process 10 proceeds to step 20 where the steel manufacturer produces a batch of molten steel in accordance with the chemical properties requirements for a particular steel product and casting parameters set in step 16. Cast steel products from slab stock according to Frequently, customer orders (up to 5 tonnes) are batched until sufficient orders are made to fill one steelmaking heat, typically from 100 to 300 tonnes, depending on the particular steel plant design. This further delays the time that a particular customer's order can be processed, thus extending the total time for the production well beyond 10 weeks. In any case, the process 10 proceeds from step 20 to step 22 to produce a hot coil stock of a predetermined thickness, according to the slab reheat and hot rolling parameters set in step 18, according to the hot strip rolling. The slab stock is reheated and hot rolled in the apparatus. In step 24, the coil stock is pickled with lean acid water in the cold rolling mill according to the specific pickling and cold rolling parameters set in step 18 to reduce the thickness of the coil stock to the thickness ordered by the customer. And cold rolled. Finally, in step 26, the coil stock is heat treated in the heat treatment apparatus according to the specific heat treatment parameters set in step 18 to anneal the coil stock to meet the requirements ordered by the customer.

The conventional steel strip fabrication of the type just described is first processed through a composite hot rolling schedule in a hot strip mill that is cast in a slab and then produces steel products with a thickness as small as 1.5 mm with a yield strength in the range of 300 to 450 MPa. Requires the manufacture of various steel grades (typically over 50). If the customer requires thinner materials or properties outside this range, subsequent processing involving pickle lines, cold reduction rolling mills and annealing furnaces is required.

The main disadvantage associated with the above-described conventional steel strip production process is a long time period. More than 10 weeks are typically required to produce steel products that meet customer orders. Thus, there is a need for an improved steel strip manufacturing process that can respond more quickly to customer needs by significantly reducing the time required to produce custom steel strip products.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for supplying steel strips on demand, and more particularly to a process for controlling a continuous strip casting process in which a customer is operable to produce specific steel strip requirements and the customer produces a specific steel strip product. A device and method for converting into operating parameters.

1 is a flow chart illustrating a conventional steel strip manufacturing process.

2 is a schematic view showing one preferred embodiment of a continuous steel strip casting apparatus according to the present invention.

3 is a schematic diagram showing in detail part of a twin roll strip casting machine of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

4 is a block diagram of a general-purpose computer device operable to convert customer ordered steel strip requirements into process parameters controlling the continuous steel strip casting apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3.

5 is a flow chart illustrating one preferred embodiment of a process flow for controlling the continuous steel strip casting apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3 using the general purpose computer of FIG. 4.

The present invention solves the disadvantages of the prior art described above. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling a continuous strip steel casting process for producing a specific steel product by a customer, in which the customer receives an order for a steel product having a specific requirement in connection with the product. Mapping the customer specific requirements to a number of process parameters that control the continuous strip steel casting process to produce the steel product, and process changes to the operator of the continuous strip steel casting process. A method for supplying steel strips on demand, comprising the step of displaying said plurality of process parameters in a report.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling a continuous strip steel casting process for producing a specific steel product by the customer, in which the customer receives an order for a steel product having a specific requirement in relation to the product. The customer maps specific requirements to a number of process parameters that control a continuous strip steel casting process to produce the steel product, and based on the process parameters to produce the steel product. And a method for supplying steel strips on demand consisting of controlling the continuous strip steel casting process.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method in which a customer controls a continuous strip steel casting process to produce a specific steel product is based on a continuous strip based on a set of predefined process parameters for producing the first steel product. Controlling the steel casting process, the customer accepting an order for the second steel product comprising specific requirements with respect to the second steel product, the customer requesting specific requirements, to produce the second steel product Mapping to a set of new process parameters that control the continuous strip steel casting process, and the continuous strip steel casting process such that the continuous strip steel casting process is directly converted from the first steel product production to the second steel product production. Process parameters that predefine the new set of process parameters without interruption And a step of replacing a set of variables.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of supplying a specific steel strip by a customer includes a productive operation of a continuous strip casting machine in which a customer places an order for a steel strip having a specific requirement, and casts a single steel chemical steel strip. Schedules to produce steel strips as ordered by the company, operating a continuous strip casting machine during productive operation to produce a single steel chemical casting strip, and stripping the strip over the transformation temperature range from austenite to ferrite. Cooling, and optionally controlling process parameters to produce a strip with the customer specific requirements.

Preferably the present invention further comprises the step of in-line hot rolling the cast strip prior to the step of cooling the strip over the transformation temperature range from austenite to ferrite.

In each of the above-described methods according to the present invention, the customer specific requirements include specific steel grades and / or specific strip thicknesses, and the process for producing the customer specific steel products includes the casting speed of the continuous strip casting process, the steel product. Raw cast thickness of steel, percentage of hot reduction of steel product, cooling rate of steel product, coiling temperature of steel product, percentage of cold reduction of steel product, annealing cycle form and annealing temperature.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of providing a steel strip that meets a customer's order.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the turnaround time between receipt of customer orders for steel strip products and the actual production of steel strip products.

These objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.

In order to facilitate understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference is now made to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings and the same terms are used for the same elements. It is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which modifications and further variations in the embodiments shown, and further applications of the principles of the invention as disclosed herein, are those commonly occurring to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates. I will understand that.

The present invention is based on the production of steel strips in a continuous strip casting machine. Applicants have carried out extensive research and developments in the field of steel strip casting of continuous strip casting machines in the form of twin roll casting machines. In general terms, steel strip casting successively in a twin roll casting machine introduces a molten metal between a pair of horizontally casting rolls of a pair of counterclockwise rotations that are internally water cooled, thereby forming a metal shell on the moving roll surface. Once solidified, this metal shell is moved together to the roll gap between the rolls to produce a solidified strip product which is fed downwards from the roll nip. As used herein, "roll gap" generally refers to the region where the rolls are closest to each other. Molten metal is injected from the ladle into smaller vessels, where molten metal flows through the metal feed nozzles located above the roll gap and is directed to the roll gap, to the roll casting surface just above the roll gap. It forms a molten metal casting pool that is supported and extends along the length of the roll gap. This casting pool is generally constrained between side plates or side dams that are in sliding engagement with the cross section of the roll to prevent both ends of the casting pool against outflow. As regards steel strip casting in twin roll casting machines of this kind, for example, disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 5,184,668, 5,277,243 and 5,934,359, all of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Applicants have determined that by continuously casting the strips and then selectively changing downstream strip processing parameters, it is possible to produce steel strips of desired components with a wide range of microstructures, i.e. a wide range of mechanical properties. For example, Applicant has selected a cooling rate in the range of 0.1 ° C./s to 100 ° C./s or more over a transformation temperature range of austenite to ferrite, and includes 200 MPa to 550 MPa or more of silicon / manganese carbon steel. It was determined from studies conducted on carbon steels that could produce steel strips with a yield strength of. As an example of the flexibility of continuous strip casting as recognized by the applicant so far, the productive operation of a continuous strip casting machine for casting a steel strip of a given component is controlled so that the casting strip spans the transformation temperature range from austenite to ferrite. Since it can be selectively influenced by different cooling rates, it is possible to produce strips with different ranges of microstructures and thus mechanical properties.

Applicants generally find that by selectively changing downstream strip process parameters in a continuous strip steel casting process, considerable flexibility can be realized in operating the continuous strip casting machine to meet production (ie customer) requirements. It was. It means that the customer's order for steel strips with a range of different dimensional specifications and mechanical properties can be produced from a single steel chemistry in a single productive operation. It also means that adjustments to productive operation can be made while productive operation is in progress. This is recognized by the applicant as an important advantage of continuous strip casting in terms of meeting customer demands for urgent orders.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a continuous cast steel strip using a twin roll casting machine. The invention is not limited to the use of twin roll casting machines, but can be extended to other types of continuous casting machines.

With reference to FIG. 2, a steel strip according to the invention can be produced by a continuous strip steel casting apparatus / process 50 shown as a continuous part of the production line. 2 and 3 are indicated by reference numeral 54 to produce a cast steel strip 56 that passes from the relay passage 52 across the guide table 58 to the pinch roll stand 60 of the pinch roll 60A. A twin roll casting machine is shown. Immediately after exiting the pinch roll stand 60, it is hot rolled so that the strip passes through the pair of grinding rolls 62A and the hot rolling mill 62 of the support roll 62B to reduce the thickness of the strip. This hot rolled strip passes over the delivery table 64 to be forcedly cooled by the water jet 66 and passes through the pinch roll stand 70 of the pair of pinch rolls 70A and 70B to form a coiler 68. Go to).

Referring now to FIG. 3, twin roll casting machine 54 has a frame 72 which is a main machine supporting a pair of parallel casting rolls 74 having casting surfaces 74A and 74B. The metal is fed from the ladle (not shown) to the tundish 80 during the casting operation, proceeds through the fire protection shroud 82 to the distributor 84 and between the casting rolls 74 through the metal supply nozzle 86. It is supplied to the roll gap 88 of the. The molten metal supplied to the roll gap 88 thus forms a pool 92 directly above the roll gap 88, the pool 92 having a pair of thrusters having a hydraulic cylinder device connected to the side plate holder. It is constrained to the edge of a roll by the pair of side dam or side plate 90 applied to the edge of a roll by the illustration (not shown). The upper surface of the pool 92 (commonly referred to as the "meniscus" level) rises above the lower end of the supply nozzle 86 so that the lower end of the supply nozzle 86 is locked in this pool 92. It becomes.

The casting roll 74 is water-cooled to solidify the shell on the moving roll surface and to produce a solidified strip 56 which is fed downward in the roll gap 88 between the rolls 74. Go to 88) together. Twin roll casting machine 54 is shown and disclosed in detail in US Pat. Nos. 5,184,668 and 5,277,243 or 5,488,988, each of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

According to the present invention, a customer order for a steel strip is entered into a general purpose computer system, such as the computer device 150 of FIG. 4, and the continuous steel strip casting process described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 to satisfy the customer's order. Processes are described in more detail later to determine process parameters and / or process set points that control a continuous steel strip casting process such as (50). Referring to FIG. 4, a general purpose computer device 150 is a general purpose computer 152, a general purpose personal computer (PC), a laptop or notebook, or a general purpose computer 152, which may be comprised of a known general purpose computer configured to operate in the manner described later. Include. Computer device 150 includes a conventional keyboard 154 electrically connected to computer 152 for inputting information about a customer's order herein, and may include one or a combination of output devices. For example, computer 152 is electrically connected to printer 156, and computer 152 is configured to print a set of process parameters in the form of a process change report or similar report, the process change report being a steel strip ordered by a customer. As a method of producing a product, process parameters and / or set points that control a continuous steel strip casting process, such as the continuous steel strip casting process 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, an operator of a continuous steel strip casting process, such as process 50, observes process change reports and makes physical changes corresponding to the continuous steel strip casting process to produce steel strip products ordered by the customer. .

Computer 152 is optionally or additionally electrically connected to conventional monitor 158, computer 152 may be configured to display a set of process parameters in the form of a process change report or similar report, and process change The report discloses process parameters and / or set points that control a continuous steel strip casting process, such as the continuous steel strip casting process 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as a method of producing a steel strip product ordered by a customer. do. An operator of a continuous steel strip casting process, such as process 50, observes the process change report displayed on monitor 158 in addition to or in place of a printed form report and monitors the physical changes corresponding to the continuous steel strip casting process. They produce the steel strip products ordered by the customer.

The computer 152 is also electrically connected to a conventional storage medium device 160, and the computer 152 is configured to store information in the storage medium device 160 and retrieve information from the storage device in a known manner. have. In one embodiment of the present invention, the computer 152 is configured to download a set of process parameters in the form of a process change report or similar report to the storage medium 162 via the storage medium device 160, wherein the process change report is Discloses process parameters and / or set points that control a continuous steel strip casting process, such as the continuous steel strip casting process 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as a method for producing a steel strip product ordered by a customer. do. Operators of continuous steel strip casting processes, such as process 50, access the contents of storage media via the prior art, observe process change reports, and make physical changes corresponding to the continuous steel strip casting process to make steel strip products ordered by customers. It can also produce The storage medium device 160 and the storage medium 162 may be implemented in a combination of a known storage medium device and a storage medium. Examples include, but are not limited to, magnetic disk read / write device 160 and magnetic diskette 162, CD ROM read / write device 160, CD ROM disk 162, and the like.

In a variant embodiment, the continuous steel strip casting process, such as the continuous steel strip casting process 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is a computer controlled process, in which case the computer device 150 is shown in phantom in FIG. 4. It may be configured to provide a process change report directly (electrically) to process 50 via an appropriate communication link 164 as such. Subsequently, as an alternative, the computer 152 may be configured in such an embodiment to download a process change report to the storage medium 162, with the operator dashed line 166 as shown in FIG. The storage medium 162 including the process change report is loaded into a storage medium device (not shown) similar to the storage medium device 160 embedded therein. In these cases, the continuous steel strip casting process, such as process 50, responds to process change reports to automatically respond to corresponding process changes and / or device set point changes. However, regardless of how the process and / or setpoint changes are made in the continuous steel strip casting process, the strip casting process apparatus produces steel strip products according to new process parameters / process setpoint information in the production of steel strip products currently produced. It is responding to this change so that it can be converted to

Referring now to FIG. 5, one preferred implementation of a process 200 for controlling a continuous strip steel casting process, such as the process 50 shown and described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, in order for a customer to produce a particular steel product. A flowchart illustrating an example is shown. Process 200 begins with an initial step 202 of accepting a customer order for a steel strip product with specified mechanical properties or product specifications. In one embodiment, although the present invention contemplates additional or optional information needed regarding a customer ordered product, the product specification includes the desired grade of the steel product, the desired strip thickness, and the total strip amount. After step 204, product specifications are entered into the computer 152 through certain known mechanisms. For example, the operator may enter information into the computer 152 through the keyboard 154, or if the customer provides the information to a storage medium such as a diskette, the operator may enter the information into the computer via the storage medium device 160. You can simply upload Optionally, the present invention contemplates inputting product specifications into the computer 152 according to other known techniques not shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, which other, but not limited to, computers 152 and customer computers. Delivery of product specifications via a telephone modem connection, transmission of product specifications via an Internet connection, or the like.

In either case, the process 200 proceeds from step 204 to step 206, where the method for producing the steel products ordered by the customer based on the product specifications entered into the computer 152 in step 204. As such, computer 152 is operated to calculate process parameters and / or process set points that control a continuous steel strip casting process, such as process 50. According to the present invention, the computer 152 inputs a set of process parameters / process set points to the computer 152 at step 204 that controls the continuous steel strip casting process in a method for producing a steel product ordered by a customer. It is programmed as a set of one or more principles related to the specified product specification. One or more sets of principles may be implemented in one or a combination of one or more tables, one or more graphs, one or more expressions, and the like. As an example of a set of exemplifying principles, Tables I, II, and III will be described below.

Table I maps product specifications related to steel products ordered from any customer into hot band products that process parameters / set points for the continuous steel strip casting process 50 shown and described herein. Specify a set of principles. As related to Table I, the steel grades of the ASTM specification for hot band products are related to the yield strength (YS) and percent elongation (% Elong) below.

ASTM rating YS (ksi) % Elongation

Grade 3333-4330-35

Grade 4040-5025-30

Grade 5050 to 6020 to 25

Grade 6565-7515-20

Grades 8080 to 9010 to 15,

And residue level indicators (L, M, H) are defined by the relationship of low (L) <0.35%, medium (M) = 0/8%, and high (H) = 1.2%.

Table I

Customer Requirements Hot Band Product Specifications Casting process setpoint Thickness (mm) ASTM rating Residue level (Cu + Sn + Mo + Ni + Cr) Casting speed (m / min) Casting State Thickness (mm) % Hot reduction ROT Cooling Curve Cooling Coiling Speed * Temperature (℃ / s) (℃) 0.04 "(1.0mm) Grade 33 Currently impossible to manufacture due to chemical properties 0.04 "(1.0mm) Grade 40 L 80 1.6 38 700 0.04 "(1.0mm) Grade 50 LM 8080 1.61.6 3838 150700 0.04 "(1.0mm) Grade 65 LMH 808080 1.61.61.6 383838 200150650 0.04 "(1.0mm) Grade 80 ML 8080 1.61.6 3838 200250 0.047 "(1.2mm) Grade 33 Currently impossible to manufacture due to chemical properties 0.047 "(1.2mm) Grade 40 L 80 1.6 25.0 700 0.047 "(1.2mm) Grade 50 LML 808045 1.61.61.9 25.025.037 150700650 0.047 "(1.2mm) Grade 65 LMH 808080 1.61.61.6 25.025.025.0 200150650 0.047 "(1.2mm) Grade 80 HM 8080 1.61.6 25.025.0 200 250 0.055 "(1.4mm) Grade 33 Currently impossible to manufacture due to chemical properties 0.055 "(1.4mm) Grade 40 L 80 1.6 12.5 700 0.055 "(1.4mm) Grade 50 LML 808045 1.61.61.9 12.512.526.0 60650650 0.055 "(1.4mm) Grade 65 L 80 1.6 12.5 100 0.055 "(1.4mm) Grade 80 LH 8080 1.61.6 12.512.5 150650 0.063 "(1.6mm) Grade 33 Currently impossible to manufacture due to chemical properties 0.063 "(1.6mm) Grade 40 L 80 1.6 0.0 700 0.063 "(1.6mm) Grade 50 LM 8080 1.61.6 0.00.0 M60650

0.063 "(1.6mm) Grade 65 L 80 1.6 0.0 100 0.063 "(1.6mm) Grade 80 LH 8080 1.61.6 0.00.0 150650 0.075 "(1.9mm) Grade 33 Currently impossible to manufacture due to chemical properties 0.075 "(1.9mm) Grade 40 L 45 1.9 0.0 700 0.075 "(1.9mm) Grade 50 M 45 1.9 0.0 650 0.075 "(1.9mm) Grade 65 H 45 1.9 0.0 650 0.075 "(1.9mm) Grade 80 Unable to manufacture as permutation occurs before ROT

*-Cooling rate in 800-500 ℃ temperature range

The set of general principles for hot band products used to generate Table I values is summarized in Table II below, where "chemistry" refers to residue levels in steel products, and low ( It is summarized in the range of Low, Med, and High.

Table II

Chemical properties % HR Cooling rate Yield strength MPa Low <15 150 550 Low 25-40 250 550 Med 25-40 200 550 High 0-50 30 * 550 Low <15 100 475 Low 25-40 200 475 Med 25-40 150 475 High 0-50 30 * 475 Low <15 60 400 Low 25-40 150 400 Med 25-40 30 * 400 Low 0-50 30 * 350

*-Reference cooling rate to achieve coiling temperature around 650-700 ℃

From the data obtained in the actual work, it was determined that 1.2% residue caused an increase in yield strength of approximately 120 MPa, so that a 0.1% increase in residue is considered to result in a 10 MPa increase in the corresponding yield strength.

From Table I, the process parameters required by the customer to produce a specific hot band steel product include the casting speed of the continuous strip casting process, the as-cast steel thickness of the steel product, the percentage of hot reduction of the steel product, the steel It is now apparent that a combination of one or more of the cooling rate of the product and the cooling temperature of the steel product may be included.

Table III sets a set of principles that map product specifications relating to steel products that any customer may require as cold rolled product processing parameters / set points for the continuous steel strip casting process 50 shown and disclosed herein. Shown in detail. As related to Table III, the steel grades of ASTM specification for cold rolled products are associated with the following yield strength (YS) and percent elongation (% Elong):

ASTM rating YS (ksi) % Elongation

Grade 3333-4330-35

Grade 4040-5030-35

Grade 5050 to 6025 to 30

Grade 6565 to 7510 to 15

Grade 8080-902 min.

Table III

Cold Rolled Product Specification Hot band specification Cold rolling / annealing parameters Cold Rolled Thickness (mm) Cold Rolled ASTM Grade Hot band thickness (MM) Hot Band ASTM Rating % Cold reduction Annealing Cycle Annealing Temperature (℉) 0.008 "(0.2mm) Grade 33 1.0-1.6 Grade 40 80-88 Batch Annealing (BA) Laboratory data *-see note 0.008 "(0.2mm) Grade 40 1.0-1.6 Grade 40 80-88 Batch / Continuous Annealing (CA) 1250-1350 0.008 "(0.2mm) Grade 50 1.4-1.6 Grade 50 86-88 CA 1250-1350 0.008 "(0.2mm) Grade 65 0.008 "(0.2mm) Grade 80 1.0-1.6 ** Grade 40 80-88 N / A N / A 0.016 "(0.4mm) Grade 33 1.0-1.6 Grade 40 60-75 BA 0.016 "(0.4mm) Grade 40 1.0-1.6 Grade 40 60-75 BA / CA 1250-1350 0.016 "(0.4mm) Grade 50 1.4-1.6 Grade 50 70-75 CA 1250-1350 0.016 "(0.4mm) Grade 65 0.016 "(0.4mm) Grade 80 1.0-1.6 ** Grade 40 60-75 N / A N / A 0.024 "(0.6mm) Grade 33 1.4-1.6 Grade 40 57-63 BA 0.024 "(0.6mm) Grade 40 1.4-1.6 Grade 40 57-63 CA 1250-1350 0.024 "(0.6mm) Grade 50 1.6-1.9 *** Grade 50 57-63 CA 1250-1350 0.024 "(0.6mm) Grade 65 0.024 "(0.6mm) Grade 80 1-1.6 ** Grade 40 40-63 N / A N / A 0.032 "(0.8mm) Grade 33 1.4-1.6 Grade 40 43-50 BA 0.032 "(0.8mm) Grade 40 1.6-1.9 *** Grade 40 50-58 BA 0.032 "(0.8mm) Grade 50

0.032 "(0.8mm) Grade 65 1.0 Grade 40 20 N / A N / A 0.032 "(0.8mm) Grade 80 1.2-1.6 ** Grade 40 33-50 N / A N / A 0.040 "(1.0mm) Grade 33 1.9 Grade 40 47 BA 0.040 "(1.0mm) Grade 40 1.9 Grade 40 47 BA 0.040 "(1.0mm) Grade 50 0.040 "(1.0mm) Grade 65 1.3 Grade 40 23 N / A N / A 0.040 "(1.0mm) Grade 80 1.6-1.9 *** Grade 40 38-48 N / A N / A

* Lab data in batch annealing-slowly heat up to 1275 ° F (approximately 33 hours) and then cool slowly from 1275 ° F to 750 ° F (approximately 8 hours). The material yield strength after annealing is very low (23 ksi), so there is an opportunity to optimize batch annealing for grade 33.

** Thinner cold reduction provides better elongation, so thinner gauge hot bands are preferred.

*** A thicker gauge hot band is preferred to achieve higher yield strength with good elongation after annealing.

The set of general principles for cold rolled materials used to generate Table III values is as follows.

(Iii) require 35-40% CR or higher to obtain a Grade 80;

(Ii) for continuous annealing, at least 50% cold reduction requirement, and

(Iii) at least 40% cold reduction requirement for batch annealing.

From Table III, the process parameters required by the customer to produce a particular cold rolled steel product are any hot band process parameters that produce the hot band product, and the percentage of cold reduction, such as batch or batch / It is now apparent that it may further comprise one or more combinations of continuous annealing forms, and annealing temperatures and the like.

Referring again to FIG. 5, process 200 proceeds from step 206 to step 208 and the computer 152 to display the process parameters to the continuous strip casting operator in a process change report in one embodiment of the present invention. Will be activated. It will be appreciated that step 208 is typically included only if the computer 152 does not operate to automatically control the continuous steel strip casting process as described above and may be omitted from the process 200. Computer 152 may be configured to display a process change report through one or more output devices described above with respect to FIG. 4. In this embodiment, dotted box 210 is an overview of the steps of process 200 executed by computer 152. Additionally, as noted above, the present invention contemplates an embodiment of a computer 152 that is operable to electrically accept customer orders, in which an dashed box 210 may be extended to include step 202. have.

Following step 208, process 200 proceeds to step 212 where a continuous strip casting process, such as continuous strip casting process 50 shown and initiated with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, is performed at step 206. It is controlled as a function of the processed process parameters, whereby a customer specific steel product is produced. In an embodiment of the process that includes step 208, step 212 is generally not performed by computer 152 but is performed by an operator of a continuous steel strip casting process. In this embodiment step 212 is performed by physically executing the process parameters / set points that the operator has disclosed in the process change report. In embodiments in which the computer 152 is configured to directly (electrically) supply process parameters / set points to a continuous steel strip casting process, omit step 208 and step 206 directly to step 212. You can proceed. In such embodiments, the process parameters / set points computed in step 206 of the continuous steel strip casting process may be configured to automatically execute on computer 152, in which case dashed line box 210 is step 212. ) To include.

In accordance with the present invention, computer device 150 operates to map product specifications ordered by a customer to a productive operating schedule for the steel of the selected component. Typically, a productive operating schedule for a given steel chemistry can extend at least a few days while the steel strip is continuously cast by the twin roll casting machine 54. Depending on the number of orders and the quantity ordered, the overall productive operation may relate to the production of steel strips having a particular set of mechanical properties or to the production of steel strips of different selected mechanical properties along the length of the strip.

Productive operating schedules include casting speed, hot rolled temperature range, amount of hot reduction, to produce the final microstructure in the casting strip that provides sequential material handling efflux associated with the strip's cooling rate changes and the mechanical properties required for the strip. Parameters such as cooling rate are taken into account over the transformation temperature range (usually 900 to 550 ° C.) from austenite to ferrite.

By adjusting the cooling rate in the range of 0.1 ℃ / s and more than 100 ℃ / s

(Iii) mostly polygonal ferrite,

(Ii) a mixture of low temperature transformation products such as polygonal ferrite and acicular ferrite, Widmanstatten ferrite, bainite, and the like, and

(Iii) It is possible to produce castings with the microstructure of most low temperature transformation products.

In the case of carbon steels such as microstructures in this range, it can be produced with yield strengths in the range of 200 MPa to 700 MPa or more. After the productive operating schedule is established, the twin roll casting machine 54 can be operated to produce the casting strip according to the productive schedule and the strip can be supplied to the customer as required.

One preferred feature of the method of the present invention is that it is possible to adjust the productive operating schedule during the course of productive operation so that the required mechanical properties are suitable for production on the basis of an urgent strip order. As such, in the process of the invention, a single steel chemistry is used to produce a wide range of mechanical properties. As such, the customer's order no longer needs to be delayed until the heating / batch is assembled. Strip casting in terms of control of rolling temperature, degree of hot reduction and final product cooling rate can simultaneously achieve the customer's dimensional specifications and required mechanical properties in production lines of typical lengths of 70 meters or less. By changing the appropriate setpoints in the main process control loop of the central control computer, the characteristics can be changed in real time and thus within eight hours of the conventional method of manufacturing steel, which takes between 14 and 30 days from receipt of customer orders to product dispatch. Orders that can be shortened and have very short supply times enable the concept of "virtual warehouses" through the application of e-commerce.

While the invention has been shown and described in detail with reference to the foregoing drawings and detailed description, it is to be understood that the same is shown without limiting the features thereof, the preferred embodiments of which are shown and described and all changes and modifications made within the spirit of the invention are protected It will be understood to hope to be.

Claims (46)

A method of controlling a continuous strip steel casting process for a customer to produce a particular steel product, the method comprising: In connection with the product, the customer accepts an order for a steel product with specific requirements, Mapping the customer specific requirements into a number of process parameters that control a continuous strip steel casting process to produce the steel product, and Displaying the plurality of process parameters in a process change report to an operator of the continuous strip steel casting process. The order of claim 1 or 2, further comprising controlling the continuous strip steel casting process based on the process parameters indicated in the process change report to produce the steel product. Steel strip feeding method by The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the customer specific requirements include the thickness of the steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the customer specific requirements include the grade of the steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a casting speed of the continuous strip steel casting process. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise an as-cast thickness of the steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of hot reduction of the steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a cooling rate of the steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a coiling temperature of the steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of cold reduction of said steel product. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise an annealing cycle form. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise annealing temperature. A method of controlling a continuous strip steel casting process for a customer to produce a particular steel product, the method comprising: In connection with the product, the customer accepts an order for a steel product with specific requirements, The customer maps specific requirements into a number of process parameters that control the continuous strip steel casting process to produce the steel product, and Controlling the continuous strip steel casting process based on the process parameters to produce the steel product. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the customer specific requirements include the thickness of the steel product. 15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the customer specific requirements include the grade of the steel product. 16. The method of any of claims 13-15, wherein the plurality of process parameters include a casting speed of the continuous strip steel casting process. 17. The method of any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise the raw casting thickness of the steel product. 18. The method of any of claims 13 to 17, wherein the plurality of process parameters include a percentage of hot reduction of the steel product. 19. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein said plurality of process parameters comprise a cooling rate of said steel product. 20. The method of any of claims 13 to 19, wherein the plurality of process parameters include the coiling temperature of the steel product. 21. The method of any of claims 13-20, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of cold reduction of the steel product. 22. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 21, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise an annealing cycle form. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise annealing temperature. In the method of controlling the continuous strip steel casting process to produce a specific steel product, Controlling the continuous strip steel casting process based on a set of predefined process parameters to produce the first steel product, In connection with the second steel product, the customer accepts an order for the second steel product with specific requirements, The customer maps specific requirements into a set of new process parameters that control the continuous strip steel casting process to produce the second steel product, and Replacing the new set of process parameters with a predefined set of process parameters without interrupting the continuous strip steel casting process so that the continuous strip steel casting process is directly switched from the first steel product production to the second steel product production. Method for supplying steel strip on demand, characterized in that consisting of steps. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the customer specific requirements include the thickness of the steel product. 26. The method of claim 24 or 25, wherein the customer specific requirements include the grade of the steel product. 27. The method of any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a casting speed of the continuous strip steel casting process. 28. The method of any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise the raw casting thickness of the steel product. 29. The method of any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of hot reduction of the steel product. 30. The method of any one of claims 24 to 29, wherein the plurality of process parameters include cooling rates of the steel product. 31. The method of any of claims 24-30, wherein the plurality of process parameters include coiling temperatures of the steel product. 32. The method of any one of claims 24 to 31, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of cold reduction of the steel product. 33. The method of any of claims 24 to 32, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise an annealing cycle form. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise annealing temperature. In the way a customer supplies a specific steel strip, The customer processes an order for a steel strip with specific requirements as a schedule for producing the ordered steel strip in the productive operation of a continuous strip casting machine for casting a single steel chemical steel strip, Operating a continuous strip casting machine during productive operation to produce a single steel chemically cast strip, Cooling the strip over the transformation temperature range from austenite to ferrite, and A method of supplying steel strips to an order, comprising the step of selectively controlling process parameters to produce strips having a customer specific requirement. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising in-line hot rolling the casting strip prior to cooling the strip over the transformation temperature range from austenite to ferrite. 37. A method according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the customer specific requirements include the thickness of the steel product. 38. The method of any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein the customer specific requirements include the grade of the steel product. 39. The method of any one of claims 35 to 38, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a casting speed of the continuous strip steel casting process. 40. The method of any one of claims 35 to 39, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise the raw casting thickness of the steel product. 41. The method of any one of claims 35-40, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of hot reduction of the steel product. 42. The method of any one of claims 35 to 41, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise cooling rates of the steel product. 43. The method of any one of claims 35 to 42, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a coiling temperature of the steel product. 44. The method of any one of claims 35 to 43, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise a percentage of cold reduction of the steel product. 45. The method of any one of claims 35 to 44, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise an anneal cycle form. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the plurality of process parameters comprise annealing temperature.