Plate Mill Technology for Energy Sector Applications

by Nick Champion

Publisher - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies Ltd

Category - General Novel

The steel plate mill is traditionally a jobbing mill, capable of making product for diverse applications in construction, ship-building and the energy sector. This paper concentrates on the energy sector specifically and starts by considering the processing requirements, product quality standards and market trends for pipestock and offshore steels. Oil and gas extraction and distribution forms the greatest part of the sector volume, but there is also a significant specialist market in the marketing of plate for offshore construction, including windfarms as well as jacket and rig structures. New applications in carbon capture and storage are also emerging. The technical specification of an energy sector-specialized plate mill is considered, including the design of accelerated cooling systems, levelers and shear lines as well as the mill stand itself. Process control and layout considerations are presented. The upstream processes in secondary steelmaking, casting and reheating are also reviewed. In conclusion, the paper attempts to answer the question: will a plate mill that is purpose-designed for energy sector applications outperform the traditional flexible mill concept?

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