Advanced Cooling Systems – Latest Developments

by Alois Seilinger, Thomas Trickl, Klaus Weinzierl

Publisher - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies GmbH, Siemens AG

Category - General Novel

The cooling process in hot strip mills is of eminent importance for the control of the microstructure development of hot rolled strips. Both mechanical equipment and automation solution must work at their maximum performance level in order to produce highest strip quality. SIEMENS VAI is working continuously on new developments. For mechanical equipment, Siemens VAI Metals Technologies has installed a new intensive-cooling unit in the Hot-Strip Mill 2 at ThyssenKrupp Steel AG in Duisburg-Beeckerwerth, Germany. The “Power Cooling” process will enable high- and highest-strength steels to be reliably cooled for a wide range of strip thicknesses. The intensive cooling unit commenced operation in December 2010. Regarding automation control systems, Siemens VAI introduced a new Microstructure Target-Cooling Model in 2007, which has been sold to more than 20 plants since then. Being this technological step ahead, Siemens VAI will now go even further by introducing a Comprehensive Strip Temperature and Microstructure Control. While a classical automation system divides the plant into its process areas roughing mill, finishing mill and cooling section with separate controllers for each of them, resulting in semi-optimum overall performance, Siemens VAI is reorganizing the automation of finishing mill and cooling section with only one comprehensive controller for strip temperature and microstructure. The pilot installation for this system will be implemented at Hoesch Hohenlimburg in 2011/2012.

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