Algoma's Thin-Slab Caster Breakout Rate Reduction

摘要

One of the most catastrophic process events at a caster is a breakout. Breakout disruptions have serious effects tin both down and upstream processes depending on the plant's configuration, along with unplanned down time and high costs for repairs. At Algoma. the Thin Slab Caster is in line with a BOF and a Blast Furnace thus breakouts can be particularly adverse.At Algoma, the caster team at the DSPC (Direct Strip Production Complex) has focused on a number of initiatives to not only advance the process reliability, but positively improve breakout performance without negatively effecting productivity. These initiatives include development in the following areas: practice, process, automation and people. This technical paper will also discuss initiatives impacting the DSPC breakout rale over the past 8 years, along with the investigative approach utilized for each breakout. Algoma's Thin Slab Caster is a twin strand, vertical-curved machine commissioned in August 1997. Both strands draw metal from a single tundish. Cast width is 800-1640mm. while the final slab thickness can be either 78mm or 85mm. Additional features include a funnel mould, air-mist secondary cooling, and soft reduction. Performing 400-500 mm of width changes (predominately inward) within each cast sequence is not uncommon. The delivered nominal heat size is 230 tonnes. Daniel i is the OEM for this facility.