(p402) Vertical Continuous Casting Machine for large blooms

摘要

In order to achieve a higher steelmaking productivity and product yield while retaining world leading product qualityacross a wide range of engineered steel, TimkenSteel decided to install a vertical continuous casting machine(VCCM) in the premises of their Faircrest steel plant (Canton - OH, USA).The caster has been designed, supplied and commissioned by SMS-Concast (part of SMS Group) and put inoperation in the last quarter of 2014.The TimkenSteel quality and size program required a unique custom designed caster. The special designincorporates a large (460x610mm) and a medium section (280x430) and features a special tundish design, a newdesigned vertical roll layout with CONCOR rolls and advanced technological packages, such as mechanical softreduction, bloom quenching, M-EMS, advanced stopper rod controls, hydraulic oscillator, on-line solidificationmodel, and on-line breakout prevention system. The vertical nature of this caster required tailored engineeringsolutions for the bloom elevator, dummy bar car, and bloom inclined car. Capacity and utilization requirementsnecessitate numerous operational modes, such as dual casting, link casting, and a top/bottom feeding dummy bar,to ensure a high utilization and capacity of the caster as well as a highly flexible production. L1 and L2 automationcomplete the caster scope of supply in order to achieve a reliable and controlled process.TimkenSteel and SMS Concast worked in close cooperation throughout the project to satisfy the design,operational, safety, and constructions challenges to ensure the highest surface and internal quality required by ademanding product mix.Special design solutions and initial results after CCM commissioning are presented in this publication.