Process for operating a thermal treatment line for the flexible thermal treatment of metal pre-products

Abstract

A process for operating a thermal treatment line for the flexible thermal treatment of metal pre-products, a thermal treatment line configured and suitable for carrying out the process, and a casting-rolling mill and a process for operating a casting-rolling mill having a thermal treatment line are disclosed. In comparison with previous thermal treatment lines and processes for operating said thermal treatment lines, the disclosed thermal treatment line allows flexible operation. Emissions and production costs in the process are thereby reduced.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A process for operating a thermal treatment line for a flexible thermal treatment of a metal pre-product, the thermal treatment line comprising
 a loading bed ( 3 ) for introducing the metal pre-product into the thermal treatment line;   an unloading bed ( 12 ) for discharging the metal pre-product from the thermal treatment line;   at least one first heating device ( 7 ) for thermally treating the metal pre-product;   at least one second heating device ( 9 ) for thermally treating the metal pre-product, in particular for heating to a forming temperature of the metal pre-product; and   at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) for transporting and/or temporarily storing the metal pre-product and at least two transfer points ( 18 ,  19 ) for transferring the metal pre-product between the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ),   wherein a first transport device ( 6 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) connects the loading bed ( 3 ) at least to the first heating device ( 7 ) and a first transfer point ( 18 ) of the at least two transfer points ( 18 ,  19 ),   wherein a second transport device ( 8 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) connects the first heating device ( 7 ) and the first transfer point ( 18 ) to the second heating device ( 9 ) and a second transfer point ( 19 ) of the at least two transfer points ( 18 ,  19 ), and   wherein a third transport device ( 10 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) connects the second heating device ( 9 ) and the second transfer point ( 19 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ),   
       the process comprising:
 introducing the metal pre-product into the thermal treatment line; 
 temporarily storing and/or transporting the metal pre-product by the first transport device ( 6 ) from the loading bed ( 3 ) to the first transfer point ( 18 ) or the first heating device ( 7 ); 
 thermally treating the metal pre-product in the first heating device ( 7 ) and thereafter transferring the metal pre-product to the second transport device ( 8 ) or transferring the metal pre-product from the first transport device ( 6 ) to the second transport device ( 8 ); 
 temporarily storing and/or transporting the metal pre-product by the second transport device ( 8 ) to the second transfer point ( 19 ) or the second heating device ( 9 ); 
 thermally treating the metal pre-product in the second heating device ( 9 ) and thereafter transferring the metal pre-product to the third transport device ( 10 ) or transferring the metal pre-product from the second transport device ( 8 ) to the third transport device ( 10 ); 
 temporarily storing and/or transporting the metal pre-product by the third transport device ( 10 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ); and 
 discharging the metal pre-products from the thermal treatment line; wherein, 
 in a first operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported without thermal treatment from the loading bed ( 3 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ) by the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ); or 
 in a second operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported to the second heating device by the first transport device ( 6 ) and the second transport device ( 8 ), the metal pre-product undergoes thermal treatment in the second heating device, and the metal pre-product is transported from the second heating device to the unloading bed by the third transport device; or 
 in a third operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported to the first heating device ( 7 ) by the first transport device ( 6 ), the metal pre-product undergoes thermal treatment in the first heating device ( 7 ); the metal pre-product is transported to the second heating device ( 9 ) by the second transport device ( 8 ), the metal pre-product undergoes further thermal treatment in the second heating device ( 9 ), and the metal pre-product is transported from the second heating device ( 9 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ) by the third transport device ( 10 ); or 
 in a fourth operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported to the first heating device ( 7 ) by the first transport device ( 6 ), the metal pre-product undergoes thermal treatment in the first heating device ( 7 ), and the metal pre-product is transported from the first heating device ( 7 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ) by the second transport device ( 8 ) and the third transport devices ( 10 ); and 
 wherein a control system selects the first operating mode, the second operating mode, the third operating mode, or the fourth operating mode as a function of process parameters selected from the group consisting of a material, a material flow, a temperature of the metal pre-product on the loading bed ( 3 ), a target temperature of the metal pre-product on the unloading bed ( 12 ), an energy availability, and an energy costs; and 
 wherein the control system optimizes at least a total energy consumption of the process by selecting the first operating mode, the second operating mode, the third operating mode, or the fourth operating mode. 
 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein at least one of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) is at least partially formed as a cooling line ( 11 ) and/or cooling bed; and   wherein the metal pre-product is cooled in a targeted manner upon transport by the at least one of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ).   
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the second heating device ( 9 ) is an induction furnace; and   wherein the metal pre-product is heated inductively.   
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the first heating device ( 7 ) is a gas-fired furnace; and   wherein the metal pre-product is heated by exothermic gas conversion.   
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein a heating device ( 6 ,  7 ) uses a combination of induction heating and combustion of gas for heating the metal pre-product.   
     
     
         22 . The process according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein a separating device ( 5 ) is present in the thermal treatment line; and   wherein the metal pre-product is divided into smaller units by the separating device.   
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein a connecting device ( 6 ) is present in the thermal treatment line; and   wherein the metal pre-product is connected to a further metal pre-product by the connecting device to form a larger unit.   
     
     
         24 . A thermal treatment line for flexible thermal treatment of a metal pre-product, comprising:
 a loading bed ( 3 ) for introducing the metal pre-product into the thermal treatment line;   an unloading bed ( 12 ) for discharging the metal pre-product from the thermal treatment line;   at least one first heating device ( 7 ) for thermally treating the metal pre-product;   at least one second heating device ( 9 ) for thermally treating the metal pre-product, in particular for heating to a forming temperature of the metal pre-product; and   at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) for transporting and/or temporarily storing the metal pre-product and at least two transfer points ( 18 ,  19 ) for transferring the metal pre-product between the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ),   wherein a first transport device ( 6 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) connects the loading bed ( 3 ) at least to the first heating device ( 7 ) and a first transfer point ( 18 ) of the at least two transfer points ( 18 ,  19 ),   wherein a second transport device ( 8 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) connects the first heating device ( 7 ) and the first transfer point ( 18 ) to the second heating device ( 9 ) and a second transfer point ( 19 ) of the at least two transfer points ( 18 ,  19 ), and   wherein a third transport device ( 10 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) connects the second heating device ( 9 ) and the second transfer point ( 19 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ),   wherein the thermal treatment line is configured for   introducing the metal pre-product into the thermal treatment line;   temporarily storing and/or transporting the metal pre-product by the first transport device ( 6 ) from the loading bed ( 3 ) to the first transfer point ( 18 ) or the first heating device ( 7 );   thermally treating the metal pre-product in the first heating device ( 7 ) and thereafter transferring the metal pre-product to the second transport device ( 8 ) or transferring the metal pre-product from the first transport device ( 6 ) to the second transport device ( 8 );   temporarily storing and/or transporting the metal pre-product by the second transport device ( 8 ) to the second transfer point ( 19 ) or the second heating device ( 9 );   thermally treating the metal pre-product in the second heating device ( 9 ) and thereafter transferring the metal pre-product to the third transport device ( 10 ) or transferring the metal pre-product from the second transport device ( 8 ) to the third transport device ( 10 );   temporarily storing and/or transporting the metal pre-product by the third transport device ( 10 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ); and   discharging the metal pre-products from the thermal treatment line; wherein,   in a first operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported without thermal treatment from the loading bed ( 3 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ) by the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ); or   in a second operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported to the second heating device by the first transport device ( 6 ) and the second transport device ( 8 ), the metal pre-product undergoes thermal treatment in the second heating device, and the metal pre-product is transported from the second heating device to the unloading bed by the third transport device; or   in a third operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported to the first heating device ( 7 ) by the first transport device ( 6 ), the metal pre-product undergoes thermal treatment in the first heating device ( 7 ); the metal pre-product is transported to the second heating device ( 9 ) by the second transport device ( 8 ), the metal pre-product undergoes further thermal treatment in the second heating device ( 9 ), and the metal pre-product is transported from the second heating device ( 9 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ) by the third transport device ( 10 ); or   in a fourth operating mode, the metal pre-product is transported to the first heating device ( 7 ) by the first transport device ( 6 ), the metal pre-product undergoes thermal treatment in the first heating device ( 7 ), and the metal pre-product is transported from the first heating device ( 7 ) to the unloading bed ( 12 ) by the second transport device ( 8 ) and the third transport devices ( 10 ); and   wherein a control system selects the first operating mode, the second operating mode, the third operating mode, or the fourth operating mode as a function of process parameters selected from the group consisting of a material, a material flow, a temperature of the metal pre-product on the loading bed ( 3 ), a target temperature of the metal pre-product on the unloading bed ( 12 ), an energy availability, and an energy costs; and   wherein the control system optimizes at least a total energy consumption by selecting the first operating mode, the second operating mode, the third operating mode, or the fourth operating mode.   
     
     
         25 . The thermal treatment line according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein at least one of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) includes driven rollers, conveyor chains and/or pushers, for moving the metal pre-product longitudinally and transversely to a main conveyor line ( 15 ).   
     
     
         26 . The thermal treatment line according to  claim 24 ,
 further comprising a driven roller track arranged in the thermal treatment line for connecting two or of more of the loading bed ( 3 ), the unloading bed ( 12 ), the at least one first heating device ( 7 ), the at least one second heating device ( 9 ), and the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ).   
     
     
         27 . The thermal treatment line according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the driven roller track is at least partially insulated.   
     
     
         28 . The thermal treatment line according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein at least one transport device ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) is at least partially insulated.   
     
     
         29 . The thermal treatment line according to  claim 26 ,
 wherein the thermal treatment line includes a cooling line ( 11 ) and/or a cooling bed for targeted cooling of the metal pre-product; and   wherein the cooling line ( 11 ) and/or the cooling bed is connected to at least one of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ), the at least one first heating device ( 7 ), the at least one second heating device ( 9 ), the a loading bed ( 3 ), and/or the unloading bed ( 12 ).   
     
     
         30 . The thermal treatment line according to  claim 26   wherein at least one of the at least three transport devices ( 6 ,  8 ,  10 ) has a loading and/or unloading device.   
     
     
         31 . A casting-rolling mill, comprising:
 the thermal treatment line according to  claim 26 ; and   a series of units for casting and rolling the metal pre-product into a semi-finished or finished product,   wherein the thermal treatment line is arranged between a casting mill ( 2 ) and a first rolling mill stand ( 14 ); and   wherein the thermal treatment line includes a higher-level control system for controlling production process steps of the thermal treatment line.   
     
     
         32 . A process, comprising:
 providing the casting-rolling mill according to claim  31 ,   wherein the higher-level control system of the casting-rolling mill ( 2 ) monitors the material flow through the casting-rolling mill; and   wherein, in an event of a planned or unplanned deviation from a mass flow through the casting mill ( 2 ) to a mass flow through the rolling mill, the higher-level control system uses the thermal treatment line as a temporary storage for metal pre-products or introduces or discharges metal pre-products,   wherein the higher-level control system optimizes the material flow through the casting-rolling mill with regard to an availability of cold pre-products, emissions of furnaces, costs, a material yield and/or a quality; and   wherein the higher-level control system optimizes at least a casting speed, an amount of cooling water and a process parameters of the thermal treatment line in relation to total emissions of the casting-rolling mill and total production costs.