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Intensive-Cooling Unit from Siemens at ThyssenKrupp Rolling Mill

11/12/2010 - Siemens VAI Metals Technologies will install a new intensive-cooling unit in the Hot-Strip Mill 2 of ThyssenKrupp Steel AG in Duisburg-Beeckerwerth, Germany. The unit is scheduled to commence operation in December 2010.

Siemens VAI Metals Technologies will install a new intensive-cooling unit in the Hot-Strip Mill 2 of ThyssenKrupp Steel AG in Duisburg-Beeckerwerth, Germany. Siemens notes that the “Power Cooling” process will enable high- and highest-strength steels to be reliably cooled for a wide range of strip thicknesses. The unit is scheduled to commence operation in December 2010.
 
Contrary to laminar-flow strip-cooling processes, Power Cooling technology allows cooling rates as high as 400 K/s. In particular, the production of high- and highest-strength steels in the upper thickness range of up to 1 inch requires high cooling rates. Another feature of the cooling section is the wide range within which the flow volume can be regulated, which enables the strip-cooling process to be precisely and flexibly controlled.
 
Power Cooling can achieve heat flow densities of up to 5 MW/m2 — three times higher than the rates achieved with laminar-flow cooling processes, according to Siemens. The new cooling system also allows lower flow volumes to be set for a quasi-laminar cooling condition.
 
A newly developed cross-plant temperature model will also be utilized for the operation of this plant. This model applies a uniform calculation method for the entire finishing mill, through the cooling section and to the coiler, enabling an accurate prediction of the start of the phase transition. The calculation of the bainitic portions of the structure is also integrated within the model.
 
The cross-plant temperature model replaces the existing Siemens laminar-flow strip-cooling temperature model, which has been used in the Beeckerwerth Hot-Strip Mill 2 since 2007.
 
ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG is the leading company for the European carbon-steel activities of the ThyssenKrupp Group, one of the world's largest producers of quality flat-steel. The Hot Strip Mill 2 in Duisburg-Beeckerwerth rolls 6 million tonnes of steel per annum, which is one of the highest mill outputs in the world.
 
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is a leading international supplier of environmentally friendly production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. The Sector comprises six divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility und Osram. With around 207,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry achieved in fiscal year 2009 total sales of approximately €35 billion.
 
The Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities comprising the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, Water Technologies and Industrial Technologies. With around 31,000 employees worldwide (September 30), Siemens Industry Solutions posted sales of €6.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.