SMS Group (Düsseldorf, Germany):

C. A. Klein, Dr. Phys., Head of Direction “Grounds and Models of Strip Processing Equipment, Furnaces and Heat Engineering, Central Development Dept., e-mail: carsten-andreas.klein@sms-group.com
U. Sommers, Dr., Head of Direction “Strip Processing Equipment, Furnaces and Heat Engineering, Central Development Dept.
F. Brühl, Dr., Head of Direction “Strip Processing and Thermal Technological Equipment

Drever International S.A. (Angleur, Liège, Belgium):
A. Lhoest, Eng., Control Systems Dept.

Tata Steel Segal S.A. (Ivoz-Ramet, Belgium):
E. Montagna, Production Dept.

Tata Steel Ijmuiden (Ijmuiden, Netherlands):
W. Beugeling, Mag. Sc., Senior Product Technologist, Product Management and Development

EMG Automation GmbH (Wenden, Germany):
M. Bärwald, Mag. Eng., Mag. Econ., Manager of ImpocPro product

To meet the requirements presented to the up-to-date continuous annealing and galvanizing lines in Hi-Tech area, SMS Group has developed the concept of intellectual furnace that allows to realize the improved technology of annealing process owing to integration of 3 main components. The first of them is ImpocPro system that determines the limits of strength and yield along whole strip length via online non-destructive testing. The second is the mathematical model of automation of the furnace for annealing and galvanizing; this model generates the preset values, optimizes temperature conditions during transition from one strip to another and determines the efficient sequence of strip production. The third component is a model of annealing microstructure that forms the links between initial conditions, technological mode and material parameters for consequent prediction of strip processing. Additionally, it is possible to conduct the required adapting measures during heat treatment. Therefore, the developed intellectual furnace provides rise of productivity, yield due to uniformly high strip quality. Optimization of the control processes makes it possible to increase power efficiency via temperature adaptation inside the “technological window”.

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