Thermal and Technological Integration of Processes in Metallurgy

In modern high-performance metallurgical equipment, improving energy efficiency is possible by optimally coordinating individual operations and developing approaches and algorithms for multiparameter optimization and management of the general technological process.As part of such a concept, the presented research is dedicated to developing a system for technological and thermal integration of flat steel products' production processes, allowing hot block charging and reducing energy consumption in the reheating furnaces.The presented system includes dynamic synchronization of the processes of continuous casting of steel blocks, transportation to the rolling shops, dwell, and predeformation heating.It combines the results of the work of three numerically implemented mathematical models: (i) describing the cooling and solidification of metal in continuous casting; (ii) determining the temperature distribution in each of the hot blocks during transport operations; (iii) determining the optimal regimes in reheating furnaces.The main goal is optimal synchronization of the work of the individual production operations and maximum use of the heat of the hot-charged blocks.The obtained results allowed the evaluation of different scenarios for implementing the process and making decisions about storing the blocks before loading them into the heating furnaces.