Horizontal CCMs in small-capacity metallurgy

Production of light-section rolled products and wire rods of alloyed steel grades differs by small volume of yearly output and wide range of smelted grades. To organize production of light-section rolled products of alloyed steel grades in small volumes, OJSC “Spetsmash” elaborated concept of small-capacity production, which was implemented at several plants. It was shown that horizontal CCM can be effectively applied in the small-capacity production within complexes of light-section rolled stock of alloyed steels production. At the plant “Ferrotrade” (Beloretsk) when creating a complex for production wire rods of 6.5 mm diameter of austenite class steels and nickel-based alloys, a horizontal CCM was constructed. Production of 60 mm diameter billets by the machine was mastered, which enabled to apply a rolling mini-mill, characterizing by small dimensions and power. The horizontal CCM, constructed in 2016 at the steelmaking shop of CJSC “Izhevsk pilot-mechanical plant”, was equipped by electromagnetic stirrer (EMS). It was noted that EMS was applied for the first time in domestic metallurgy at the industrial CCM of horizontal type. In the process of this CCM mastering, more than 60 heats were casted into billets of 80, 200 and 120 mm diameter. EMS application resulted in improving average point on the central porosity to 1.2—1.8 depending on the stirring modes. In 2018 the OJSC “Spetsmash” for the Research Center “Thermodeform” (Magnitogorsk) constructed an experimental horizontal CCM, designed for casting of billets of 40—60 mm diameter by direct casting of melt from the crucible of 60 kg induction furnace into the metal reservoir 776 of the machine. Development of a project of horizontal CCM for PJSC “PlasmaTek” (Ukraine, Vinnitsy) finished, designed for production of billets of 50 and 60 mm diameter within a complex of equipment for manufacturing welding electrodes not only of alloyed but also of carbon steel grades. The designed productivity of the complex is 12,000 t/year. Basic technical characteristics of the CCM presented. Small-capacity production with horizontal CCMs can be organized as independent objects and within existing steel-works for expanding product range.