Ipsco Enterprises, Inc.

Laurie E Collins

Jonathan Dorricott

William R Frank

Joseph D Russo

Brian H Wales

Robert J Boecker

Surface defects in rolled steel are remedied by quenching a surface layer of the steel product downstream of the caster and upstream of the reheat furnace by transversely differentiated quenching to match the transverse temperature profile of the steel product. The flow rate of the quench spray is differentially adjustable across the width and optionally the length of the steel product. An array of spray nozzles controlled in transversely or longitudinally arranged groups provides the quench spray.

Differential quench method and apparatus

Surface defects in rolled steel are remedied by quenching a surface layer of the strand immediately downstream of the caster by transversely differential quenching to match the transverse temperature profile of the strand. The flow rate of the quench spray is differentially adjustable across the width and optionally the length of the strand. An array of spray nozzles controlled by groups provides the quench spray.

A steel rolling mill including a Steckel mill is provided with an in-line upstream quench station located downstream of the caster and upstream of the reheat furnace, a shear located downstream of the Steckel mill, and a temperature reduction station downstream of the shear. The upstream quench station has spray nozzles that quench a surface layer of the steel to transform same from an austentitic to a non-austentitic microstructure. The shear provides a precise transverse vertical face on the leading end of the steel. The temperature reduction station applies cooling fluid to the rolled steel so as to obtain a preferred microstructure that may be either bainite or martensite. If bainite, the temperature reduction station includes laminar-flow cooling apparatus; if martensite, the station also includes an initial rapid quench, in which latter case the station is followed by a tempering furnace.

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Regina, Canada

Laurie E Collins