9th ECCC European Continuous Casting Conference – ECCC 2017

The prerequisites for using an Energy Collector (E-CO) for the recuperation of radiant heat are red-hot material at temperatures exceeding 750 degrees Celsius over a long roller table. The slabs are transported to the heat exchangers via the roller table. There, depending on their surface temperature, they radiate between 45 and 70 kW thermal energy per square meter. The heat exchangers take up the radiant energy and transform it into a water-steam mixture. The mixture is separated in the drum and the separated saturated steam is fed to the plant network. Optionally, it is also possible to produce hot water, for example to supply a district heating network. Upon arrival of the next slab, the automatic control system of the roller table signals slab removal, allowing another E-CO procedure to take place. The E-CO Energy Collector was implemented and successfully commissioned at the facilities of Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH as the first plant of its kind worldwide. The E-CO was integrated at an existing roller table. The cover hoods were modified to suit the recovery process. One special feature of the plant is the reliable control system. Thanks to the sophisticated automation system, a permanently reliable operating condition is achieved. In the case of an indispensable emergency shutdown, no additional switching operation is required.