To reduce the energy consumption for reheating slab by reducing the decrease in temperature of the slab occuring on the roller table between operations through the addition of a thermal tunnel.

The project covers the design, construction and installation of a heating tunnel consisting of 3 modular elements electrically heated (165 kW per element) and located on the roller table between the roughing mill and the finishing mill.
The main function of the heating-modules is to prevent the cooling of the bar entering the finishing mill. The tunnel is insulated internally and equipped with electrical resistors heated with low tension electricity and adjustable in their width or length to increase their efficiency.
The tunnel is equipped with hydraulic lifting devices to enable the ejection of the slab should it be required. The tunnel can be installed on the rolling table without disrupting the production cycle thanks to sophisticated automation systems. The rolling table constitutes then the floor of the tunnel. The system is protected against short circuits. The geometry of the parts enables an easy removal of scale.
The system presents advantages vs. conventional solutions.It is:
- simpler
- less energy-intensive
- more uniform in heat distribution within the bar
- cheaper to install
- more flexible in its operation
- is not affected by interrruptions or slowing down of the passage of bars
- extends the holding time on the roller bed between the roughing mill and the finishing mill
- allows a lower heat consumption in slab reheating furnaces, upstream of the rolling mill
- improves the bar temperature control with significant benefits for strip quality.
or vs. heating furnaces which consume much more fuel.
Costs/benefits are not shown in the original projects.