Aggregate is intended for the production directly from melted aluminium and it's low alloy melt of the hot rolled sheet with the width 600...1600 mm, thickness 6...10 mm in coils up to 30 t. Output of aggregate is up to 2 t/h, consumed power - up to 150 kW, dimensions - 3,5x8,5x22 m. Further sheet is rolled at the cold rolling mills to more thin sheet for building and other branches of industry to foil for the food-stuffs packing and for the electrotechnical purposes. VNIIMETMASH had elaborated and started 15 aggregates for the aluminium sheet rolling without ingots. The installation of aggregate doesn't demand big expenditure at once, and it is possible to increase production gradually. The cost of hot-rolled sheets, made at the aggregates of rolling without ingots is considerably lower then by traditional method production.

Process Flowsheet

Molten aluminium is run from a holding furnace along a launder to the casting machine (1). From its tundish aluminium flows from underneath into the rolls under the action of metalcolumn pressure, the special arrangement is spreading the metal uniformly over the width of the rolls. Due to contact with the cooled rolls, molten aluminium solidified, is exposed to hot deformation and leaves the rolls upwards as rolled strip. The latter is then gripped by a special device, bent and fed to a pinching rolls (2) which flattens the strip in horizontal plane. A loop is provided between the casting machine and the pinching rolls; loop's value being controlled by a regulator. If required, the strip can be cut to specified lengths by flying shears (3) directly after the pinch rolls. Is case of need, the flying shears may be followed by a intermediate table (4). After the cooler the strip enters to the straightener (5) which creats tensions the strip by coiling. The straightener is followed by a coiler (6) with shell of rated coil capacity of up to 30 t. Once a coil is wound, the strip is cut off, and the coil is transported to a storage area. Unit's operation is fully automated, including the transitional regime.

Layout of aggregate for aluminium sheet rolling without ingot

1 - casting machine; 2 - pinching rolls; 3 - flying shears; 4 - stretcher straightener; 5 - winder

Main Advantage of the VNIIMETMASH-designed БП-1600 Unit

• An improved casting machine roll cooling system extracts heat intensively and uniformly throughout the width of the solidification zone and admits of cooling rate adjustments over a wide range;

• Automatic transfer of strip from casting machine to the finishing line;

• Provision in the finishing line of hydraulic flying shears that ensure continuity of the production process while strip is cut.