Patent ID: 8162031
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: B22D

Abstract:
1. A method of making steel comprising: (a) assembling a steelmaking furnace capable of melting and making molten metal for delivery to a first metal delivery system and a second metal delivery system, (b) assembling a thin strip caster capable of continuous casting of steel strip having a thin strip production output, the thin strip caster comprising a pair of casting rolls having a nip therebetween for delivery of thin strip downwardly there from, the first metal delivery system capable of providing molten metal forming a casting pool between the casting rolls above the nip with side dams adjacent the ends of the nip to confine the casting pool, (c) assembling a mold caster capable of continuous casting of steel semi-finished products having a semi-finished production output, the mold caster comprising a casting mold capable of producing one or more strands, the second metal delivery system capable of introducing molten metal into the casting mold, (d) inputting to a computer data on (e) forecasting by processing by computer from the inputted data (f) directing production of the molten metal from the steelmaking furnace alternatively to the first delivery system of the thin strip caster and to the second delivery system of the mold caster responsive to said forecasting.