The system will be designed to perform in-line quenching of strips and plates rolled by the Steckel mill in combination with the existing laminar cooling system. The thickness range to be treated by the new Exstream cooling system will be 4.76 - 63.6 mm (0.187” - 2.5”) and range of width is 1,220 - 2,438 mm (48” - 96”).

This new installation is the EVO 2 generation of the Danieli Exstream cooling which is in operation in several running plants latest being the Jiangying Xingcheng 4300 mm wide plate mill in China.

New challenges are reached through an innovative and customized design which includes:

• increased water flowrate by 40% of the previous generation allowing an increase by 50% of material rolling speed;
• fast-plug in pinch roll design to reduce the down time for pinch-roll replacement;
• step-free guiding system to avoid any possible cobble risk;
• long-stroke opening of pinch-rolls and top headers for safe threading and by-pass mode.

The Nucor Tuscaloosa Exstream cooling is the first Direct Quenching system ever installed in a Steckel mill and will put Nucor in the position of producing steel grades up to API X80 at a reduced conversion cost by saving alloying elements.

Danieli will be responsible for the supply of the complete mechanical equipment along with Level 1 and Level 2 automation systems which will be integrated to operate the Exstream cooling device in the running plant.

The choice of installing the new cooling system of Danieli is a reconfirmation of the innovative mentality of Nucor to achieve outstanding quality of plates and coils at a competitive conversion cost with smart and cost effective retrofitting of their older plants.

The installation of the Direct Quenching is planned for the end of March 2016.