FURNACE FOR A CONTINUOUSLY-RUNNING STEEL STRIP THERMAL PROCESSING PLANT, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

摘要

The invention relates to a furnace for the thermal processing of a continuously-running rolled steel strip, said furnace comprising a preheating section, a temperature-maintaining section and a cooling section (26). The cooling section (26) sequentially comprises, along the path of the strip (2), in the running direction thereof and in the vicinity of each of the surfaces of the strip: a first quenching device (62) that does not oxidise the strip and has an adjustable transfer power; and a second quenching device (64) that oxidises the strip and has an adjustable transfer power; characterised in that the furnace comprises a control and actuation means (65) for adjusting the transfer power of each of the first and second quenching devices based on a desired cooling rate and on the size characteristics of the strip.