Additive Nozzle Assembly for Stable Strip Edge Emulsion Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzle devices for removing residual emulsion from the edges of flat products, such as metal sheets or strips, are inefficient in ensuring a process-stable removal, leading to residual emulsion droplets on the surface due to insufficient adjustment to the product width, strong adhesive forces, and unpredictable air currents, which impair the quality of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle device integrated with a suction device and designed through additive manufacturing, featuring upper and lower blow-off nozzles and a Venturi nozzle for controlled removal of emulsion droplets, utilizing the Coanda effect to enhance airflow efficiency and incorporating a drainage system to prevent re-deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compressed air nozzles are positioned close to the roll gap to prevent emulsion from passing through, then edge emulsion removal is improved, but the nozzles cannot be adjusted to the current strip width due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle device is designed to be movable in the width direction of the flat product, allowing dynamic adjustment to different strip widths. This enables the nozzles to maintain optimal positioning relative to the strip edges while adapting to varying production requirements, resolving the contradiction between fixed positioning for reliability and adjustability for versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle device integrates both drying and edge blow-off functions into a single system. The device can operate effectively across different strip widths and positions, making it universally applicable to various rolling conditions while maintaining reliable emulsion removal performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pressure nozzles are moved to the exit area to adjust to current width, then adaptability to strip width is improved, but adhesion forces prevent droplet detachment and uncontrolled trajectories cause re-deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle device is positioned to act on the strip edges before the strip enters the run-out area with its complex air currents. By performing the emulsion removal action earlier, near the roll gap exit, the device prevents emulsion droplets from becoming airborne and subject to unpredictable air currents that would cause re-deposition, thereby maintaining reliable and stable removal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle device serves as an intermediary between the roll gap and the run-out area. It creates a controlled airflow environment that directly removes emulsion from the strip edges before those edges enter the turbulent run-out zone, acting as a buffer that prevents the harmful effects of uncontrolled air currents.
3Adaptability or versatility
If movable nozzle system is used to adjust to strip width, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable nozzle device utilizes the existing movement of the side guide in the rolling stand exit to achieve width adjustment. By coupling the nozzle movement to the side guide movement, the system automatically adapts to different strip widths without requiring separate actuators or complex control mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
4Reliability
If additional edge blow-off device is installed, then emulsion removal capability is improved, but residual emulsion droplets are deflected at other locations and re-deposit on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle device performs emulsion removal at the earliest possible location near the roll gap exit, before the strip enters the run-out area where uncontrolled air currents exist. This preliminary action prevents emulsion droplets from becoming airborne and being deflected to other locations, thereby eliminating the re-deposition problem while maintaining effective emulsion removal capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable detachment and controlled removal of emulsion droplets from the edges, optimizing the surface dryness and cleanliness of the flat product while reducing energy consumption and installation space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The suction device, which generates negative pressure, has at least one suction opening, open toward the interior of the cavity spanned by the C-shaped nozzle device, for sucking in and sucking out the liquid or emulsion droplets blown off the edge of the flat product
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the Coanda effect to enhance airflow efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a nozzle device for drying and/or cleaning the edge region of a flat product and to a method for manufacturing the nozzle device 100. Known nozzle devices of this type are C-shaped with an upper and a lower leg, both of which are connected to each other via a flank section 120 for guiding the edge region of the flat product to be dried or cleaned through. A blow-off nozzle 130-o, 130-u is installed in both the upper leg 110-o and the lower leg 110-u for emitting a blow-off jet at an acute angle onto the top and bottom surfaces of the flat product to be dried or cleaned, respectively. The blow-off jets blow any liquid or contaminants that may be present on the top and bottom surfaces of the flat product towards and away from the edge of the flat product.In order to simplify the design of a known nozzle device and in particular to make its manufacturing process more efficient, the present invention provides that the nozzle device with its two legs, the flank part and the at least two blow-off nozzles is designed in an integrated manner by being additively manufactured.