Compact Rolling Mill Layout With Interstand Induction Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rolling trains for producing steel strips are inefficient due to high investment costs, energy inefficiency, and difficulties in producing thin strips with low entry temperatures, requiring long and powerful stands, which also lead to reduced production efficiency and mechanical properties of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A compact rolling train with a rapid heating device, straightening unit, shears, and descaler arranged between finishing stands, allowing for induction heating and minimizing stand spacing, which reduces installation space and enhances process control and microstructure adjustment, enabling the production of thin strips and tubular steel without a reversing roughing stand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rolling trains use long stand spacing (50m or more) to accommodate reversing roughing stands, then reversing rolling operation can be performed, but the installation space increases and investment costs become high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reversing roughing stand from the rolling train configuration. By extracting this function and using a continuous tandem rolling train instead, the system eliminates the need for large stand spacing (50m+) while maintaining production capability through continuous forward rolling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rapid heating devices (induction heating) between finishing stands to dynamically adjust strip temperature during the rolling process. This allows the system to maintain optimal rolling temperatures without requiring long stand spacing or reversing operations, enabling continuous production in a compact configuration
2Reliability
If conventional rolling mills use powerful stands with long spacing to handle thin slab processing, then the structural requirements are met, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to low entry temperature to finishing train
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary heating of thin slabs before they enter the finishing train, maintaining higher entry temperatures. This preliminary action ensures the strip remains at optimal temperature throughout the rolling process, improving energy efficiency and enabling the processing of thin sections without requiring excessively powerful stands
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter throughout the rolling process by introducing rapid heating devices between stands. This maintains higher strip temperatures during rolling, improving material ductility and reducing the power requirements of rolling stands while enhancing energy efficiency
3Productivity
If conventional hot strip mills produce thin strips with low entry temperatures, then production can continue, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in thin strip rolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains higher strip temperatures throughout the rolling process by introducing rapid heating devices between finishing stands. This temperature parameter control improves material ductility and surface quality, enabling precise thin strip rolling while maintaining continuous production capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on mechanical stand power with thermal field control (induction heating) to achieve thin strip rolling. By substituting thermal energy for mechanical force, the system can produce high-quality thin strips with better surface finish and dimensional control
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
The compact design significantly reduces installation space, improves temperature control, and enhances the mechanical properties of the rolled product by ensuring uniform microstructure, reducing scrap, and increasing production efficiency, especially for thin strips and tubular steel.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature between two successive finishing stands Fi and Fi+1 is influenced with the aid of a rapid heating device, in particular induction heating
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rolling mill for producing metal strips, preferably steel for tubes and/or thin strip, in which the temperature control can be influenced between the finishing stands Fi and Fi+1 using a rapid heating device (induction heater), characterized in that the distance between the stands Fi and Fi+1, between which a rapid heating device is arranged, is 5 to 25 m, and in addition to an induction heater, a roller flattening unit (for example, roller leveller 14) and/or shears 8 and/or a driving roller pair 12 and/or a descaling sprayer 15 are arranged as additional units between the two stands. The roll stand Fi and/or regions in front of the roll stand Fi further comprise actuators for influencing the strip warping and/or strip turn-up/ -down (ski) at the strip head.