Coolant Bypass for Hot Rolling Mill Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for hot rolling mills face challenges in achieving precise and rapid cooling rates due to large water volumes, leading to quality losses and risk of system failure from pressure surges during switch-on processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that dynamically supply coolant by pre-accelerating the coolant flow and redirecting it based on the presence and temperature of the metal strip, using switchable diverting means to bypass the cooling device, thereby reducing pressure surges and improving reaction time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cooling water supply is switched on quickly to achieve desired cooling rate, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but pressure surges damage the cooling system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-accelerates coolant flow through a bypass line before it is needed for cooling. This preliminary action ensures that when cooling is activated, the coolant is already flowing at the required velocity, eliminating pressure surges that would occur if the flow had to start from rest. The bypass line acts as a pre-charged conduit ready to deliver coolant immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bypass line as an intermediary element between the coolant source and the cooling device. This bypass line serves as a mediator that pre-accelerates the coolant flow and then merges it with the main cooling line, allowing rapid coolant delivery without creating pressure surges in the primary cooling system.
2Ease of operation
If control valves are used to regulate coolant flow, then flow control is achieved, but switching on cooling requires more than 10 seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass line continuously pre-accelerates coolant flow in advance, so when cooling activation is needed, the coolant is already moving at the required speed. This eliminates the delay associated with opening control valves to build up flow from zero, reducing switching time to well under 10 seconds.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass line maintains continuous coolant flow and acceleration independently of the main cooling system's on/off state. This continuous preparation ensures that coolant is always ready to be diverted to the cooling device at full velocity, eliminating interruptions and delays in the cooling activation process.
3Quantity of substance
If large amounts of water are used for cooling, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but switching on and off processes cannot be carried out quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass line pre-accelerates large volumes of coolant continuously before they are needed for cooling. This preliminary acceleration of large water volumes ensures that when cooling activation is required, the full quantity of water is already moving at high velocity and can be delivered immediately, achieving both large water volume and fast switching speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass line acts as an intermediary that handles the large volumes of coolant separately from the main cooling system. By pre-accelerating these large volumes in the bypass and then merging them with the cooling line, the system achieves rapid switching capability despite the large quantity of water involved.
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
This approach allows for faster and more precise control of cooling rates, reducing pressure surges and maintaining system integrity by minimizing flow resistance and reaction time, enabling efficient cooling even with large volume flows.
Implementation Method 1
providing a pre-accelerated or flowing coolant flow, with the coolant flow bypassing the cooling device and being guided into a return
Implementation Method 2
the cooling device for cooling the metal strip or other rolling stock in a pre-accelerated manner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for dynamically supplying coolant to a cooling device, in particular at least one spray bar, for cooling metal strip or other rolled stock. According to the method, a pre-accelerated stream of coolant is provided, which passes by the cooling device (1) and is fed into a return (3). Furthermore, the presence and/or the temperature of a metal strip or other rolled stock to be cooled is monitored and, depending on the presence and/or the temperature of the metal strip or the other rolled stock, the stream of coolant is diverted to the cooling device (1), wherein, instead of passing by the cooling device (1) and being fed into a return (3), the stream of coolant is fed to the cooling device (1) for cooling the metal strip or the other rolled stock. The present invention also comprises a corresponding device for carrying out the method.