Cooling Beam Flow Profiling for Uniform Metal Strip Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling methods for metal strips or sheets on conveyor lines result in uneven temperature distribution and grain size, leading to suboptimal mechanical properties and increased costs due to the need for alloying elements like Nb, V, and Ti.
Innovation Solution
A device with cooling beams on both sides of the metal strip, featuring adjustable discharge openings with apertures upstream to achieve a parabolic distribution of cooling liquid, ensuring even cooling and reducing grain size, thereby enhancing strength without the need for excessive alloying elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the amount of water discharged from cooling beams is increased to reduce grain size, then cooling efficiency and strength are improved, but uneven temperature distribution across the width occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling beam discharges water at different rates across its width, with the central region discharging more water and edge regions discharging less water. This localized variation in cooling intensity creates a parabolic temperature distribution that compensates for the natural cooling pattern, achieving uniform overall temperature distribution while maintaining high cooling efficiency for grain size reduction.
2Strength
If alloying elements such as Nb, V, or Ti are added to increase strength, then strength is improved, but cost increases and tenacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical strengthening mechanisms (alloying elements) with a physical strengthening mechanism (controlled cooling). By using cooling beams with specifically designed discharge patterns that create uniform temperature distribution, the process achieves grain refinement and strength enhancement without requiring expensive alloying elements, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and maintaining tenacity.
3Strength
If alloying elements such as Nb, V, or Ti are added to increase strength, then strength is improved, but tenacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cooling parameters (water discharge rate distribution) to achieve a parabolic temperature distribution pattern. This parameter optimization enables grain refinement through controlled cooling rates, producing high-strength material with improved tenacity compared to alloying methods, as the fine grain structure benefits both strength and ductility simultaneously.
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 device achieves uniform temperature distribution and reduced ferrite grain size, improving strength properties while reducing the requirement for costly alloying elements, allowing for cost-effective production of high-strength metal strips.
Implementation Method 1
cooling liquid is discharged at a specific rate of 100 to 200 m3/(m2*h) onto a surface of the metal strip
Implementation Method 2
cooling liquid is discharged through discharge openings of cooling beams arranged opposite from each other respectively on the upper side and the lower side of the metal strip or sheet
Implementation Method 3
a distribution of cooling liquid across the width of the conveyor line is parabolic... effectively prevent an uneven cooling in the form of under-cooling at the edges
Implementation Method 4
By increasing the cooling rate, the grain size of the final product is reduced... a reduction of the (ferrite) grain size generally leads to an increase in strength, which is described by the Hall-Petch equation
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for cooling metal strips or sheets conveyed on a conveyor line, in particular hot-rolled strips in the outlet of a rolling train. For these purposes, the device includes at least one cooling beam extending across the width of the conveyor line, and the cooling beam features a connection point to which a supply tube for cooling liquid can be connected, and a number of discharge openings arranged along a longitudinal axis of the cooling beam, such that cooling liquid can be discharged through the discharge openings in the direction of the metal strip or sheet that is to be cooled. Associated with each of the individual discharge openings is a respectively adjusted flow area, such that the flow areas of the respective discharge openings decrease in a direction leading away from the connecting point along the longitudinal axis of the cooling beam.