Copper Strip Continuous Casting and Cold Rolling Process

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing copper or copper alloy metal strips are economically unsustainable for capacity increases, due to high operating and investment costs associated with traditional casting and hot rolling processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a vertical and/or horizontal continuous strip casting process, followed by cold rolling, annealing, pickling, washing, and drying, without the need for ingot casting or hot rolling, allowing for flexible production quantities and reduced system costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional ingot casting and hot rolling processes are used, then metal strips can be produced, but investment costs and operating costs are very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidsystem investment costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the hot rolling step from the traditional manufacturing process. By using cold rolling instead of hot rolling, the patent removes the need for heating facilities and hot rolling equipment, significantly reducing system investment costs and operating costs while maintaining the ability to produce metal strips with required specifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the temperature parameter from hot rolling conditions to cold rolling conditions. The cold rolling process operates at ambient or controlled low temperatures, eliminating the need for high-temperature heating equipment and reducing energy consumption, thereby lowering both investment and operating costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional hot rolling process is used, then metal strips can be produced, but operating costs are very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidoperating costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the heating step from the manufacturing process. By implementing cold rolling instead of hot rolling, the patent removes the need for continuous heating during the rolling operation, significantly reducing energy consumption and operating costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the temperature parameter from hot rolling conditions to cold rolling conditions. The cold rolling process operates at ambient or controlled low temperatures, eliminating the need for high-temperature heating equipment and reducing energy consumption, thereby lowering both investment and operating costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If capacity is increased to 70,000 t/year, then market demand can be met, but current costs become economically unsustainable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidsystem investment costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a continuous casting and continuous cold rolling process, eliminating the discontinuous heating and hot rolling steps. This continuous process allows for high production capacity while using simpler, more cost-effective equipment compared to traditional batch hot rolling processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the heating facilities from the production line. By using cold rolling, the patent can achieve high production capacity without the substantial investment required for large-scale heating and hot rolling equipment, making high-capacity production economically sustainable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 reduces investment and operating costs while increasing capacity, allowing for efficient production of copper strips with improved microstructure refinement through temperature-controlled cold rolling and annealing processes.

Implementation Method 1

the copper strip is lubricated with oil on the inlet side and cooled with cold or cryogenic inert gases on the outlet side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCryogenic cooling: Cryogenics

Implementation Method 2

either in a hood annealing device in the form of a collar ring or in a continuous annealing process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Data Source

PatentEP1909981B1Method and production line for manufacturing metal strips made of copper or copper alloys
Publication Date: 2008.11.19 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP1909981B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1909981B1 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP1909981B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

Disclosed are a method and a production line for manufacturing metal strips made of copper or copper alloys by means of casting and rolling. In order to lower the investment cost and operating expenses therefor, the melt (2) is cast into a copper strip (4) in a vertical and/or horizontal continuous strip casting process (3), and the hot copper strip (4) is cleaned by milling (5) the top and bottom face (5a, 5b) thereof, is subjected to a cold rolling process (6), and is prepared for shipping, or is subjected to an inspection (12) and then prepared for shipping after being annealed (7), pickled (8), washed (9), dried (10), and optionally temper rolled (11).