Fluidized Particle Bed Cooling for Hot Flat Metal Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for heat transfer from hot flat metal products in metal production, such as steel slabs, are inefficient in capturing released heat, leading to energy loss, and often require large equipment, high energy consumption, or prolonged cooling times, which can affect the quality and flatness of the products.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a fluidized bed of solid particles with controlled gas injection to create a bubbling regime, allowing for efficient heat transfer from hot flat metal products to a transfer medium, such as water or molten salts, which is then converted into steam for reuse, while maintaining product quality and flatness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air circulation devices are used to capture heat through thermal convection, then heat recovery is achieved, but energy consumption increases and process yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat transfer medium (liquid or gas) as an intermediary between the hot metal product and the heat exchanger. This medium absorbs heat from the product surface through convection and conduction, then transfers it to the heat exchanger where steam is generated. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for high-velocity air circulation devices while achieving efficient heat recovery, thereby reducing energy consumption and maintaining process yield.
2Loss of energy
If conduction means are used to recover heat, then heat capture efficiency improves, but equipment size and investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a fluid heat transfer medium (liquid or gas) circulating through a heat exchanger system to capture heat from the metal product. The fluid flows over or near the product surface, absorbing heat through convection and conduction, then passes through heat exchanger tubes where the heat is transferred to generate steam. This hydraulic/pneumatic approach achieves high heat capture efficiency with compact, modular equipment that requires less investment compared to extensive conduction-based systems.
3Loss of energy
If cooling time is extended to ensure complete cooling, then heat recovery rate improves, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous heat recovery process where a fluid medium continuously circulates between the heat exchanger and the metal product, maintaining constant heat transfer. The system operates throughout the entire cooling period, maximizing heat capture at all times. This continuous operation achieves high heat recovery rates (>90%) while minimizing cooling time, thereby maintaining high productivity without sacrificing energy recovery efficiency.
4Productivity
If rapid cooling is applied to reduce cooling time, then productivity improves, but product quality and flatness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heat transfer medium specifically to the surfaces of the metal product that require cooling, while allowing the core to cool more gradually. The fluid circulates over the product surface, providing controlled and uniform heat extraction from the exterior. This localized heat transfer approach enables rapid overall cooling to improve productivity while maintaining product flatness and quality by preventing excessive thermal gradients that would cause distortion.
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
Achieves high heat recovery rates (>90%) in reduced time without deforming the metal products, using compact and easily installable equipment with minimal energy consumption and investment, ensuring homogeneous cooling and no detrimental chemical or physical impact on the metal surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a chamber (2) containing solid particles and comprising gas injection means (4) for fluidizing the solid particles and create a fluidized bed of solid particles (5) in a bubbling regime
Implementation Method 2
The hot flat metal products are immersed into the fluidized bed (5) of solid particles, solid particles which are then able to capture the heat released by the hot metal products (3)
Implementation Method 3
The solid particles are kept in motion by the injection of gas by the injection means (4) and come in contact with the heat exchanger (6) where they release the captured heat to the transfer medium circulating within
Implementation Method 4
The method according to the invention may also comprise the following optional characteristics considered separately or according to all possible technical combinations: the transfer medium is water the transfer medium is molten salts, said water is used to produce steam
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is related to a method of heat transfer wherein a flat metal product having a broad face and a temperature upper to 400°C is put in contact with a fluidised bed of solid particles, said solid particles having a direction of circulation (D), wherein the flat metal product is put in contact with the solid particles so that its broad face is parallel to the direction (D) of circulation of the solid particles and wherein a gas is injected so that said solid particles be in a bubbling regime, said solid particles capturing the heat released by the metal product and transferring said captured heat to a transfer medium. Associated device.