Hot Strip Temperature Profiling Before Coiling for Uniform Microstructure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hot strip production plants struggle to achieve uniform temperature distribution in hot strips before winding, leading to inhomogeneous material properties due to local temperature variations, which affect further processing and the quality of cold-rolled strips.

Innovation Solution

Implement a dynamic temperature control element to create a varying temperature profile in the longitudinal direction of the hot strip before winding, using a combination of heating and cooling devices to achieve a temperature gradient that ensures homogeneous material properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a gas-fired furnace is used to heat the hot-rolled metallic material, then the material can be heated to the required temperature, but local temperature inhomogeneities occur due to contact surfaces of the slabs within the furnace

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by introducing a dynamic temperature control element that can independently adjust the temperature at different positions along the hot strip. This allows specific local regions with temperature deviations to be heated or cooled individually, compensating for the inhomogeneities caused by slab contact surfaces in the furnace.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the temperature profile along the hot strip using the dynamic temperature control element. The system modifies temperature parameters in real-time to compensate for inhomogeneities, transforming the uniform temperature approach into a controlled variable temperature approach that achieves better overall uniformity after cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the hot strip temperature is maintained as constant as possible before winding, then the objective of homogeneous material properties is pursued, but temperature inhomogeneities during furnace heating prevent complete uniformity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial property homogeneityVSAvoidtemperature constant maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using the dynamic temperature control element to pre-adjust the temperature profile of the hot strip before it enters the cooling device. By compensating for anticipated temperature inhomogeneities in advance, the system ensures that the strip achieves more uniform material properties after cooling, rather than attempting to maintain perfect constant temperature throughout the entire process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using temperature measurement devices to detect actual temperature distribution in the hot strip, then feeding this information back to the dynamic temperature control element. This closed-loop control allows the system to continuously adjust and compensate for temperature inhomogeneities, achieving better material property homogeneity than open-loop constant temperature maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If a dynamic temperature control element is introduced to create a varying temperature profile, then homogeneous material properties are achieved after cooling, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrostructure uniformityVSAvoidtemperature control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by introducing a dynamic temperature control element that can actively adjust its operation based on real-time temperature measurements and process conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to create varying temperature profiles as needed to compensate for inhomogeneities, achieving homogeneous material properties despite the increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 varying temperature profile results in more uniform microstructure and material properties, improving the quality of both hot-rolled and cold-rolled strips by controlling precipitation behavior, grain growth, and phase fractions.

Implementation Method 1

heating the hot-rolled metallic material with the heating device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

heating and/or homogenizing the hot-rolled metallic material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the hot strip is cooled with a cooling device, in particular a laminar cooling device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

cooling the hot strip within the coil results in a change in its material properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

the hot strip has a varying temperature profile in a longitudinal direction before the hot strip is wound up

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature gradient: Temperature Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4594028B1Method for operating a hot strip production plant, computer program product, and hot strip production plant for manufacturing a hot strip
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 SMS GROUP GMBH
  • EP4594028B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(d)
  • EP4594028B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(d)
  • EP4594028B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a hot strip production plant for manufacturing a hot strip (10), comprising the following method steps: • - hot rolling the hot strip (10) from a metal hot-rolling stock by means of a hot rolling device; • - controlling the temperature of the hot strip (10); and • - winding the hot strip up into a coil; wherein the temperature control of the hot strip (10) is open-loop or closed-loop controlled by means of a dynamic temperature adjusting element, in such a way that before the hot strip (10) is wound up, it has a variable temperature profile (33) in a direction of longitudinal extent of the hot strip.