Oblique Cooling of Flat Rolled Product to Prevent Coolant Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cooling flat rolled metal products in rolling mills result in an undefined cooling process due to coolant accumulation, leading to inhomogeneous cooling and potential product curvature, especially at higher transport speeds, and pose a risk of damage to the product's side edges.
Innovation Solution
The method involves orienting the flat rolled product at an acute angle during cooling to ensure reliable drainage of coolant from the top surface while maintaining support on transport rollers, with angles between 5° and 30° being effective, and using guide devices to prevent edge damage and ensure precise lateral guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant is applied to the top surface of the flat rolled product, then cooling of the top surface is achieved, but coolant accumulates on the surface causing inhomogeneous cooling and product curvature
Solution Approach 1:
The flat rolled product is turned to an oblique position during cooling, creating an asymmetric orientation where the top surface is no longer horizontal. This asymmetry allows coolant to drain off the surface by gravity rather than accumulating, while still achieving effective cooling of the top surface through the applied coolant
2Temperature
If the flat rolled product is turned to vertical position during cooling, then uniform cooling on both sides is achieved, but the product is at risk of side edge damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of turning the entire product to a vertical position which exposes side edges to damage risk, only the top surface is tilted at an oblique angle. This localized orientation change provides sufficient coolant drainage and cooling uniformity while maintaining the side edges in a protected horizontal position supported by transport rollers
3Productivity
If higher transport speeds are used, then productivity is improved, but coolant accumulation and inhomogeneous cooling worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The flat rolled product is turned to an oblique position before the coolant is applied to the top surface. This preliminary orientation ensures that when coolant is sprayed, it can immediately drain off the surface by gravity rather than accumulating, enabling effective cooling even at higher transport speeds
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 enables defined cooling on both sides of the product, preventing edge damage and allowing for higher transport speeds, while maintaining the product's horizontal orientation for subsequent processing.
Implementation Method 1
large volumes of liquid coolant (generally water) are applied to the still hot flat rolled product both from above and from below
Implementation Method 2
The coolant applied to the undersurface can then drop downward due to gravity so that the coolant that is applied to the flat rolled product from below at a specific point in the cooling zone does not interfere with the subsequent further cooling of the undersurface
Implementation Method 3
The coolant applied to the undersurface can then drop downward due to gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A flat rolled metal product (1) is first hot-rolled in at least one rolling stand (2), then fed to a cooling zone (5) arranged downstream of the rolling stand (2) and finally cooled in the cooling zone (5). During the rolling in the rolling stand (2), the flat rolled product (1) is oriented horizontally. Before running into the cooling zone (5) and/or when running into the cooling zone (5), the flat rolled product (1) is turned by a first acute angle (a) about an axis running in the transporting direction (x), so that after completion of the turning about the axis the flat rolled product (1) is oriented obliquely. The flat rolled product (1) is cooled in the cooling zone (5) while it is oriented obliquely. The product (1) is then returned to horizontal orientation.