Pass-Type Cooling Nozzles for Uniform Steel Plate Temperature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hot rolling techniques for steel plates or sheets face challenges in achieving uniform cooling and high productivity due to issues with cooling water distribution, equipment cost, and reduced rolling efficiency caused by waiting for cooling, particularly in controlled rolling processes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of pass-type cooling equipment with high water flow rates and cylindrical nozzles arranged to oppose each other in the transferring direction, which supplies cooling water to both upper and lower surfaces of the steel plate or sheet, effectively damming remaining water and maintaining a stable cooling area without additional drainage devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If shower-type cooling devices are used to cool steel plates during rolling, then cooling speed increases, but cooling uniformity deteriorates due to non-constant water cooling area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling speedVSAvoidcooling uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hydraulic pressure to jet cooling water through nozzle plates with multiple nozzles arranged in specific patterns. The high-pressure water jets create a constant effective cooling area on the steel plate surface, ensuring uniform cooling while maintaining high cooling speed. The nozzle plates are positioned to jet water onto the steel plate during rolling, creating consistent cooling zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Manufacturing precision

If waiting position is provided outside rolling line for cooling steel plates, then cooling uniformity improves, but equipment cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling uniformityVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cooling function with the existing rolling line by integrating nozzle plates into the rolling mill structure. The cooling process occurs simultaneously with rolling in the same equipment space, eliminating the need for separate waiting positions and reducing overall equipment complexity while maintaining cooling uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rolling mill equipment serves dual functions: rolling the steel plate and providing uniform cooling through integrated nozzle plates. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling equipment and waiting positions, reducing device complexity while achieving cooling uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Speed

If high flow rate of cooling water is supplied onto upper surface of steel plate, then cooling speed increases, but cooling uniformity deteriorates due to water running off the surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling speedVSAvoidcooling uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs high-pressure water jets through precisely positioned nozzles that create a constant effective cooling area. The hydraulic pressure ensures water is forced into the steel plate surface rather than running off, maintaining both high cooling speed and uniform cooling distribution across the plate surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 solution enables uniform cooling during controlled rolling, prevents reductions in rolling productivity, and produces high-quality steel plates or sheets by efficiently achieving the target temperature at a high cooling rate.

Implementation Method 1

cooling water is jetted from cylindrical nozzles arranged in the width direction of the steel plate or sheet onto the steel plate or sheet from both upper and lower sides

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

nozzles are arranged so that jets of cooling water oppose each other on the steel plate or sheet in the transferring direction, the supplied cooling water itself dams remaining cooling water on the steel plate or sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP1935522B1Reversing rolling mill with cooling facility and corresponding method of cooling a steel plate or sheet
Publication Date: 2015.11.18 JFE STEEL CORP
  • EP1935522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1935522B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1935522B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided cooling equipment and a cooling method for a steel plate or sheet which can properly cool a steel plate or sheet with a compact size on a hot rolling line, for example, during controlled rolling of the steel plate or sheet. Specifically, steel-plate or sheet cooling equipment supplies cooing water onto upper and lower surfaces of a steel plate or sheet 10 while the steel plate or sheet 10 is passing during hot rolling, and includes nozzles 22a and 22b that obliquely supply the cooling water onto the upper surface of the steel plate or sheet 10 from above. The nozzles 22a and 22b are arranged so that jets of cooling water oppose each other in the transferring direction of the steel plate or sheet 10 on the steel plate or sheet 10. More specifically, pass-type cooling equipment 20 has a high water flow rate of 4 m3/m2min or more.