Heatable Return Pulley Uniform Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deflection drums in strip casting plants suffer from inhomogeneous temperature distribution, leading to temperature gradients that cause stress and damage in the applied base material, as the heating medium's temperature varies significantly along the drum due to its long distance and helical arrangement.

Innovation Solution

A deflection drum with a controllable valve system, temperature sensors, and a controller to manage heat flow, featuring multiple heating pipes with offset inlets and outlets, and potentially counterflow configurations, ensures a uniform temperature distribution by adjusting heat flows and maintaining desired temperatures across sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a single helical heating pipe is used in the deflection drum, then the drum can be heated, but a temperature gradient occurs along the drum length causing inhomogeneous temperature distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distribution uniformityVSAvoidheating system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single helical heating pipe is divided into multiple separate heating pipes (first heating pipe, second heating pipe, etc.), each with its own inlet and outlet. These heating pipes are arranged side by side around the drum circumference, creating independent heating zones that can be controlled separately to eliminate temperature gradients along the drum length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each heating pipe is equipped with individual flow control valves and temperature sensors, allowing localized adjustment of heat input to specific drum sections. This enables precise temperature control in different areas of the drum, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the entire heating surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If multiple heating pipes with individual control are added, then temperature distribution uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidvalve and sensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Temperature sensors are installed in each heating zone to continuously monitor the actual temperature. These sensors provide feedback signals to a control system that automatically adjusts the flow control valves to maintain the desired temperature setpoints, enabling automatic temperature control and reducing the need for manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is designed to automatically regulate its own operation through the feedback control mechanism. The control system independently adjusts valve positions based on temperature sensor readings, allowing the system to self-correct temperature deviations without external intervention and maintain uniform temperature distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution achieves a more uniform temperature profile along the deflection drum, reducing temperature gradients and allowing for targeted heating or cooling of individual areas, thereby enhancing the production of plates and films by maintaining a consistent temperature.

Implementation Method 1

a heating pipe laid underneath a cylindrical surface of the drum, the heating pipe(s) each having at least one inlet (supply) and at least one outlet (return) arranged offset thereto

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a liquid heating medium runs through a heating tube arranged in a helical shape around the longitudinal axis in the interior of the drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3007874B1Heatable or coolable return pulley for a continuous casting system
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 BERNDORF BAND GMBH
  • EP3007874B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3007874B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3007874B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a return pulley (101..110) for a continuous casting system, said return pulley comprising a drum-shaped main body and at least one heating pipe (2, 5, 6) laid underneath a cylindrical surface of the pulley (101..110). The heating pipe(s) (2, 5, 6) each has/have at least one input and at least one output offset in relation to said input, the sum of the inputs and outputs being at least three. The invention further relates to a continuous casting system having a return pulley (101..110) of the above type.