Roll Stand Cooler for Immediate Thick Strip Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hot-rolling mills face challenges in achieving optimal material properties for thick strips due to the long temporal duration between the last rolling pass and the start of cooling, particularly in continuously operated casting/rolling composite plants, where the slow transportation speed of thick strips restricts the product mix and quality of steel production.
Innovation Solution
A roll stand with an integrated stand cooler, comprising upper and lower water tanks with connectors for coolant supply and cooling nozzles or pipes, allows for direct cooling of the steel strip within the roll stand, reducing the time between the last rolling pass and cooling, and enabling high-quality production of thick strips without the need to remove or re-install roll stands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thick strips are transported through the rolling mill at normal speed, then the transportation time is extended, but the strip temperature remains too high for achieving desired material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function with the roll stand structure by integrating a stand cooler into the roll stand. The cooler includes cooling channels formed in the supporting rollers, allowing coolant to be supplied directly within the roll stand. This merging of cooling function with the rolling structure enables simultaneous rolling and cooling, eliminating the need for separate cooling sections and reducing transportation time while achieving desired temperature reduction for thick strips.
2Temperature
If roll stands are removed to enable cooling of thick strips, then cooling can be achieved, but the device complexity and operational flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the roll stand universal by integrating multiple functions into a single structure. The stand cooler with cooling channels in supporting rollers enables the roll stand to perform both rolling and cooling functions. This multi-functionality allows the same roll stand configuration to handle both thick strips (requiring cooling) and thin strips (not requiring cooling), eliminating the need to remove or reconfigure roll stands for different product types, thus maintaining operational flexibility while adding cooling capability.
3Loss of time
If the transportation speed is increased for thick strips, then the cooling time is reduced, but the transportation speed is limited by the continuous casting plant operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cooling action by integrating the stand cooler into the roll stand through which the strip passes immediately after rolling. The cooling process begins continuously from the moment the strip enters the roll stand, without interruption or delay for transportation to a separate cooling section. The cooling channels in the supporting rollers ensure continuous coolant supply throughout the strip's passage, maintaining continuous useful cooling action that compensates for the limited transportation speed in continuously operated plants.
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 drastically shortens the time between the last rolling pass and cooling, allowing thick strips to achieve desired metallurgical properties and expanding the product mix of the hot-rolling mill by enabling efficient cooling within the roll stand, even for thick strips.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cooling nozzles (23) or cooling pipes (23a) which are disposed in the depth direction of the stand cooler
Implementation Method 2
cooling of the lower and the upper sides of the steel strip (50) by the cooling nozzles (23), or cooling pipes (23a), or cooling slot (24)
Data Source
AI summary
A framework cooler (20) for cooling a steel strip (50), installed in a roller framework (11), in place of the work rolls (5) and their associated installation pieces (5a and 5b). The framework cooler (20) is sized to be installed into the roller framework (11) through the operator-side roller stands (1) of the roller framework (11). The cooler (20) includes a lower (21b) and an upper water tank (21a), each having a connection (22) for a coolant, and includes a plurality of cooling nozzles (23), or cooling tubes (23a) arranged in the depth direction (T) of the framework cooler (20) or at least one cooling slot (24) extending in the depth direction (T). The bottom and top sides of the steel strip (50) may be cooled.