Rolled Product Cooling Path Enthalpy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling methods for rolled products, particularly steel, face challenges in accurately controlling phase transitions during cooling, leading to variability in material properties and suboptimal cooling efficiency, especially in short cooling paths where phase transitions are difficult to monitor and maintain.
Innovation Solution
The method involves a control device that receives initial and target enthalpy values to determine optimized cooling medium profiles for front and rear cooling phases, maximizing cooling medium application in the first phase to end early and minimizing the third phase's start, allowing maximal phase transition time, and adjusting transport roller cooling to extend the cooling adjustment range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature-based cooling control is used, then cooling process can be monitored, but phase transitions cause multiple solutions for water quantity leading to variable material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from temperature to enthalpy. Enthalpy accounts for both temperature and phase transition effects, providing a unique solution for cooling water quantity that ensures consistent material properties even during phase transitions. This parameter change resolves the ambiguity caused by temperature-based control during phase changes.
2Productivity
If cooling path length is reduced, then productivity increases, but phase transition monitoring becomes suboptimal and material properties vary
Solution Approach 1:
By switching from temperature to enthalpy as the control parameter, the system can accurately monitor and control phase transitions even in shortened cooling paths. Enthalpy measurement provides definitive information about the cooling state regardless of path length, enabling precise material property control while maintaining high productivity.
3Productivity
If air cooling and transport roller contact cooling contribute significantly, then cooling efficiency improves, but phase transition timing becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control based on enthalpy measurement. By continuously monitoring the enthalpy of the rolled product and comparing it with target values, the system can adjust cooling water quantity in real-time to control phase transition timing accurately, even when multiple cooling sources (air, rollers, spray) are involved.
4Ease of operation
If feedback control is used after phase transition starts, then cooling adjustment is possible, but control becomes indefinite if phase transition is not complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses enthalpy as the control parameter, which provides a unique and definitive relationship between cooling water quantity and material state, even during ongoing phase transitions. This eliminates the indeterminacy problem of temperature-based control, where multiple water quantities could produce the same temperature during phase change.
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 ensures reliable material property adjustment, reduces variability, and maximizes transition speed, improving cooling efficiency and consistency, even for high-carbon steels and short cooling paths, while maintaining good flatness and preventing strip travel issues.
Implementation Method 1
sections of the rolled product pass through the active regions of the cooling devices in succession
Implementation Method 2
cooled in a first cooling phase by front cooling devices of the cooling path using a liquid cooling medium
Implementation Method 3
due to phase transitions that occur. As a result of the transition heat that occurs during the phase transitions
Data Source
AI summary
As sections of a rolled product (1) pass through a cooling path (2), they are initially cooled in a first cooling phase by front cooling devices (6). The sections are then not cooled in a subsequent second cooling phase. They are finally cooled again in a subsequent third cooling phase, by rear cooling devices (8) of the cooling path (2). A control device (10) of the cooling path receives in each case an initial energy value (EA) exhibited by the sections before they pass through the cooling path (2). The control device furthermore receives a target energy (E1*) and a target enthalpy (E2*). The control device (10) determines a first target cooling medium profile (K1*) on the basis of the initial energy value (EA) and the target energy (E1*). The control device controls the front cooling devices (6) in accordance with the first target cooling medium profile (K1*) while the respective section is passing through the front cooling devices (6). The control device (10) determines a second target cooling medium profile (K2) on the basis of an expected enthalpy for the respective section in the second cooling phase and the target enthalpy (E2*). The control device controls the rear cooling devices (8) in accordance with the second target cooling medium profile (K2*) while the respective section of the rolled product (1) is passing through the rear cooling devices (8).