Segmented Cooling Line with Adjustable Valves for Even Long-Product Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling technologies for long products fail to provide flexible and even cooling along the travel direction, leading to uneven microstructures and undesirable material properties due to uneven coolant distribution and lack of individual control over cooling devices.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a coolant supply line connected to multiple cooling devices via individually adjustable control valves allows for flexible adjustment of coolant delivery along the travel direction, enabling precise control of cooling states through continuous adjustment of valve openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a plurality of cooling devices are provided to cool long products along the travel direction, then the cooling coverage is improved, but the control flexibility and evenness of cooling along different areas are worsened due to lack of individual adjustment capability
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independently controllable cooling devices, each equipped with its own control valve. This allows the cooling system to cover a large area while maintaining individual control over each cooling device, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valves are made individually adjustable, transforming the cooling system from a static, uniform cooling approach to a dynamic, adaptable system. Each cooling device can independently adjust its coolant delivery according to local requirements, enabling flexible control along the travel direction.
2Temperature
If coolant delivery is increased to achieve desired cooling effect, then the cooling intensity is improved, but the energy consumption and coolant usage are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying uniform high-intensity cooling throughout, the system enables localized cooling adjustment where each cooling device can deliver coolant at the precise intensity needed for its specific position and product section. This achieves the desired cooling effect while minimizing overall coolant consumption and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valves enable continuous adjustment of coolant delivery parameters (flow rate, pressure, temperature) for each cooling device. By dynamically changing these parameters based on actual cooling needs, the system achieves optimal cooling intensity while reducing unnecessary energy and coolant consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cooling devices with different internal diameters are provided to accommodate different rolled stock cross-sections, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and changeover time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single cooling device with a universally adjustable control valve that can accommodate different rolled stock cross-sections through parameter adjustment rather than requiring multiple specialized devices. This maintains adaptability across product spectra while reducing device complexity and eliminating changeover requirements.
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 precise control of cooling states, ensuring even cooling and optimal microstructure formation in long products, improving material properties and efficiency by allowing real-time adjustments based on product dimensions and requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Each of these cooling devices is connected via an individually adjustable control valve, whose coolant delivery depends in each case on a degree of opening of the respective control valve
Implementation Method 2
cooling is achieved by cooling the surface of the rolled product
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (100) for cooling long products is provided, the apparatus (100) having a coolant supply line (42) for supplying a coolant and a plurality of cooling devices (70), each connected to the coolant supply line (42) via an individually adjustable control valve (90), whose coolant delivery depends is each case on a degree of opening of the respective control valve (90), so that distribution of the coolant delivery along the travel direction can be flexibly adjusted by individually setting the degrees of opening of the control valves (90).