Width-Zone Nozzle Cooling for Uniform Strip Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling devices experience temperature deviations in high-temperature materials due to uneven coolant distribution across the material's width, and the existing methods for adjusting coolant flow rates are slow, leading to inaccuracies in following the intended flow rate profile.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a nozzle assembly that divides the coolant into multiple zones across the material's width, allowing for precise control of coolant flow rates by opening and closing nozzles in a pattern to match temperature variations, and includes sensors to adjust the flow rates dynamically based on temperature data from both upstream and downstream sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a predetermined amount of coolant is sprayed in the width direction of the material, then the cooling process is simple and uniform, but temperature deviation occurs between the central portion and edge portions of the material
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent nozzle groups (first, second, third, and fourth group nozzles) that can be controlled separately. Each group targets specific zones (central portion or edge portions) of the material width, allowing differentiated cooling rates to be applied to different areas, thereby eliminating temperature deviations while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Temperature
If the flow rate of coolant is adjusted using a valve to follow an indicated flow rate profile, then temperature deviations in the length direction can be reduced, but the adjustment time is too long (about 10 seconds or more to stabilize)
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical valve-based flow rate control system is replaced with an electro-hydraulic nozzle control system. By using solenoid valves or similar electro-hydraulic actuators to control nozzle opening/closing, the system achieves rapid flow rate adjustments (within seconds) compared to the slow mechanical valve adjustment (10+ seconds), while still following the indicated flow rate profile accurately.
3Temperature
If the flow rate of coolant supplied to head end and tail end portions is controlled with a valve, then temperature deviations can be reduced, but the actual flow rate deviates significantly from the set profile due to slow response
Solution Approach 1:
The static valve-based flow control is replaced with a dynamic nozzle control system that can rapidly open and close nozzle groups in response to real-time temperature feedback. This dynamic control allows the actual flow rate to closely follow the set profile by adjusting which nozzle groups are active at each moment, achieving both temperature uniformity and flow rate precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors detect the actual temperature distribution in the material, and this feedback is used to control the opening/closing of specific nozzle groups. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the coolant flow rate profile accurately matches the required profile, eliminating the significant deviations that occur with open-loop valve control.
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 significantly reduces temperature deviations across the material's width and improves the speed at which the coolant flow rate can be adjusted to stabilize, effectively following the intended flow rate profile, thereby enhancing cooling uniformity and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a nozzle assembly disposed on the base frame and spraying a cooling fluid to a plurality of zones, divided in a width direction of the material
Implementation Method 2
spraying a coolant to a material which is heated in a heating furnace and then passes through a rolling mill
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooling device and a cooling method capable of controlling, by section, the flow of coolant supplied in a widthwise direction, the cooling device comprising: a base frame connected to an external cooling fluid supply line, and disposed to be able to spray coolant onto a material that passes through a rolling mill after having been heated in a heating furnace; and a nozzle assembly disposed on the base frame, and spraying a cooling fluid in an arbitrary pattern onto a plurality of sections divided along the widthwise direction of the material to minimize a deviation in temperature in the widthwise direction of the material. Through this configuration, the flow of coolant supplied in the widthwise direction of a material can be controlled to be varied, thereby being capable of minimizing a deviation in temperature in the widthwise direction of a high temperature material.