Cold Rolling Work Roll Heating for Multi-Zone Cooling Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cold rolling mills with multi-zone cooling devices fail to accurately calculate and set a desired temperature distribution on the work roll surface, leading to suboptimal operation and inconsistent roll gap profiles.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determines the current surface temperature of the work roll, calculates the required heat energy to reach the operating temperature for the multi-zone cooling device, and controls the inductive heating device to achieve a uniform temperature distribution, enabling precise temperature control and optimal operation of the multi-zone cooling device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a multi-zone cooling device is assigned to the work roll to set a desired temperature distribution, then the temperature distribution on the work roll surface can be controlled, but the system cannot accurately calculate and achieve the minimum operating temperature required for proper cooling device operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical temperature measurement methods with non-contact infrared thermography. The infrared camera captures thermal radiation from the work roll surface, and a calculation device processes these signals to determine the actual temperature distribution. This substitution enables accurate temperature measurement without physical contact, solving the problem of achieving precise temperature control while maintaining the multi-zone cooling system's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where the infrared camera continuously monitors the work roll surface temperature, the calculation device processes this data to determine actual temperature distribution, and the control device adjusts the multi-zone cooling device accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the work roll reaches and maintains the minimum operating temperature required for proper cooling device operation, resolving the temperature control accuracy issue.
2Reliability
If the work roll surface temperature is not sufficiently heated before multi-zone cooling operation, then the cooling device cannot operate properly, but continuous heating increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback system using infrared thermography continuously monitors the work roll surface temperature and provides real-time data to the control device. This enables the system to determine when the minimum operating temperature has been reached and adjust or stop heating operations accordingly, ensuring reliable cooling device operation while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption from continuous heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies heating only to the extent necessary to reach the minimum operating temperature required for proper cooling device operation, rather than maintaining excessive temperatures. The inductive heating device is controlled to provide just sufficient heating, and the feedback system ensures no more energy is consumed than needed for reliable cooling operation.
3Temperature
If thermal losses during production breaks are not compensated, then the work roll temperature drops below operating requirements, but continuous heating during breaks increases energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared-based feedback system continuously monitors work roll surface temperature even during production breaks. When temperature drop is detected below the minimum operating threshold, the control device automatically activates the inductive heating device to compensate. This ensures temperature maintenance only when necessary, minimizing energy waste during breaks while preventing temperature drop that would compromise operational reliability.
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
Ensures the work roll surface is heated uniformly to the minimum operating temperature required by the multi-zone cooling device, maintaining a consistent roll gap profile for improved metal strip flatness and productivity, even with minimal forming work, and compensating for thermal losses during production breaks.
Implementation Method 1
at least one inductive heating device extending longitudinally along the work roll for heating the surface of the work roll
Implementation Method 2
inductive heating device... for heating the surface of the work roll
Implementation Method 3
heat conduction from the metal strip to the work rolls and vice versa
Implementation Method 4
multi-zone cooling device... for cooling the surface of the work roll in zones
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method, a computer program product and a cold rolling stand for the cold rolling of a metal strip. The cold rolling stand has at least one working roll and an inductive heating device which extends in the longitudinal direction of the working roll and is intended for heating the surface of the working roll (110). For setting a desired profiling of the rolling gap, the method according to the invention provides that the working roll is first heated from its current surface temperature by a temperature difference to a working temperature required by a multizone cooling device (150) and is subsequently cooled down again in a suitable way by the multizone cooling device. The method according to the invention provides that this temperature difference is used as a basis for calculating a required amount of thermal energy that has to be fed to the working roll (110) in a respective operating mode of the cold rolling stand in order to heat up the surface of the working roll (110) to the working temperature for the multizone cooling device. Only after corresponding heating of the surface of the working roll does the setting of a desired resultant temperature distribution take place by zonal cooling of the surface of the working roll by means of the multizone cooling device to obtain the desired profiling of the rolling gap.