FAST RESPONSE HEATERS AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL SYSTEMS USED IN COMBINATION WITH METAL TREATMENT FURNACES

摘要

System and method for using fast response heaters to pre-heat metal before entering a metal treatment furnace, which may improve control over metal processing, especially in response to changes in material, mass flow rate, line speed, and/or desired treatment process. Fast response heaters may be used with control systems to adjust the output of the fast response heater based on operator inputs, direct or indirect sensing of process parameters, and/or the use of thermal models to quickly adjust fast response heater output while a metal treatment furnace remains at a constant temperature or slowly transitions into a new operating state. The resulting gains in process control result in higher quality products, reduced scrap, and increases in line speed and output.

主权项

1. A metal treatment system comprising:
a metal treatment furnace having a furnace entrance for accepting a moving metal sheet, the metal treatment furnace comprising a sensor for measuring an atmospheric temperature within the metal treatment furnace; a fast response heater positionable proximate the furnace entrance to pre-heat the metal sheet; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the fast response heater to automatically control heat output of the fast response heater using the atmospheric temperature within the metal treatment furnace.