PRE-HEATING AND THERMAL CONTROL OF WORK ROLLS IN METAL ROLLING PROCESSES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS THEREOF

摘要

Systems and methods for using full-width hot sprays to pre-heat rolling mills prior to processing of metal sheet or plate are described herein. The hot sprays may be individually controlled. Using hot sprays can allow the rolling mill to reach operating temperature and achieve a desired thermal crown so that metal sheet or plate may be processed immediately within tolerances for flatness and gauge accuracy. Pre-heating of rolling mills can eliminate the need of the rolling mill to operate in a transitional period of work roll heating and can increase efficiency by eliminating or reducing scrap material and mill downtime. Hot sprays may also be incorporated with existing coolant systems to provide thermal control systems for rolling mills with bi-directional temperature controls.

主权项

1. A metal rolling system comprising:
an upper work roll having an upper work roll width and an upper work roll face; a lower work roll having a lower work roll width and a lower work roll face; a work face heating spray device comprising a heating spray nozzle; and a heated liquid reservoir containing a heatant, the heated liquid reservoir couplable to the work face heating spray device to provide the heatant to the work face heating spray device, and wherein the work face heating spray device is configured to receive the heatant and the heating spray nozzle is positionable proximate to the upper work roll or the lower work roll to apply the heatant to at least one of the upper work roll face and the lower work roll face.