Rolling mill temperature control

摘要

For controlling the flatness of the strip during the rolling of aluminum strip or foil, the system consists of a full width bank of cryogenic roll cooling devices acting on the roll(s) and a full width bank of roll heating devices also acting the roll(s). Both or either of the cooling and heating banks are divided into individually controllable zones. A process automation system controls the action of the cooling and heating banks via feedback from a strip shape meter and/or a predictive process model, in order, by thermal growth/contraction, to create the best roll profile for rolling flat strip.

主权项

1. An apparatus for rolling a metal strip comprising:
a pair of working rolls configured to receive the metal strip in a nip region there between; a plurality of cryogenic fluid applicators configured to direct a cryogenic fluid to one or more first zones on the surface of at least one of the working rolls, each first zone comprising an arc region of a respective working roll, one or more heating devices configured to heat one or more second zones on the surface of the working roll, and at least one cryogenic fluid barrier, wherein each cryogenic fluid barrier is:
arranged between (a) a point of contact between a respective working roll and the metal strip and (b) the arc region of the respective roll to which the cryogenic fluid is directed, andconfigured to prevent intrusion of the cryogenic fluid to at least one of (a) a wedge region of the respective roll defined between the cryogenic fluid barrier and a point of contact between the respective working roll and the metal strip and (b) the metal strip; and wherein each cryogenic fluid barrier comprises a gas curtain.