SmartCool
Smart controlled actuator to homogenize the temperature of the transfer bar (SmartCool)
Objectives
A more homogenous transfer bar temperature over the width will be a huge improvement for the strip steering at the finishing mill. It will reduce the occurrence of rolling incidents (i.e. cobbles and tail ruptures) and will contribute to an improved flatness and more homogeneous final material properties what is especially very important for AHSS production. To achieve this, a straight forward project has been set-up with the aim to develop a selective transfer bar cooling that is intelligently controlled to correct in real time transfer bar temperature distortions during production.
Description
Smart controlled actuator(s) to homogenize the temperature at the transfer bar (SmartCool) In hot strip mills, transfer bar cooling units are supposed to ensure an equalization of temperature over the length and the width of the bar before entering the finishing mill. Most European HSM equipped with this technology face asymmetric thermal profile mainly over the width, hot shoulders and cold edges giving a negative impact on the flatness and on the final mechanical properties. An intelligent control of the transfer bar temperature along the width (and the length) will lead to better strip steering in the finishing mill and will reduce the number of rolling incidents, i.e. cobbles. AHSS steel grade and future micro-alloyed steel grades will require very precise temperature control over the entire cooling process aiming at homogeneous material properties. The implementation of a robust temperature profile measurement and a smart controlled actuator at the transfer bar cooling will allow reaching these objectives.
Partners
Funding Bodies
