RollProf

The European pilot & demonstration RFCS Roll-Prof project aims to develop and implement a sensor system able to carry out on-line and real-time roll profile measurements for both cold and hot rolling. With regard to hot rolling, this sensor system may be subjected to harsh mill environment such as radiation of rolled products, indirect heating due to roll contact with the strip, water cooling, and presence of abrasive particles as well as important mechanical issues like vibration and positioning problems. Furthermore, the sensor system must be able to:

• Carry out roll profile measurement at roll speeds up to 20 m/s,
• Assure the high measurement accuracy range of the finishing stand (in this case, for pinch roll),
• Measure refined roll profile distribution over the roll barrel length.

In the case of Dunkirk’s HSM, the measurement system should be implemented on the pinch roll with the purpose of measuring and controlling pinch roll’s wear. Thus, a real-time monitoring of pinch roll wear may help Dunkirk HSM to better:

• Evaluate and quantify coiling & strip defects due to wear on pinch roll,
• Correlate pinch roll wear distribution and type of defects,
• Optimize rolling campaigns and pinch roll change (by improving pinch rolls life).

In cold rolling, a uniform reduction is aimed over the strip width. Non-uniform reduction leads to bad strip shape (wavy edge, centerbuckle, etc.). If the work roll profile is known, an optimum setting of other shape actuators can be found so that strip shape is within tolerances.