Remote Cooling of Rolls in Hot Rolling; Applicability to Other Processes

Abstract

A novel method of cooling rolls in hot rolling is proposed. This method uses a combination of solid jet nozzles and specially shaped deflecting vanes. The vanes transform the incoming cylindrical water jet into a flat fan. Thereby, the coolant can be directed into hardly accessible locations whilst maintaining the optimal angle of impingement. The vanes allow for effectively cooling the roll surface near the rolling gap, which is otherwise not possible with classical flat fan nozzles. The jet impact is tangential due to the limited room for nozzle mounts or a coolant supply. The developed method was laboratory tested. A similar cooling efficiency was found between the vane and the flat fan nozzle. The latter was however mounted in a position impossible in the plant. The potential of the proposed cooling is, therefore, eminent. Apart from hot rolling, it could be exploited in other technological processes such as high pressure die casting, machining, turning, hot stamping, etc.