Title of Invention	"METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COOLING A STEEL STRIP"
Abstract	The present invention relates to a cooling device for a quenching operation during the continuous annealing treatment of a flat product in the form of a metal strip (2), preferably a steel strip, said device: - being located in an essentially vertical, ascending or descending path; - comprising an overflow weir (4) in which a series of tubes (1) are completely immersed and stacked more or less vertically and symmetrically along each side of the strip (2) and which each eject onto the strip a cooling fluid in the form of essentially horizontal turbulent jets through a slit or a series of holes; - being provided in its lower part with a sealing means (3); wherein any two successive tubes (1) located on a same side of the strip (2) are separated by a gap (B) that is identical for all tubes (1), chosen at a given value of specific flow rate of the cooling fluid, expressed in cubic metres per hour and per m2 of a surface of the strip so as to minimise the loss of flow in the evacuation passages corresponding to said gap (B).

Title of Invention

"METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COOLING A STEEL STRIP"

Abstract

Full Text	The present invention relates to a cooling device for a quenching operation during the continuous annealing treatment of a flat product in the form of a metal strip (2), preferably a steel strip, said device: - being located in an essentially vertical, ascending or descending path; - comprising an overflow weir (4) in which a series of tubes (1) are completely immersed and stacked more or less vertically and symmetrically along each side of the strip (2) and which each eject onto the strip a cooling fluid in the form of essentially horizontal turbulent jets through a slit or a series of holes; - being provided in its lower part with a sealing means (3); wherein any two successive tubes (1) located on a same side of the strip (2) are separated by a gap (B) that is identical for all tubes (1), chosen at a given value of specific flow rate of the cooling fluid, expressed in cubic metres per hour and per m2 of a surface of the strip so as to minimise the loss of flow in the evacuation passages corresponding to said gap (B). WE CLAIM 1. Cooling device for a quenching operation during the continuous annealing treatment of a flat product in the form of a metal strip (2), preferably a steel strip, said device: - being located in an essentially vertical, ascending or descending path; - comprising an overflow weir (4) in which a series of tubes (1) are completely immersed and stacked more or less vertically and symmetrically along each side of the strip (2) and which each eject onto the strip a cooling fluid in the form of essentially horizontal turbulent jets through a slit or a series of holes; - being provided in its lower part with a sealing means (3); wherein any two successive tubes (1) located on a same side of the strip (2) are separated by a gap (B) that is identical for all tubes (1), chosen at a given value of specific flow rate of the cooling fluid, expressed in cubic metres per hour and per square metre of a surface of the strip so as to minimise the loss of flow in the evacuation passages corresponding to said gap (B) . 2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wall of the overflow weir (4), located at the back of the tubes (1), has a width at least equal to that of the tubes (1) and the horizontal distance of this wall relative to the back of the tubes (1) is selected so that the loss of flow caused by the presence of the overflow weir (4) is less than 5% of the loss of flow caused by the gaps (B) between two successive tubes (1). 3. Device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the specific flow rate of the cooling fluid is between 250 and 1,000m3 per hour, per m2 and per surface of the strip. 4. Device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the loss of flow caused by the gaps (B) is less than a 150mm column of water. 5. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance (A) between the end of each tube (1) and the strip (2) is identical for all tubes and is between 20mm and 200mm. 6. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tubes (1) have a rectangular section. 7. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sealing means (3) comprises a lock with pairs of rollers that allow both the passage of the strip (2) and the creation of a loss of flow limiting to a minimum value the leaks from the overflow weir (4) downwards, and a means for injecting a fluid between said pairs of rollers, with control of the pressure and/or temperature. 8. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper tube (1) is provided with a block (5) whose height is at least equal to the total of the thickness of the films of water (H) in the overflow weir and of the height of the column of water (AH) corresponding to the loss of flow between the tubes at maximum flow rate. 9. Quenching method during the continuous annealing treatment of a flat product in the form of a metal strip, preferably a steel strip, implementing a device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, to achieve a specific cooling power between l,OOOkW/m2 and 10,OOOkW/m2 per surface of metal product. 10. Method as claimed in Claim 9, the temperature of the strip upon entry in the device is between 350°C and 750°C and the temperature upon exit is between 50°C and 450°C, preferably between 50°C and 100°C or between 350°C and 450°C. 11. Cooling device for a quenching operation substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 12. Quenching method during the continuous annealing treatment substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Full Text

The present invention relates to a cooling device for a quenching operation during the continuous annealing treatment of a flat product in the form of a metal strip (2), preferably a steel strip, said device:
- being located in an essentially vertical, ascending or
descending path;
- comprising an overflow weir (4) in which a series of tubes (1)
are completely immersed and stacked more or less vertically
and symmetrically along each side of the strip (2) and which
each eject onto the strip a cooling fluid in the form of
essentially horizontal turbulent jets through a slit or a
series of holes;
- being provided in its lower part with a sealing means (3);
wherein any two successive tubes (1) located on a same side of
the strip (2) are separated by a gap (B) that is identical for
all tubes (1), chosen at a given value of specific flow rate of
the cooling fluid, expressed in cubic metres per hour and per m2
of a surface of the strip so as to minimise the loss of flow in
the evacuation passages corresponding to said gap (B).

WE CLAIM
1. Cooling device for a quenching operation
during the continuous annealing treatment of a flat product in
the form of a metal strip (2), preferably a steel strip, said
device:
- being located in an essentially vertical, ascending or
descending path;
- comprising an overflow weir (4) in which a series of tubes (1)
are completely immersed and stacked more or less vertically
and symmetrically along each side of the strip (2) and which
each eject onto the strip a cooling fluid in the form of
essentially horizontal turbulent jets through a slit or a
series of holes;
- being provided in its lower part with a sealing means (3);
wherein any two successive tubes (1) located on a same side of
the strip (2) are separated by a gap (B) that is identical for
all tubes (1), chosen at a given value of specific flow rate of
the cooling fluid, expressed in cubic metres per hour and per
square metre of a surface of the strip so as to minimise the
loss of flow in the evacuation passages corresponding to said
gap (B) .
2. Device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the
wall of the overflow weir (4), located at the back of the tubes
(1), has a width at least equal to that of the tubes (1) and the horizontal distance of this wall relative to the back of the tubes (1) is selected so that the loss of flow caused by the presence of the overflow weir (4) is less than 5% of the loss of flow caused by the gaps (B) between two successive tubes (1).
3. Device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein the specific flow rate of the cooling fluid is between
250 and 1,000m3 per hour, per m2 and per surface of the strip.
4. Device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein
the loss of flow caused by the gaps (B) is less than a 150mm
column of water.

5. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the distance (A) between the end of each tube
(1) and the strip (2) is identical for all tubes and is between
20mm and 200mm.
6. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said tubes (1) have a rectangular section.
7. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein said sealing means (3) comprises a lock with
pairs of rollers that allow both the passage of the strip (2)
and the creation of a loss of flow limiting to a minimum value
the leaks from the overflow weir (4) downwards, and a means for
injecting a fluid between said pairs of rollers, with control of
the pressure and/or temperature.
8. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding
claims, wherein the upper tube (1) is provided with a block (5)
whose height is at least equal to the total of the thickness of
the films of water (H) in the overflow weir and of the height of
the column of water (AH) corresponding to the loss of flow
between the tubes at maximum flow rate.
9. Quenching method during the continuous
annealing treatment of a flat product in the form of a metal
strip, preferably a steel strip, implementing a device as
claimed in any one of the preceding claims, to achieve a
specific cooling power between l,OOOkW/m2 and 10,OOOkW/m2 per
surface of metal product.
10. Method as claimed in Claim 9, the temperature
of the strip upon entry in the device is between 350°C and 750°C
and the temperature upon exit is between 50°C and 450°C,
preferably between 50°C and 100°C or between 350°C and 450°C.
11. Cooling device for a quenching operation
substantially as herein described with reference to and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. Quenching method during the continuous annealing treatment substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

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Patent Number

269147

Indian Patent Application Number

2643/DELNP/2006

PG Journal Number

41/2015

Publication Date

09-Oct-2015

Grant Date

01-Oct-2015

Date of Filing

11-May-2006

Name of Patentee

ARCELOR FRANCE

Applicant Address

1 A 5, RUE LUIGI CHERUBINI, 93200 SAINT DENIS, FRANCE.

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	LECOMTE,STEPHANE	RUE DU TERMINUS 20,B-4257 BERLOZ,BELGIUM
2	FOUARGE,ANDRE	RUE AUGUSTE BUISSERET 23,B-4000,LIEGE,BELGIUM
3	BOUQUEGNEAU,DENIS	RUE DE WARFUSEE 28,B-4470 SAINT-GEORGES-SUR-MEUSE,BELGIUM

PCT International Classification Number

C21D 9/00

PCT International Application Number

PCT/BE2004/000167

PCT International Filing date

2004-11-25

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	03447278.7	2003-12-01	EUROPEAN UNION