EP1160342B1 - Method for securing a controlled atmosphere heat treating chamber - Google Patents

Method for securing a controlled atmosphere heat treating chamber Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1160342B1
EP1160342B1 EP01400953A EP01400953A EP1160342B1 EP 1160342 B1 EP1160342 B1 EP 1160342B1 EP 01400953 A EP01400953 A EP 01400953A EP 01400953 A EP01400953 A EP 01400953A EP 1160342 B1 EP1160342 B1 EP 1160342B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
atmosphere
chamber
installation
rapid cooling
zone
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP01400953A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1160342A1 (en
Inventor
François Mignard
Runmeng Song
Stéphane Mehrain
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Fives Stein SA
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Stein Heurtey SA
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/74—Methods of treatment in inert gas, controlled atmosphere, vacuum or pulverulent material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
    • C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
    • C21D9/54—Furnaces for treating strips or wire
    • C21D9/56—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire
    • C21D9/562—Details
    • C21D9/565—Sealing arrangements
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
    • C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
    • C21D9/54—Furnaces for treating strips or wire
    • C21D9/56—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire
    • C21D9/561—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire with a controlled atmosphere or vacuum
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D9/00—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor
    • C21D9/52—Heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering, adapted for particular articles; Furnaces therefor for wires; for strips ; for rods of unlimited length
    • C21D9/54—Furnaces for treating strips or wire
    • C21D9/56—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire
    • C21D9/573—Continuous furnaces for strip or wire with cooling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for securing a heat treatment chamber operating under controlled atmosphere. It aims more particularly a method of securing an enclosure of treatment operating under a high-grade atmosphere in hydrogen.
  • it also relates to a heat treatment plant such as in particular speakers encountered in the field of vertical furnaces heat treatments or tape coatings continuous metal.
  • Continuous heat treatment furnaces such as example the annealing or coating furnaces are composed one or more of the following zones: preheating, heating, maintaining, slow cooling and cooling fast.
  • Each of these areas allows you to heat, maintain the temperature of the belt or cool it according to slopes heating and cooling and precise times defined by the metallurgical treatment cycle corresponding to the material to be treated.
  • the increase in performance of the cooling zones requires the use of an atmosphere with a high hydrogen content, up to 100%, in order to achieve a large increase in exchange coefficient able to generate slopes of cooling of the order of 80 to 200 ° C / second or more for a 0.8 mm thick strip compatible with processing cycles to get at the nominal speed of the line.
  • WO 99/50464 provides for balancing the pressures between the rapid cooling zone and a airlock compartment.
  • a sheath can be provided between upstream and downstream parts of the rapid cooling zone. In such an installation, the flow rates of gas through sas are not well controlled.
  • the method of securing a security heat treatment chamber operating under atmosphere of gas said chamber comprising a chamber of rapid cooling of a metal strip moving from an upstream chamber to a downstream chamber through a plurality of guide rollers, is characterized in that the band is confined within the enclosure of rapid cooling using at least one sheath pressure balancing device and a plurality of airlocks between the different rooms, in that we balance the pressures between the entrance and exit of the chamber of rapid cooling and in that one balances the pressures of gas atmospheres between the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber using at least one balancing sleeve of pressure, by controlling the flow rates of gas through said airlock by means of recycling conveying the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber to a zone of rejection and / or to a dilution zone.
  • An installation for the implementation of the process is characterized in that it comprises a balancing sleeve of pressure between the entrance and exit of the chamber of rapid cooling and means of recycling the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber to a reject zone and / or to a dilution zone.
  • this installation includes a vertical furnace continuous movement of a metal strip 1 running from a upstream chamber 2 to a downstream chamber 7 on rolls of guidance 3.
  • a rapid cooling chamber is represented by 5, it is equipped with cooling devices by gas blowing on the tape according to the state of the art (no represented in the figure).
  • the rapid cooling chamber 5 is separated from upstream and downstream chambers 7 by means of sealing devices 4a and 4b such as sas, shutters, roller locks, blades gases or others according to known technologies.
  • sealing devices 4a and 4b such as sas, shutters, roller locks, blades gases or others according to known technologies.
  • this is to confine a portion of tape that is intended to undergo a heat treatment, such as in particular a rapid cooling in a sheath 6.
  • This sheath 6 is positioned within the rapid cooling chamber 5 and is filled with a controlled atmosphere with a high content of hydrogen.
  • the sheath 6 located in the cooling chamber 5 also provides communication between rooms 2 and 7 to balance the pressures.
  • the high hydrogen content of this leak can be diluted in the atmosphere of rooms 2 and 7 by behaving like a supplement of hydrogen for these rooms.
  • the pressures and hydrogen contents of chambers 2, 5, 6 and 7 are controlled by sensors and a device regulating which adjusts the additions in atmosphere, so to maintain these pressures and the compositions of different atmospheres of different rooms to their values required.
  • this installation differs from that shown in Figure 1 by the does that room 5 fast cooling and that is subjected to a gas-controlled atmosphere, incorporates into the once a strand up and a strand down the strip metallic.
  • This configuration requires placing locks 4a and 4b in the same altitude so that the gas pressures upstream and downstream of the airlock, be identical (same mass of the column gas).
  • the cooling equipment is spread over one or two strands or heating equipment - different or complementary cooling are implemented on the second strand of the band.
  • a sheath 6 encompasses the containment chamber 5 conforming around this last an envelope, which is connected to both rooms 2 and 7. This sheath 6 thus allows the setting in communication atmospheres prevailing in these rooms and participates in the balancing of the pressures.
  • Part 9 located substantially in the center of the installation and in the upper part of the sheath 8, is particularly reserved for the installation of blowing equipment on the band (ducts, control valves ). If the construction allow it, this part can be deleted, room 5 can then be performed as shown in Figure 3.
  • this installation includes a vertical furnace continuous movement of a metal strip 1 running from a upstream chamber 2 to a downstream chamber 7 on rolls of guidance 3.
  • a rapid cooling chamber is represented by 5, it is equipped with cooling devices by gas blowing on the tape according to the state of the art (no represented in the figure).
  • the rapid cooling chamber 5 is separated from upstream and downstream chambers 7 by means of sealing devices 4a and 4b such as sas, shutters, roller locks, blades gases or others according to known technologies.
  • sealing devices 4a and 4b such as sas, shutters, roller locks, blades gases or others according to known technologies.
  • the airlock chambers 4a and 4b are arranged horizontally, respectively in upstream and downstream of the rapid cooling chamber 5, and allow to delimit in a direction substantially horizontal, a sheath 6 which puts in communication the adjacent rooms 2 and 7, thereby participating, as for the previous embodiments, to the balancing of the gas pressures prevailing in these chambers.
  • the rising and falling strands of the band can to be united in a single room as represented on the figure 3.
  • this installation shall include means enabling the securing the atmosphere of the cooling chamber high hydrogen content.
  • this installation has three sheaths balancing the pressures between different points of the rooms of the treatment line.
  • the high hydrogen content chamber 5 is equipped with a first balancing sleeve 8 in order to maintain the same pressure at the isolation locks 4a and 4b.
  • a second balancing sleeve 10 makes it possible to maintain the pressures of at the same level.
  • a third balancing sleeve 6 makes it possible to maintain upstream and downstream chamber pressures 2 and the same level, and allows the free movement of gas between these upstream and downstream zones without disturbing the airlock pressure and the high-grade chamber hydrogen 5.
  • Atmosphere racking points may be carried out in each of the zones or in the pressure balancing sleeves, to allow the evacuation of a parasitic flow between two zones which could disrupt the atmosphere.
  • the extraction of a flow of atmosphere from the chamber to high hydrogen content can be processed outside the line or be used directly in this line after nitrogen injection to recreate a low-grade atmosphere in hydrogen. This process makes it possible to limit important, the total consumption of the hydrogen line.
  • this installation is similar in design to that represented in Figure 5 (it has three sheaths pressure balance), but differs in that it includes means for carrying out a recycling of the atmosphere extracted from the high-grade chamber hydrogen.
  • First conduits 11a and 11b are connected to points extraction in a high hydrogen atmosphere, preferably located in the vicinity of locks 4a and 4b. of the extraction devices, for example fans 12a and 12b, convey said atmosphere and direct it through second conduits 16a and 16b, ie to a rejection zone 13a or 13b outside the facility, either to a dilution zone 14a, 14b, with a make-up gas mixture (including nitrogen), in order to obtain an atmosphere whose hydrogen content is lowered to a value corresponding to the hydrogen content of upstream 2 and downstream 7 zones, within of which these diluted gas injection points are made at 15a and 15b.
  • a make-up gas mixture including nitrogen
  • these gas recycling means can be adapted to collect high atmospheric flow hydrogen content at different points in chamber 5 or airlock 4a and 4b, in order to limit the exchanges of atmospheres between chamber 5 and adjacent chambers 2, 7.
  • the airlock 4a and 4b and their pressure balancing sleeve 6 have been extended up to dial this equalizer room 17, the latter being, on the one hand, separated from the chamber high hydrogen content by airlock 19a and 19b, and on the other hand of the upstream chamber 2 by the airlock 18a and the downstream chamber 7 by the airlock 18b.
  • a balancing sleeve of pressure 6 brings together these upstream and downstream chambers.
  • the volume of the chamber 17 makes it possible to dampen the variations of pressure between the chamber 5 and the upstream and downstream chambers 2 7, and compensate for these pressure variations with the aid of a injection of atmosphere or extraction means.
  • a seventh embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention in the case where the chamber under atmosphere with a high concentration of hydrogen is located at the end of the line and where there is no other room downstream.
  • This installation is overall similar to the sixth solution (see Figure 7) and differs from the fact that the downstream chamber is deleted, the output of band 21 is located in the enclosure 2 to keep it away from the strong zone hydrogen concentration.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Heat Treatment Of Strip Materials And Filament Materials (AREA)
  • Furnace Details (AREA)

Description

La présente invention est relative à un procédé de mise en sécurisation d'une enceinte de traitement thermique fonctionnant sous atmosphère contrôlée. Elle vise plus particulièrement un procédé de sécurisation d'une enceinte de traitement fonctionnant sous une atmosphère à haute teneur en hydrogène.The present invention relates to a method for securing a heat treatment chamber operating under controlled atmosphere. It aims more particularly a method of securing an enclosure of treatment operating under a high-grade atmosphere in hydrogen.

Selon un autre aspect de l'invention, elle vise également une installation de traitement thermique telle que notamment des enceintes rencontrées dans le domaine des fours verticaux de traitements thermiques ou de revêtements de bandes métalliques en continu.According to another aspect of the invention, it also relates to a heat treatment plant such as in particular speakers encountered in the field of vertical furnaces heat treatments or tape coatings continuous metal.

Les fours continus de traitement thermique tels que par exemple les fours de recuit ou de revêtement sont composés d'une ou de plusieurs des zones suivantes : préchauffage, chauffage, maintien, refroidissement lent et refroidissement rapide.Continuous heat treatment furnaces such as example the annealing or coating furnaces are composed one or more of the following zones: preheating, heating, maintaining, slow cooling and cooling fast.

Chacune de ces zones permet de chauffer, de maintenir la température de la bande ou de la refroidir suivant des pentes de chauffage et de refroidissement et des temps précis définis par le cycle de traitement métallurgique correspondant au matériau à traiter.Each of these areas allows you to heat, maintain the temperature of the belt or cool it according to slopes heating and cooling and precise times defined by the metallurgical treatment cycle corresponding to the material to be treated.

L'élaboration récente de nouvelles nuances d'acier a nécessité la définition de nouveaux cycles de traitement avec de nouvelles pentes de chauffage et de refroidissement.The recent development of new grades of need to define new treatment cycles with new heating and cooling slopes.

L'obtention des pentes importantes de refroidissement imposées par ces cycles nouveaux est obtenue par l'augmentation des pressions de soufflage du gaz de refroidissement sur la bande ou par l'optimisation de la géométrie de soufflage afin d'obtenir des coefficients d'échange gaz / bande les plus élevés possible. Ces dispositifs utilisés actuellement avec de basses teneurs en hydrogène montrent que les pentes maximums pouvant être atteintes en refroidissement sont de l'ordre de 60°C/seconde pour une bande de 0,8 mm d'épaisseur au-delà desquelles les dimensions, les puissances absorbées par les ventilateurs et le coût de l'installation deviennent trop importants ou les vitesses excessives de soufflage des gaz provoquent l'instabilité de la position de la bande. Il est également possible, pour atteindre ces pentes de refroidissement, de limiter la vitesse de la ligne ce qui limite d'autant sa production et rend cette technique peu rentable.Obtaining important cooling slopes imposed by these new cycles is obtained by the increase of gas blowing pressures of cooling on the tape or by optimizing the blow geometry to obtain coefficients gas / band exchange rate as high as possible. These currently used devices with low levels of hydrogen show that the maximum slopes that can be cooling rates are in the order of 60 ° C / second for a 0.8 mm thick strip beyond which the dimensions, the powers absorbed by the fans and the cost of installation become too much or the excessive blowing speeds of gases cause the instability of the position of the band. he is also possible, to reach these cooling slopes, to limit the speed of the line which limits its production and makes this technique unprofitable.

L'augmentation de performances des zones de refroidissements impose d'utiliser une atmosphère à haute teneur en hydrogène, jusqu'à 100 %, afin d'obtenir une forte augmentation du coefficient d'échange à même de générer des pentes de refroidissement de l'ordre de 80 à 200 °C/seconde ou plus pour une bande de 0,8 mm d'épaisseur compatibles avec les cycles de traitement à obtenir à la vitesse nominale de la ligne. The increase in performance of the cooling zones requires the use of an atmosphere with a high hydrogen content, up to 100%, in order to achieve a large increase in exchange coefficient able to generate slopes of cooling of the order of 80 to 200 ° C / second or more for a 0.8 mm thick strip compatible with processing cycles to get at the nominal speed of the line.

Le procédé de contrôle permettant l'augmentation du pourcentage d'hydrogène à de telles valeurs pose un problème important lié à la nature de ce gaz (notamment du fait du caractère explosif de ce gaz), il est en particulier impossible de mettre en oeuvre une telle atmosphère dans la totalité de la ligne où un contact avec l'air dans les zones d'entrée et de sortie de la bande présenterait des risques importants pour la sécurité d'exploitation de l'installation. Il est donc nécessaire de limiter la zone fonctionnant à haute teneur en hydrogène au refroidissement rapide et d'isoler cette zone des zones adjacentes de la ligne où une teneur en hydrogène limitée suffit pour le procédé de traitement et pour assurer la sécurité de fonctionnement de la ligne.The control process allowing the increase of the percentage of hydrogen at such values poses a problem important to the nature of this gas (particularly explosive nature of this gas), it is particularly impossible to implement such an atmosphere in the entire line where contact with the air in the areas entry and exit of the band would pose risks important for the safe operation of the installation. It is therefore necessary to limit the working area to high hydrogen content at fast cooling and to isolate this area from adjacent areas of the line where a limited hydrogen content is sufficient for the process of treatment and to ensure the operational safety of line.

Cette sécurité de fonctionnement doit être assurée:

  • durant le fonctionnement nominal ou stabilisé de la ligne,
  • durant les changements de vitesse de ligne ou de format de bande ou lors d'incidents tels que par exemple arrêt de ligne ou casse de bande.
This operational safety must be ensured:
  • during the rated or stabilized operation of the line,
  • during changes in line speed or tape format or during incidents such as line breaks or tape breaks.

Ces différentes conditions de fonctionnement de ligne entraínent des variations de pression dans les chambres, amplifiées par la forte dilatation ou contraction de l'atmosphère comprenant une part importante d'hydrogène, et provoquant le passage d'atmosphère d'une chambre vers l'autre ce qui en modifie la composition et peut entraíner des risques importants si la zone de forte teneur en hydrogène n'est pas contrôlée.These different line operating conditions cause pressure variations in the rooms, amplified by the strong dilation or contraction of the atmosphere comprising a large part of hydrogen, and causing the passage of atmosphere from one room to another which modifies its composition and can lead to significant risks if the area of high hydrogen content is not controlled.

Le procédé de pilotage permettant l'obtention de tels gradients de vitesse de refroidissement ou de réchauffage, fait l'objet de la demande de brevet français n° 2 746 112 déposée par la demanderesse.The piloting process making it possible to obtain such cooling or heating rate gradients, is the subject of the French patent application No. 2,746,112 filed by the plaintiff.

WO 99/50464, ainsi que EP 1 069 193, prévoit d'équilibrer les pressions entre la zone de refroidissement rapide et un compartiment de sas. Une gaine peut être prévue entre les parties amont et aval de la zone de refroidissement rapide. Dans une telle installation, les débits de gaz au travers des sas ne sont pas bien maítrisés.WO 99/50464, as well as EP 1 069 193, provides for balancing the pressures between the rapid cooling zone and a airlock compartment. A sheath can be provided between upstream and downstream parts of the rapid cooling zone. In such an installation, the flow rates of gas through sas are not well controlled.

Les solutions apportées par le procédé objet de l'invention ainsi que l'installation permettant la mise en oeuvre d'un tel procédé, apportent une réponse à ces problèmes de mise en sécurisation, tout en conciliant des impératifs liés au contrôle des échanges d'atmosphères. Ces impératifs permettent également d'optimiser le fonctionnement de l'installation de traitement thermique et de réduire la consommation en atmosphère contrôlée (notamment en hydrogène) lors du fonctionnement nominal de cette ligne ou lors des changements de sa vitesse ou du format de bande à traiter ou encore lors des incidents de production tels que, par exemple, l'arrêt de ligne ou casse de bande.The solutions provided by the process which is the subject of the invention as well as the installation allowing the implementation of a such a method, provide an answer to these implementation problems. security, while reconciling the imperatives of control of atmospheric exchanges. These imperatives also make it possible to optimize the operation of the heat treatment facility and reduce the consumption in a controlled atmosphere (in particular in hydrogen) during the nominal operation of this line or during changes in its speed or the tape format to be processed or again during production incidents such as, for example, example, line stop or tape break.

A cet effet, le procédé de mise en sécurisation d'une enceinte de traitement thermique fonctionnant sous atmosphère de gaz, ladite enceinte comprenant une chambre de refroidissement rapide d'une bande métallique défilant à partir d'une chambre amont vers une chambre aval grâce à une pluralité de rouleaux de guidage, se caractérise en ce que l'on confine ladite bande au sein de l'enceinte de refroidissement rapide à l'aide d'au moins une gaine d'équilibrage de pression et d'une pluralité de sas placés entre les différentes chambres, en ce que l'on équilibre les pressions entre l'entrée et la sortie de la chambre de refroidissement rapide et en ce que l'on équilibre les pressions des atmosphères de gaz entre la chambre amont et la chambre aval à l'aide d'au moins une gaine d'équilibrage de pression, en contrôlant les débits de gaz au travers desdits sas par des moyens de recyclage véhiculant l'atmosphère extraite de la chambre de refroidissement rapide vers une zone de rejet et/ou vers une zone de dilution.For this purpose, the method of securing a security heat treatment chamber operating under atmosphere of gas, said chamber comprising a chamber of rapid cooling of a metal strip moving from an upstream chamber to a downstream chamber through a plurality of guide rollers, is characterized in that the band is confined within the enclosure of rapid cooling using at least one sheath pressure balancing device and a plurality of airlocks between the different rooms, in that we balance the pressures between the entrance and exit of the chamber of rapid cooling and in that one balances the pressures of gas atmospheres between the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber using at least one balancing sleeve of pressure, by controlling the flow rates of gas through said airlock by means of recycling conveying the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber to a zone of rejection and / or to a dilution zone.

Une installation pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé se caractérise en ce qu'elle comporte une gaine d'équilibrage de pression entre l'entrée et la sortie de la chambre de refroidissement rapide et des moyens de recyclage véhiculant l'atmosphère extraite de la chambre de refroidissement rapide vers une zone de rejet et/ou vers une zone de dilution.An installation for the implementation of the process is characterized in that it comprises a balancing sleeve of pressure between the entrance and exit of the chamber of rapid cooling and means of recycling the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber to a reject zone and / or to a dilution zone.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront de la description faite ci-après, en référence aux dessins annexés qui en illustrent un exemple de réalisation dépourvu de tout caractère limitatif. Sur les figures :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'une installation de traitement thermique;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'un troisième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'un quatrième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique;
  • la figure 5 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'un cinquième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique;
  • la figure 6 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'un sixième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique mettant en oeuvre le procédé objet de l'invention ;
  • la figure 7 est une vue en coupe et en élévation latérale d'un septième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique mettant en oeuvre le procédé objet de l'invention et
  • la figure 8 est une vue similaire à la figure 7 représentant une variante de l'invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment having no limiting character. In the figures:
  • Figure 1 is a sectional side elevational view of a heat treatment plant;
  • Figure 2 is a sectional side elevational view of a second embodiment of a heat treatment plant;
  • Figure 3 is a sectional and side elevational view of a third embodiment of a heat treatment plant;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional and side elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a heat treatment plant;
  • Figure 5 is a sectional and side elevational view of a fifth embodiment of a heat treatment plant;
  • Figure 6 is a sectional side elevational view of a sixth embodiment of a heat treatment plant implementing the method object of the invention;
  • FIG. 7 is a view in section and in side elevation of a seventh embodiment of a heat treatment installation implementing the method which is the subject of the invention and
  • Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing a variant of the invention.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 1), cette installation comporte un four vertical de traitement en continu d'une bande métallique 1 défilant à partir d'une chambre amont 2 vers une chambre aval 7 sur des rouleaux de guidage 3.According to a first embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 1), this installation includes a vertical furnace continuous movement of a metal strip 1 running from a upstream chamber 2 to a downstream chamber 7 on rolls of guidance 3.

Une chambre de refroidissement rapide est représentée par 5, elle est équipée de dispositifs de refroidissement par soufflage de gaz sur la bande suivant l'état de l'art (non représentés sur la figure).A rapid cooling chamber is represented by 5, it is equipped with cooling devices by gas blowing on the tape according to the state of the art (no represented in the figure).

La chambre de refroidissement rapide 5 est séparée des chambres amont 2 et aval 7 par des dispositifs d'étanchéité 4a et 4b tels que sas, sas à volets, sas à rouleaux, lames de gaz ou autres suivant des technologies connues.The rapid cooling chamber 5 is separated from upstream and downstream chambers 7 by means of sealing devices 4a and 4b such as sas, shutters, roller locks, blades gases or others according to known technologies.

Selon une caractéristique avantageuse de l'invention, celle-ci consiste à confiner une portion de bande qui est destinée à subir un traitement thermique, tel que notamment un refroidissement rapide, dans une gaine 6. Cette gaine 6 est positionnée au sein de la chambre de refroidissement rapide 5 et est remplie d'une atmosphère contrôlée à haute teneur en hydrogène.According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, this is to confine a portion of tape that is intended to undergo a heat treatment, such as in particular a rapid cooling in a sheath 6. This sheath 6 is positioned within the rapid cooling chamber 5 and is filled with a controlled atmosphere with a high content of hydrogen.

Selon une autre caractéristique avantageuse de l'invention, la gaine 6 située dans la chambre de refroidissement 5, assure également la communication entre les chambres 2 et 7 afin d'en équilibrer les pressions. According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the sheath 6 located in the cooling chamber 5, also provides communication between rooms 2 and 7 to balance the pressures.

Le maintien en pression de la chambre 5 à haute teneur notamment en hydrogène peut être obtenu par le contrôle d'un débit de fuite de cette atmosphère au travers des sas 4a et 4b.Keeping the high-grade chamber 5 under pressure in particular hydrogen can be obtained by controlling a leakage rate of this atmosphere through airlock 4a and 4b.

La forte teneur en hydrogène de cette fuite peut se diluer dans l'atmosphère des chambres 2 et 7 en se comportant comme un appoint d'hydrogène pour ces chambres.The high hydrogen content of this leak can be diluted in the atmosphere of rooms 2 and 7 by behaving like a supplement of hydrogen for these rooms.

L'injection d'atmosphère est donc limitée dans cette partie du four à l'appoint dans la zone 5, les appoints des zones 2 et 7 étant réalisés par les débits de fuite contrôlés des sas 4a et 4b.The injection of atmosphere is therefore limited in this part from the oven to the extra in Zone 5, the extra zones 2 and 7 being made by controlled leakage rates of airlocks 4a and 4b.

Les pressions et teneurs en hydrogène des chambres 2, 5, 6 et 7 sont contrôlées par des capteurs et un dispositif de régulation qui ajuste les appoints en atmosphère, de manière à maintenir ces pressions et les compositions des différentes atmosphères des différentes chambres à leurs valeurs requises.The pressures and hydrogen contents of chambers 2, 5, 6 and 7 are controlled by sensors and a device regulating which adjusts the additions in atmosphere, so to maintain these pressures and the compositions of different atmospheres of different rooms to their values required.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 2), cette installation diffère de celle représentée en figure 1 par le fait que la chambre 5 de refroidissement rapide et qui est soumise à une atmosphère contrôlée en gaz, incorpore à la fois un brin montant et un brin descendant de bande métallique.According to a second embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 2), this installation differs from that shown in Figure 1 by the does that room 5 fast cooling and that is subjected to a gas-controlled atmosphere, incorporates into the once a strand up and a strand down the strip metallic.

Cette configuration nécessite de placer les sas 4a et 4b à une même altitude afin que les pressions de gaz, en amont et en aval des sas, soient identiques (même masse de la colonne de gaz). Les équipements de refroidissement sont répartis sur un ou deux brins ou des équipements de chauffage - refroidissement différents ou complémentaires sont implantés sur le deuxième brin de la bande.This configuration requires placing locks 4a and 4b in the same altitude so that the gas pressures upstream and downstream of the airlock, be identical (same mass of the column gas). The cooling equipment is spread over one or two strands or heating equipment - different or complementary cooling are implemented on the second strand of the band.

Afin d'équilibrer la pression de gaz régnant dans la chambre de confinement 5 au niveau des sas 4a et 4b, une gaine d'équilibrage 8 a été ajoutée à l'installation.In order to balance the gas pressure prevailing in the chamber containment 5 at the locks 4a and 4b, a sheath Balancing 8 has been added to the installation.

De manière similaire au premier mode de réalisation de l'installation de traitement thermique, une gaine 6 englobe la chambre de confinement 5 en conformant autour de cette dernière une enveloppe, qui est reliée à la fois aux chambres 2 et 7. Cette gaine 6 permet donc la mise en communication des atmosphères régnant dans ces chambres et participe à l'équilibrage des pressions.Similarly to the first embodiment of the heat treatment plant, a sheath 6 encompasses the containment chamber 5 conforming around this last an envelope, which is connected to both rooms 2 and 7. This sheath 6 thus allows the setting in communication atmospheres prevailing in these rooms and participates in the balancing of the pressures.

On voit sur cette figure 2 que la zone sous haute teneur en hydrogène se trouve « en cul de sac » et que les deux cotés des sas 4a et 4b se trouvent à une pression identique grâce aux gaines d'équilibrage 6 et 8. Cette disposition limite les circulations de gaz entre la zone 5 et les zones adjacentes 2 et 7 de l'installation, ce qui limite les sources de circulation de gaz entre ces zones, donc les débits d'appoint nécessaires, notamment en hydrogène, pour maintenir cet équilibre.It can be seen in this figure 2 that the zone under high content in hydrogen is "dead end" and that both sides airlocks 4a and 4b are at an identical pressure thanks balancing sleeves 6 and 8. This provision limits the gas flows between zone 5 and adjacent areas 2 and 7 of the installation, which limits the sources of gas flow between these areas, so the extra flows necessary, particularly in hydrogen, to maintain this balanced.

L'amélioration de la qualité de la séparation des atmosphères entre la chambre 5 et les chambres adjacentes 2 et 7 permet l'utilisation de teneurs en hydrogènes plus importantes dans la chambre 5 donc l'obtention de coefficients d'échange et de pentes de refroidissement très supérieures à celles obtenues avec l'état de l'art antérieur.Improving the quality of the separation of atmospheres between room 5 and adjacent rooms 2 and 7 allows the use of higher hydrogen contents in the chamber 5 thus obtaining exchange coefficients and cooling slopes much higher than those obtained with the state of the prior art.

Une partie 9 située sensiblement au centre de l'installation et en partie supérieure de la gaine 8, est particulièrement réservée à la mise en place des équipements de soufflage sur la bande (gaines, vannes de contrôle...). Si la construction le permet, cette partie peut être supprimée, la chambre 5 pouvant alors être réalisée comme représenté sur la figure 3.Part 9 located substantially in the center of the installation and in the upper part of the sheath 8, is particularly reserved for the installation of blowing equipment on the band (ducts, control valves ...). If the construction allow it, this part can be deleted, room 5 can then be performed as shown in Figure 3.

Selon un troisième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 4), cette installation comporte un four vertical de traitement en continu d'une bande métallique 1 défilant à partir d'une chambre amont 2 vers une chambre aval 7 sur des rouleaux de guidage 3.According to a third embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 4), this installation includes a vertical furnace continuous movement of a metal strip 1 running from a upstream chamber 2 to a downstream chamber 7 on rolls of guidance 3.

Une chambre de refroidissement rapide est représentée par 5, elle est équipée de dispositifs de refroidissement par soufflage de gaz sur la bande suivant l'état de l'art (non représentés sur la figure).A rapid cooling chamber is represented by 5, it is equipped with cooling devices by gas blowing on the tape according to the state of the art (no represented in the figure).

La chambre de refroidissement rapide 5 est séparée des chambres amont 2 et aval 7 par des dispositifs d'étanchéité 4a et 4b tels que sas, sas à volets, sas à rouleaux, lames de gaz ou autres suivant des technologies connues.The rapid cooling chamber 5 is separated from upstream and downstream chambers 7 by means of sealing devices 4a and 4b such as sas, shutters, roller locks, blades gases or others according to known technologies.

Comme on peut le voir sur la figure 4, les sas d'étanchéité 4a et 4b sont disposés horizontalement, respectivement en amont et en aval de la chambre de refroidissement rapide 5, et permettent de délimiter dans une direction sensiblement horizontale, une gaine 6 qui met en communication les chambres adjacentes 2 et 7, participant de ce fait, comme pour les modes de réalisation précédents, à l'équilibrage des pressions de gaz régnant dans ces chambres.As can be seen in FIG. 4, the airlock chambers 4a and 4b are arranged horizontally, respectively in upstream and downstream of the rapid cooling chamber 5, and allow to delimit in a direction substantially horizontal, a sheath 6 which puts in communication the adjacent rooms 2 and 7, thereby participating, as for the previous embodiments, to the balancing of the gas pressures prevailing in these chambers.

De même, la communication entre les sas 4a et 4b et la partie inférieure de la chambre 5, est réalisée à l'aide d'une gaine d'équilibrage 8. Similarly, the communication between airlock 4a and 4b and the lower part of chamber 5, is made using a sheath balancing 8.

Comme pour le deuxième mode de réalisation et si la construction des éléments de soufflage sur la bande le permet, les brins montants et descendants de la bande peuvent être réunis dans une chambre unique comme représenté sur la figure 3.As for the second embodiment and if the construction of the blowing elements on the belt allows, the rising and falling strands of the band can to be united in a single room as represented on the figure 3.

Selon un quatrième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 5), cette installation comporte des moyens permettant la mise en sécurisation de l'atmosphère de la chambre de refroidissement à haute teneur en hydrogène. A cet effet, cette installation comporte trois gaines d'équilibrage des pressions entre les différents points des chambres de la ligne de traitement.According to a fourth embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 5), this installation shall include means enabling the securing the atmosphere of the cooling chamber high hydrogen content. For this purpose, this installation has three sheaths balancing the pressures between different points of the rooms of the treatment line.

La chambre sous haute teneur en hydrogène 5 est équipée d'une première gaine d'équilibrage 8 afin de maintenir la même pression au niveau des sas d'isolation 4a et 4b. Une seconde gaine d'équilibrage 10 permet de maintenir les pressions des sas à un même niveau.The high hydrogen content chamber 5 is equipped with a first balancing sleeve 8 in order to maintain the same pressure at the isolation locks 4a and 4b. A second balancing sleeve 10 makes it possible to maintain the pressures of at the same level.

Enfin, une troisième gaine d'équilibrage 6 permet de maintenir les pressions des chambres amont et aval 2 et à un même niveau, et permet la libre circulation des débits de gaz entre ces zones amont et aval, sans perturber le régime de pression des sas et de la chambre sous haute teneur en hydrogène 5.Finally, a third balancing sleeve 6 makes it possible to maintain upstream and downstream chamber pressures 2 and the same level, and allows the free movement of gas between these upstream and downstream zones without disturbing the airlock pressure and the high-grade chamber hydrogen 5.

Les pressions et teneur notamment en hydrogène dans les différentes chambres sont mesurées en continu et des appoints d'atmosphère adaptés sont réalisés dans ces différentes chambres afin d'en maintenir constantes les pressions et les teneurs en hydrogène. Des points de soutirage d'atmosphère peuvent être réalisés dans chacune des zones ou dans les gaines d'équilibrage de pression, afin de permettre l'évacuation d'un débit parasite entre deux zones qui pourrait en perturber l'atmosphère.The pressures and content including hydrogen in the different rooms are measured continuously and extra of adapted atmosphere are realized in these different chambers in order to maintain constant pressure and hydrogen contents. Atmosphere racking points may be carried out in each of the zones or in the pressure balancing sleeves, to allow the evacuation of a parasitic flow between two zones which could disrupt the atmosphere.

L'extraction d'un débit d'atmosphère de la chambre à haute teneur en hydrogène peut être traitée à l'extérieur de la ligne ou être utilisée directement dans cette ligne, après injection d'azote pour recréer une atmosphère à basse teneur en hydrogène. Ce procédé permet de limiter, de façon importante, la consommation totale de la ligne en hydrogène.The extraction of a flow of atmosphere from the chamber to high hydrogen content can be processed outside the line or be used directly in this line after nitrogen injection to recreate a low-grade atmosphere in hydrogen. This process makes it possible to limit important, the total consumption of the hydrogen line.

Selon un cinquième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 6), cette installation est similaire dans sa conception à celle représentée à la figure 5 (elle dispose de trois gaines d'équilibrage de pression), mais diffère par le fait qu'elle comporte des moyens permettant de réaliser un recyclage de l'atmosphère extraite de la chambre à haute teneur en hydrogène.According to a fifth embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 6), this installation is similar in design to that represented in Figure 5 (it has three sheaths pressure balance), but differs in that it includes means for carrying out a recycling of the atmosphere extracted from the high-grade chamber hydrogen.

Des premières conduites 11a et 11b sont reliées à des points d'extraction en atmosphère à haute teneur en hydrogène, situés préférentiellement au voisinage des sas 4a et 4b. Des dispositifs d'extraction, par exemple des ventilateurs 12a et 12b, véhiculent ladite atmosphère et la dirigent par le biais de secondes conduites 16a et 16b, soit vers une zone de rejet 13a ou 13b à l'extérieur de l'installation, soit vers une zone de dilution 14a, 14b, avec un mélange d'appoint de gaz (notamment de l'azote), afin d'obtenir une atmosphère dont la teneur en hydrogène est abaissée à valeur correspondante à la teneur en hydrogène des zones amont 2 et aval 7, au sein desquelles ces points d'injection en gaz dilué sont réalisés au niveau de 15a et 15b. First conduits 11a and 11b are connected to points extraction in a high hydrogen atmosphere, preferably located in the vicinity of locks 4a and 4b. of the extraction devices, for example fans 12a and 12b, convey said atmosphere and direct it through second conduits 16a and 16b, ie to a rejection zone 13a or 13b outside the facility, either to a dilution zone 14a, 14b, with a make-up gas mixture (including nitrogen), in order to obtain an atmosphere whose hydrogen content is lowered to a value corresponding to the hydrogen content of upstream 2 and downstream 7 zones, within of which these diluted gas injection points are made at 15a and 15b.

On comprend que ces moyens de recyclage de gaz peuvent être adaptés de façon à collecter le débit d'atmosphère à haute teneur en hydrogène en différents points de la chambre 5 ou des sas 4a et 4b, afin de limiter les échanges d'atmosphères entre la chambre 5 et les chambres adjacentes 2, 7.It is understood that these gas recycling means can be adapted to collect high atmospheric flow hydrogen content at different points in chamber 5 or airlock 4a and 4b, in order to limit the exchanges of atmospheres between chamber 5 and adjacent chambers 2, 7.

Ces moyens de recyclage permettent également de récupérer des débits d'atmosphère à haute teneur en hydrogène, afin de les diluer jusqu'à une valeur correspondant aux atmosphères des zones amont et aval.These recycling means also make it possible to recover high hydrogen content flow rates in order to dilute to a value corresponding to the atmospheres of upstream and downstream areas.

Ces débits récupérés peuvent être injectés en différents points des zones amont ou aval de l'installation, afin de maintenir leurs pressions constantes et limiter les débits d'appoint d'atmosphère à injecter dans l'installation, participant ainsi à la mise en sécurisation de cette installation, tout en réduisant la consommation totale de la ligne en hydrogène.These recovered flows can be injected in different upstream or downstream areas of the installation in order to maintain their constant pressures and limit flow additional atmosphere to inject into the installation, thereby participating in the securing of this installation, while reducing the total consumption of hydrogen line.

Ces moyens de recyclage permettent, d'une part d'assurer la séparation des atmosphères de la chambre à haute teneur en atmosphère 5 et les chambres voisines, et d'autre part de récupérer les débits d'extraction entraínés.These recycling means make it possible on the one hand to ensure separation of the atmospheres from the high-grade chamber atmosphere 5 and the adjoining rooms, and on the other hand recover the extracted extraction rates.

On peut ainsi maintenir la chambre de refroidissement rapide 5 à pression constante, y compris durant les phases transitoires de fonctionnement de la ligne. La ré-injection des débits extraits permet de limiter, d'une part les débits d'appoint à fournir par la centrale de production de la ligne, et d'autre part le coût de production de cette atmosphère durant le fonctionnement de ladite ligne.We can thus maintain the rapid cooling chamber 5 at constant pressure, including during the phases transient operation of the line. Re-injection extracted flows allows to limit, on the one hand, the flows to be supplied by the production plant of the line, and secondly the production cost of this atmosphere during the operation of said line.

Ces moyens de recyclage permettent également de supprimer la centrale de mélange d'atmosphère installée sur la ligne en la remplaçant par une injection d'hydrogène dans la zone de refroidissement rapide 5, et par des moyens d'extraction 12a, 12b et de mélange 14a, 14b, permettant :

  • la récupération des débits soutirés des différents points des zones,
  • leur dilution à une basse teneur en hydrogène pour leur réintroduction dans les autres zones de l'installation.
These recycling means also make it possible to eliminate the atmospheric mixing plant installed on the line by replacing it with an injection of hydrogen in the rapid cooling zone 5, and by extraction means 12a, 12b and mixing means 14a. , 14b, allowing:
  • the recovery of discharged flows from the various points of the zones,
  • dilution to a low hydrogen content for reintroduction into other areas of the facility.

La séparation de l'atmosphère de la zone de refroidissement rapide 5 est alors assurée sans que les débits extraits dans ses différentes zones ne soient perdus, ce qui limite le coût d'exploitation de l'installation.The separation of the atmosphere from the cooling zone fast 5 is then ensured without the extracted flows in its different zones are lost, which limits the cost operating the facility.

Selon un sixième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 7), cette installation globalement similaire aux précédentes, s'en distingue du fait qu'elle comporte une chambre d'égalisation unique de pression 17.According to a sixth embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 7), this overall similar to the previous ones, distinguished by the fact that it includes an equalization chamber unique pressure 17.

Les sas 4a et 4b et leur gaine d'équilibrage de pression 6 ont été étendus jusqu'à composer cette chambre d'égalisation 17, cette dernière étant, d'une part séparée de la chambre à haute teneur en hydrogène 5 par les sas 19a et 19b, et d'autre part de la chambre amont 2 par le sas 18a et de la chambre aval 7 par le sas 18b. Une gaine d'équilibrage de pression 6 réunit ces chambres amont et aval. Un moyen d'extraction, de dilution et de ré-injection d'atmosphère tel que décrit dans le cinquième mode de réalisation, est schématisé en 12, 13, 14, 15 et 16.The airlock 4a and 4b and their pressure balancing sleeve 6 have been extended up to dial this equalizer room 17, the latter being, on the one hand, separated from the chamber high hydrogen content by airlock 19a and 19b, and on the other hand of the upstream chamber 2 by the airlock 18a and the downstream chamber 7 by the airlock 18b. A balancing sleeve of pressure 6 brings together these upstream and downstream chambers. A way extraction, dilution and re-injection of such atmosphere described in the fifth embodiment, is schematized at 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.

Le volume de la chambre 17 permet d'amortir les variations de pression entre la chambre 5 et les chambres amont 2 et aval 7, et de compenser ces variations de pression à l'aide d'une injection d'atmosphère ou du moyen d'extraction.The volume of the chamber 17 makes it possible to dampen the variations of pressure between the chamber 5 and the upstream and downstream chambers 2 7, and compensate for these pressure variations with the aid of a injection of atmosphere or extraction means.

Selon un septième mode de réalisation d'une installation de traitement thermique permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé objet de l'invention (se reporter à la figure 8) dans le cas où la chambre sous atmosphère à forte concentration en hydrogène est située en extrémité de la ligne et où il n'y a pas d'autre chambre en aval. Cette installation est globalement similaire à la sixième solution (se reporter à la figure 7) et s'en distingue du fait que la chambre aval est supprimée, la sortie de la bande 21 est située dans l'enceinte 2 afin de l'éloigner de la zone à forte concentration en hydrogène.According to a seventh embodiment of an installation of heat treatment for carrying out the process object of the invention (see Figure 8) in the case where the chamber under atmosphere with a high concentration of hydrogen is located at the end of the line and where there is no other room downstream. This installation is overall similar to the sixth solution (see Figure 7) and differs from the fact that the downstream chamber is deleted, the output of band 21 is located in the enclosure 2 to keep it away from the strong zone hydrogen concentration.

L'invention telle que décrite précédemment offre de multiples avantages :

  • la séparation d'une chambre à haute teneur en hydrogène des chambres adjacentes permet de limiter les circulations ou pollutions d'atmosphères entre ces différentes chambres par la mise en place de gaines d'équilibrage de pression ;
  • la récupération des débits extraits en différents points de l'installation lors des variations de régime de la ligne ou lors des incidents de production, permet de ré-injecter ces débits dans la ligne, limitant ainsi la consommation des différents types d'atmosphères de l'installation ;
  • la possibilité, en raison du meilleur contrôle de l'isolement de la chambre sous haute teneur en hydrogène, d'utiliser des pourcentages de H2 supérieurs à 50 %, de préférence 75 %, permettant ainsi d'améliorer les coefficients d'échanges et d'obtenir des pentes de refroidissement non encore atteintes par les installations connues de l'état antérieur de la technique ;
  • la réduction du coût de traitement de la bande obtenue par la réduction de la consommation d'hydrogène de la ligne ;
  • la compensation des différences de pression dans les chambres lors des incidents de production conduit à une réduction des pollutions des atmosphères des différentes chambres de la ligne ;
  • la meilleure qualité du produit traité par la conservation des coefficients d'échange gaz / bandes dans les différentes chambres provient de la conservation des concentrations en hydrogène des différentes zones de la ligne ;
  • la suppression de la centrale de mélange d'atmosphère remplacée par des unités de mélange situées sur l'installation conduit à la recirculation des débits à haute teneur en hydrogène extraits des dispositifs d'étanchéité de la zone 5, et à leur dilution avant ré-injection dans les différentes zones de l'installation.
The invention as described above offers multiple advantages:
  • the separation of a high hydrogen content chamber from the adjacent chambers makes it possible to limit the circulations or pollutions of atmospheres between these different chambers by the installation of pressure balancing ducts;
  • the recovery of the flows extracted at different points of the installation during the variations of regime of the line or during the incidents of production, makes it possible to re-inject these flows in the line, thus limiting the consumption of the different types of atmospheres of the installation;
  • the possibility, because of better control of the isolation of the high hydrogen content chamber, to use H 2 percentages greater than 50%, preferably 75%, thus making it possible to improve the exchange coefficients and to obtain cooling slopes not yet reached by the known installations of the prior art;
  • reducing the cost of treating the band obtained by reducing the hydrogen consumption of the line;
  • the compensation of the pressure differences in the chambers during the production incidents leads to a reduction of pollution of the atmospheres of the different chambers of the line;
  • the best quality of the treated product by the conservation of the gas / band exchange coefficients in the different chambers comes from the conservation of the hydrogen concentrations of the different zones of the line;
  • the removal of the atmosphere mixing plant replaced by mixing units located on the installation leads to the recirculation of the high hydrogen flow rates extracted from the sealing devices of zone 5, and to their dilution before re-dilution. injection into the different areas of the installation.

Claims (11)

  1. Method for making safe a heat treatment enclosure operating in a gaseous atmosphere, said enclosure comprising a chamber (5) for rapid cooling of a metal strip (1) travelling from an upstream chamber (2) toward a downstream chamber (7) via a plurality of guide rollers (3), said strip (1) being confined within the rapid cooling enclosure (5) by means of at least one pressure-compensating casing (6, 8, 10) and a plurality of locks (4a, 4b, 18a, 18b) placed between the various chambers, and the pressures between the inlet and the outlet of the rapid cooling chamber being compensated and the pressures of the gaseous atmospheres between the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber being compensated by means of at least one pressure-compensating casing (6), characterised in that the flows of gas through said locks (4a, 4b, 18a, 18b) are controlled by using recycling means (12, 12a, 12b) carrying the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber toward a discharge zone (13, 13a, 13b) and/or toward a zone (14, 14a, 14b) for dilution.
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber (5) is recycled in the region of extraction points located near the locks (4a, 4b, 18a, 18b) by the bias of pipes (11, 11a, 11b, 16, 16a, 16b) directing the extracted atmosphere toward a discharge zone (13, 13a, 13b) at the exterior of the installation.
  3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber (5) is recycled in the region of extraction points located near the locks (4a, 4b, 18a, 18b) by the bias of pipes (11, 11a, 11b, 16, 16a, 16b) directing the extracted atmosphere toward a zone (14a, 14b) for dilution with a mixture for making up the gas in order to obtain an atmosphere of which the, in particular, hydrogen content is reduced to a value corresponding to the hydrogen content of the upstream zone (2) and downstream zone (7).
  4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the recovered flows are injected at various points of the upstream zone (2) or downstream zone (7) of the installation in order to keep their pressures constant and to limit the flows for making up the atmosphere and being injected into the installation.
  5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the flow of atmosphere having a high hydrogen content is collected at various points of the chamber (5) or the locks (4a, 4b, 18a, 18b) in order to limit the exchanges of atmosphere between the chamber (5) and the adjacent chambers (2, 7).
  6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pressures and the hydrogen contents of the chambers (2, 5, 6, 7 and 17) are controlled and in that the make-ups of atmosphere are adjusted so as to keep these pressures and the compositions of the various atmospheres of said chambers at their required values.
  7. Installation for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises a pressure-compensating casing (6) between the inlet and the outlet of the rapid cooling chamber (5) and recycling means (12, 12a, 12b) carrying the atmosphere extracted from the rapid cooling chamber toward a discharge zone and/or toward a zone for dilution.
  8. Installation according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises a pressure-compensating casing (8) between the lock (4a) located at the inlet of the rapid cooling chamber (5) and the lock (4b) located at the outlet of said chamber (5).
  9. Installation according to either claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that it comprises a compensating casing (10) between the locks (4a, 4b).
  10. Installation according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that it comprises sensors for monitoring the pressures and the hydrogen contents of the chambers (2, 5, 6, 7 and 17) and a regulating device for adjusting the make-ups of atmosphere so as to keep these pressures and the compositions of the various atmospheres of the various chambers at their required values.
  11. Installation according to claim 7, characterised in that the locks (4a, 4b) and their pressure-compensating casing (6) have been extended to form a compensation chamber (17).
EP01400953A 2000-05-25 2001-04-12 Method for securing a controlled atmosphere heat treating chamber Expired - Lifetime EP1160342B1 (en)

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FR0006708A FR2809418B1 (en) 2000-05-25 2000-05-25 METHOD FOR SECURING A HEAT TREATMENT ENCLOSURE OPERATING IN A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE

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CN1327144A (en) 2001-12-19
DE1160342T1 (en) 2002-05-23
FR2809418A1 (en) 2001-11-30
JP4988096B2 (en) 2012-08-01
CN1249256C (en) 2006-04-05
US6547898B2 (en) 2003-04-15
JP2002003954A (en) 2002-01-09
US20010045024A1 (en) 2001-11-29
ES2165342T3 (en) 2006-03-01
KR100756589B1 (en) 2007-09-10
KR20010107710A (en) 2001-12-07
DE60114085T2 (en) 2006-07-13
ES2165342T1 (en) 2002-03-16
FR2809418B1 (en) 2003-05-16
EP1160342A1 (en) 2001-12-05
DE60114085D1 (en) 2005-11-24

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