SYSTEM AND METHOD TO REMOVE WASTE FROM A STEEL PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a system and method for removing residues from a steel product, and, more particularly, to a system and method with a rinsing control system, which optimizes the use of sprinkler type and spray systems. tank to remove acid from decanter (deoxidizer) of a steel product in response to the movement of the steel product and to omit the staining of the product under the interruption of the line. Deoxidant treatment is a chemical treatment in the manufacture of steel strips, which involves the application of acid to the steel strip to dissolve surface contaminants, such as acid scale. Once the surface contaminants are dissolved, the stripping acid must be removed from the steel strip to prevent corrosive damage. Accordingly, systems have been developed to remove the acid from pickling on the steel strip, but as explained below, each of these prior systems presents problems either with cleaning and / or staining the final product. A system to remove the acid from pickling is to submerge the steel strip in each of the series of tanks filled with water to wash the acid. An example of this type of system is described in the E patent. U .A. No. 5, 179,967, by Mattiussi, which is incorporated herein by reference. For this technique to work, the metal strip must pass through each tank at a certain minimum speed to generate enough agitation in each tank to wash the acid. If the speed of the steel strip is too slow, then the acid will remain and will damage the steel strip. Another system for removing acid from pickling is to spray the steel strip with water to remove the acid. An example of this type of system is described in the patent of E. U.A. Do not . 3,938, 214, by Hodsden et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference. The sprinkler system is generally preferred over the tank system, since the effectiveness of the sprinkler system does not depend on the speed of the steel strip's path through the system. With a sprinkler type system, the acid will be removed from the metal strip even at low speeds to pass the steel strip past the sprinklers. However, if the steel product stops in the system's spray type, oxidation will occur on the body of the steel strip and at the point of impact of the water that sprays the metal strip, forming a brown spot. which is not accepted by the end users. A system and method for rinsing the residue of the steel product with a fluid, in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated and described in the associated main claims. The dependent claims establish variants of the idea of solution. The invention includes: an inspection system for inspecting the movement of the steel product; a rinsing control system to control a pumping system connected to at least one sprinkler and an actuator, which can open and close a drain seal in a drain in the rinsing tank. The system operates by having the inspection system verify the movement of the steel product through the rinsing tank and generating an operation signal when the steel product is moving, and a stop signal when the product has stopped moving, and the rinsing control system controls the pumping system to pump fluid to the sprinkler and the actuator to open the drain seal on the drain in the rinsing tank, when the received operation signal, and to control the actuator to that closes the drain seal when the stop signal is received. The system and method will include a flood pipe and a delay system. With the flood pipe, the rinsing control system controls the pumping system to pump fluid to the flushing tank's flood line, which floods the rinsing tank when the stop signal is received, to cover, with fluid, the steel product , thus avoiding corrosion and staining by spraying or staining by air. With the delay system, the rinsing control system is delayed, controlling the actuator to close the cover and the pumping system to pump fluid into the flood pipe until a predetermined time has elapsed in case the stop of the line is only temporary, and would not result in damage to the steel product or staining. With the system and the method, the waste can be rinsed from the steel product at any line speed to feed the steel product through the system, including a line stop, where the steel product will no longer move, the danger that the steel product will be damaged by corrosion or staining. Therefore, the production of the steel product, for sale, which is produced by this system and method, is increased due to the superior technique of spray cleaning that can be used at low speeds without the risk that the product of Steel is damaged or stained during a line stop. A delay system can be included in the system and the method to further increase the production of the system by waiting for a pre-set period before initiating the flooding procedure of the rinse tanks, in case the line stop is only temporary and the Steel product is not in danger of being damaged or stained. Additives can also be added to this system to help further delay the stain rinse, if desired. Now, the invention will be illustrated by means of an example thereof, with the help of the accompanying drawings, which contain non-limiting aspects. Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for rinsing residues of a metal product, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the rinsing tank in the waste rinsing system of a steel product, shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 of the rinse tank with squeezing rollers.
In Figure 1, a system 10 for rinsing residues of an SP steel product, according to the present invention, is illustrated.
The system 10 includes rinsing tanks 12 (1) - 12 (5), sprinkler heads 14, pumping systems 15, drains 16 with drain covers 18, pneumatic actuators 20 for each drain cover, an inspection system 22 for detecting the movement of the steel product SP, and a rinsing control system 24 for controlling the operation of the pumping systems 15, and the pneumatic actuators 20. With the system 10 and the method, residues of the steel product SP can be rinsed. at any line speed to feed the steel product SP to the system 10, including a line stop, where the steel product SP is no longer in motion, without the danger that the steel product SP is damaged by the corrosion or spots. Referring more specifically to Figure 1, the system 10 includes five rinse tanks 12 (1) - 12 (5), which are connected in series. In this particular embodiment, the rinsing tank 12 (1) supports from 1400 to 1900 liters of fluid in the compartment 40 (1), the rinsing tank 12 (2) supports from 2100 to 2600 liters of fluid in the compartment 40 ( 2), the rinse tank 12 (3) supports from 2400 to 2800 liters of fluid in the compartment 40 (3), the rinse tank 12 (4) supports from 2700 to 3400 liters of fluid in the compartment 40 (4) , and the rinse tank 12 (5) supports from 3500 to 4200 liters of fluid in the compartment 40 (5), although the volume of each rinse tank 12 can support and the number of rinse tanks 12 used can vary according to necessary and desired. The support tanks 40 (1) -40 (5) can be either a separate tank as shown in Figure 1, or part of the rinse tanks present 12 (1) - 12 (5), as shown in FIG. Figure 2. With reference to Figure 2, a rinsing tank 12 (1) is illustrated with the support tank 40 (1) as part of the rinsing tank 12 (1). Since the structure and operation of the other rinse tanks 12 (2) - 12 (5) are identical to the rinse tank 12 (1), except for the differences observed in this specification, the other rinse tanks 12 (2) - 12 (5) will not be described in detail. The rinse tank 12 (1) has side panels 26 (1) and 26 (2) and a bottom panel 28, which defines an interior of the tank. In this particular embodiment, each rinsing tank 12 has a substantially rectangular shape with a bottom panel 28 and four side panels 26 (1) -26 (4), as shown in Figures 2 and 3, although each rinsing tank 12 may have other shapes, such as, for example, circular, oval, etc., with other numbers of bottom and side panels. Each rinsing tank 12 has a pair of passages 30, each passage 30 disposed in the side panel 26, between the bottom panel 28 and the top part of the rinsing tank 12. Referring to Figure 3, the passage 30 defines a opening in the side panel 26, which is large enough so that the steel product SP, which is being processed, can pass. Referring back to Figure 1, the adjacent rinsing tanks 12 share a common side panel 26 with a common passage 30. The steel product SP travels through the rinsing tanks 12, through the passages 30, along a path direction indicated by the arrow A. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a pair of squeezing rollers 32A and 32B is located in each passage 30, these squeezing rollers 32A and 32B are disposed in a substantially vertical relationship. Each drained roller 32 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is mounted on and rotates around a mandrel 34. An end of the mandrel 34 for the drainer roller 32A is connected to a drive system (not shown), which rotates the squeezing roller 32A and moves the steel product SP through the passage 30. A height adjustment system 36 is connected to the mandrel 34 for the upper squeezing roller 32A, and can adjust the height of the upper squeezing roller 32A and the amount of separation, or reciprocal position, between the upper and lower squeezing rollers, 32A and 32B. The upper squeezing roller 32A can be raised during the entry of the steel product SP to define a hole 38 for the steel product SP to pass. Although not shown, the height adjustment system 36 may also be connected to and moved between the upper and lower squeezing rollers 32A and 32B, relative to one another, or only moving the lower squeezing roller 32B. In this particular embodiment, the height adjustment system 36 is a pneumatic system, which operates on an independent air supply different from that used for the pneumatic actuator 20. The squeezing rollers 32A and 32B are positioned so that they are below the fluid level, when rinsing tanks 12 are flooded, and provide a seal between rinsing tanks 12, respectively. Also the squeegee rollers 32A and 32B provide a seal when a sprinkler system is used. Although not shown, the squeezing rollers 32A and 32B can be replaced by a lower sliding cover arrangement and rubber cleaner, granite, or other suitable material, wherein the rubber cleaner is disposed on the granite sliding lid. Although in this particular embodiment, the squeezing rollers 32A and 32B are used to move the steel product SP through the rinsing tanks 12, other types of transport systems, such as external traction devices, can be used. External devices known to those skilled in the art can be used, including drag rollers and flange rollers. The drains 16, each with covers or drain plugs 18, are located in each rinsing tank 12 in the bottom panel 28. The pneumatic actuator 20 is coupled to each drain cover 18 and is capable of moving the drain cover 18 between an open position and a closed position, in response to an open signal or a closed signal from the rinsing control system 24. Although only the drain cover 18 is shown, any type of drain seal can be used. The pneumatic actuator 20 is constructed of acid resistant materials, and is connected to an independent air supply (not shown). Although only the pneumatic actuator 20 is shown in this particular embodiment, any type of device, which can open and close the drain cover 18, can be used, such as a solenoid device. Each drain 16 in the rinse tank 12, is connected by a pipe to a collection tank 40 (1) -40 (5), for each rinse tank 12 (1) -12 (5), to allow the fluid in the rinsing tank 12 (1) - 12 (5) go to the collection tank 40 (1) -40 (5), as shown in Figure 1. For ease of illustration, Figure 1 shows only a drain 16, although as shown in Figure 2, each rinse tank 12, in this particular embodiment, has three drains 16 (1) - 16 (3). The number of drains 16 may vary as necessary, and is desired. Although a separate collection tank 40 (1) -40 (5) is shown for each rinse tank 12 (1) - 12 (5), the collection tank 40 may be part of the rinse tank 12 (1) - 12 (5), as shown in Figure 2. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, sprinkler heads 14A and 14B are located above and below the trajectory line for the steel product SP, through each tank rinse 12 (1) - 12 (5). In this particular embodiment, each rinsing tank 12 has three upper spray heads 14A, located on the path line for the steel product SP, and three lower sprinkler heads 14B, located below the path line for the steel product SP. Furthermore, in this particular embodiment, each upper spray head 14A has from five to nine spray nozzles, advantageously seven spray nozzles, which draw from about 14 to about 18 liters per minute of fluid, advantageously about 16 liters per minute, to one pressure of approximately 100 g / cm2, and each lower sprayer head 14B has from ten to sixteen spray nozzles, advantageously 14 nozzles, which draw from about 7 to about 9 liters per minute of fluid, advantageously about 8 liters per minute, to a pressure of approximately 100 g / cm2. The spray nozzles, in each spray head 14A and 14B, direct fluid, such as water, at a pressure sufficient to dislodge the residue, such as pickling acid, which remains adhered to the steel product SP. Although only three upper and lower sprinkler heads 14A and 14B are shown, the number of sprinkler heads 14A and 14B and the number of sprinkler nozzles, on each sprinkler head 14A and 14B, and the sprinkler angle may vary as necessary, and is desired Although not shown, the sprinkler heads 14A and 14B can be arranged only above or below the path line for the steel product SP. In this particular embodiment, the drains 16 are located below the lower sprinkler heads 14B. A flood pipe 42 is located in each rinsing tank 12 and directs fluid to each rinsing tank 12 to flood each rinsing tank 12 during a line stop to prevent the SP steel product from suffering any damage due to water stains. corrosion by spraying or air stains. In this particular embodiment, the flood pipe 42 outputs between about 600 and about 4000 liters per minute, although the volume of discharge and the number of flood pipes 42, in each rinse tank 12, may vary as necessary, and desired. Referring to Figure 1, a pumping system 15 is connected by a pipe between each spray head 14A and 14B and the flood pipe 42, in each rinse tank 12 and each collection tank 40. The pumping system 15 also it can be connected to an independent water supply (not shown), such as a local city water supply. The pumping system 15 controls, when the fluid is pumped from the collection tank 40 and / or from the independent water supply, to the spray heads 14A and 14B and / or to the flood pipe 42, in response to a sprinkler signal and a flood signal from the rinse control system 24. The pump system 15 includes a valve (not shown), which directs the flow of fluid either to the spray heads 14A and 14B or to the flood pipe 42. During the operation of a line, when the steel product SP is moving, the pumping system 15 pumps the fluid to the sprinkler heads 14A and 14B at a high pressure and a low volume. During the stopping of a line, when the steel product SP is not moving, the pumping system 15 pumps the fluid into the flood pipe 42 at a low pressure and high volume. Although in this particular embodiment, the pumping system 15 deflects the fluid either to the spray heads 14A and 14B or to the flood pipe 42, the pump system 15 can be designed to have a separate control over the flow of fluid to the sprinkler heads 14A and 14B and the flood pipe 42, so that simultaneous flow to both is possible. Referring to Figure 2, an optional adjustable drain 44 is located in each rinsing tank 12, with an adjustable drain end 44 connected to a drain (not shown), which is connected to the collection tank 40, with the other end placed at the desired level of fluid in each rinse tank 12. The upper part of the adjustable drain 44 is above the path of the steel product SP a through each rinsing tank 12, and the height can be adjusted as necessary, and desirable. When the level of fluid in the rinsing tank 12 exceeds the height of the adjustable drain 44, then the fluid in the rinsing tank 12 flows into the adjustable drain 44 and then below the drain to the collection tank 40. The system inspection 22 is positioned adjacent to rinsing tank 12 (1) in system 10, and is designed to verify the movement of the steel product SP. When the steel product SP is in motion, the inspection system 22 outputs an operation signal to the rinsing control system 24, and when the steel product SP is stopped, the inspection system outputs a signal of detention to the rinsing control system 24. Although the inspection system 22 is located at the entrance of the system 10, the inspection system 22 can be placed anywhere through the system 10, to verify the movement of the product of steel SP through the rinsing tanks 12. The rinsing control system 24 is coupled to the inspection system 22, to the pumping systems 15, and to the pneumatic actuators 20. The rinsing control system 24 sends a signal of spray to the pumping systems 15 to divert the fluid, under high pressure and low volume, to the spray heads 14A to spray the fluid onto the steel product SP, and a signal of ab erture, to the pneumatic actuators 20, to keep the drain covers 18 open when the steel product is moving through the rinse tanks 12, and sends a flood signal to the pumping system 15 to divert the flow , at low pressure and high volume, towards the flood pipes 42 to flood the rinsing tanks 12, and a closing signal, towards the pneumatic actuators 20, to close the drain covers 18 when the steel product SP stops moving . The rinsing control system may include a delay system, which is designed to cause the rinsing control system 24 to wait for a pre-set period, in this particular mode, of between 0 and 60 seconds, before closing the rinsing covers. drainage 18 and diverting the flow of fluid to the flood pipes 42. The delay is useful during temporary interruptions of the line, which does not require the flooding of the rinsing tanks 12, since the SP steel product could not be damaged or spotting during line arrest, thereby increasing the performance of system 10. System 10 and method operate to rinse residues, such as stripping acid and dissolved oxide scale, from an SP steel product, such as a strip steel, with a fluid, such as water. The steel product SP passes into the inspection system 22, which senses the movement of the steel product SP. If the steel product SP is moving, then the inspection system 22 generates and outputs an operation signal to the rinsing control system 24. If the steel product SP is not moving, then the inspection system 22 generates and outputs a stop signal to the rinsing control system 24. As the steel product SP approaches the passage 30, in the first rinsing tank 12 (1), the adjustment system of height 36 lifts the upper squeezing roller 32A to provide an opening 38 or space, between the upper and lower squeezing rollers 32A and 32B, so that the steel product SP enters the rinsing tank 12 (1). The upper squeeze roller 32A only moves enough to allow the steel product SP to pass. Once the steel product SP is between the upper and lower squeezing rollers 32A and 32B, the upper draining roller 32A descends to rest on the SP steel product creating a seal at that point. The upper squeezing roller 32A is connected to the driving system (not shown), which rotates the upper squeezing roller 32A and drives the steel product through the rinsing tanks 12. As the steel product SP approaches at each passage 30, the upper squeezing roller 32A is raised relative to the lower squeezing roller 32B to allow the steel product SP to pass. The steel product SP passes along a line between the upper and lower spray heads 14A and 14B. When the inspection system 22 detects the movement of the steel product SP and outputs the operation signal to the rinsing control system 24, then the rinsing control system 24 sends a sprinkling signal to the pumping systems 15. for pumping fluid, at high pressure and low volume, to the spray heads 14A and 14B and to the pneumatic actuators 20 to move the drain covers 18 to an open position. The pumping systems 15 with the spray heads 14A and 14B spray fluid, such as water, onto the steel product SP with sufficient force to dislodge any residue, such as stripping acid or dissolved scale, on the steel product SP. In this particular embodiment, the fluid is sprayed at a pressure of approximately 100 g / cm 2, although the particular pressure for the spray may vary as necessary, and is desired. The fluid pumped by the pumping systems 15 to the spray heads 14A and 14B, in the rinse tanks 12, come from the collection tanks 40 and / or from a separate water supply, such as a city water line. The fluid sprayed onto the steel product SP falls into the rinsing tank 12 and down to the drain 16 to the collection tank 40, below the rinsing tank 12, as shown in Figure 1, or to the water tank. compartment 40 directly below and part of the rinsing tank 12, as shown in Figure 2. When the inspection system 22 detects that the steel product SP is no longer moving, the inspection system 22 generates and outputs the stop signal to the rinsing control system 24. When the rinsing control system 24 receives the stop signal, then the rinsing control system 24 sends a closing signal to the pneumatic actuators 20 to move the rinsing covers. drain 18 to a closed position. The rinse control system 24 can also send a flood signal to the pumping systems 15 to divert the flow of fluid to the flood pipes 42, to flood, at low pressure and high volume, the rinse tanks 12. Flood pipes 42 send fluid to the rinse tanks 12, which floods the rinse tanks 12 and covers the steel product SP in the rinse tanks 12 before any staining or corrosion can occur. In this particular embodiment, the flood pipes 42 fill each rinse tank 12 at a rate between about 600 and about 4000 liters per minute. The height, at which each rinse tank 12 is flooded, is controlled by the adjustable drain 44. The upper part of each adjustable drain 44 is placed above the steel product path line SP through the tanks of rinse 12. When the fluid level in the rinse tank 12 reaches the height of the upper part of the adjustable drain 44 in a rinse tank 12, the fluid enters the adjustable drain 44 and drains into the collection tank 40. The upper level of each adjustable drain 44 can be adjusted as needed, and desired. Although in this particular embodiment the spray heads 14A and 14B are turned off when the flood pipes 42 are flooding the rinsing tanks 12., the spray heads 14A and 14B can be left on. Since the speed at which each rinsing tank 12 is flooded, is substantially the same, there is some fluid in a rinsing tank 12 by mixing fluid with another adjacent rinsing tank 12. Before sending the closing signal towards the pneumatic actuators 20 for moving the drainage covers 18 to a closed position, the rinsing control system 24 can wait a preset period, after receiving the stop signal, before sending the signal to the pneumatic actuators 20 and the systems pumping 15. In this particular mode, the preset time is between 0 and 60 seconds. If the rinsing control system 24 is not delayed before sending the closing signal to the pneumatic actuators 20 and the flood signal to the pumping system 15, then at any line stop of the pumping systems 15 with the pipes of flood 42 could flood the rinsing tanks 12. Once the flooding has occurred in each rinsing tank 12, the drain of the rinsing tank 12 must occur before any processing is carried out, which results in consumption of the rinsing tank 12. time and reduces performance. However, since some line arrests are for a short period, flooding is unnecessary (since the line stop is not long enough to allow corrosion or staining to occur), the system of delay is included The delay provides the opportunity for the system 10 to be restarted during one of these temporary line stops, without initiating the flood, so that the production of the steel product SP can be resumed more quickly, increasing the production of the system. Once the inspection system 22 detects the movement of the steel product SP, the inspection system 22 again transmits an operation signal to the rinsing control system 24, which transmits an opening signal to the pneumatic actuators. 20 to open the drains 16 in the rinse tanks 12, and the spray signal to the pumping systems 15 to interrupt the flow of fluid to the flood pipes 42 and to pump fluid, at high pressure and low volume, to the spray heads 14A and 14B. The fluid in the rinse tanks 12 passes through the drains 16 to the collection tanks 40, below each rinse tank 12, for later use. The previous cycle is repeated throughout the operation of the system 10. Therefore, with the system and the method, the waste can be rinsed from the steel product at any line speed to feed the steel product into the system, without the danger that the steel product will be damaged by corrosion or staining during the stopping of a line, because the flooding of the rinsing tanks is triggered. As a result, the production of steel that can be sold increases. The system may include a delay system, which further increases the production of the system, since flooding is only triggered during interruptions of the steel product for more than a predetermined period.
Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the above detailed description is intended to be presented only by way of example, and not limitation. Various alterations, improvements and modifications will occur and will be presented by those skilled in the art, but not expressly set forth herein. These modifications, alterations and improvements are intended to be suggested by the same, and within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.