OVEN SYSTEM HAVING A HOT AIR HEATING

Abstract

The present invention describes an oven system for temperature-controlling a metal component (101), in particular an aluminium strip. The oven system has a first temperature-control section (110) for temperature-controlling the metal component at a first temperature, a second temperature-control section (120) for temperature-controlling the metal component at a second temperature, and a temperature-control device (102) for temperature-controlling a temperature-control fluid. The first temperature-control section (110) and the second temperature-control section (120) are configured such that the metal component (101) is conveyable between the first temperature-control section (110) and the second temperature-control section (120). The first temperature-control section (110) has a first fluid inlet having a first control valve (111) for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section (110). The second temperature-control section (120) has a second fluid inlet having a second control valve (121) for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section (120). The temperature-control device (102) is coupled to the first control valve (111) and the second control valve (121), such that a first fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section (110) and a second fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section (120) are controllable.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. Oven system for temperature-controlling a metal component, in particular a metal strip, the oven system having: a first temperature-control section for temperature-controlling the metal component at a first temperature, a second temperature-control section for temperature-controlling the metal component at a second temperature, wherein the first temperature-control section and the second temperature-control section are configured such that the metal component is conveyable between the first temperature-control section and the second temperature-control section, wherein the first temperature-control section has a first fluid inlet having a first control valve for controlling a fluid flow of a temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section, wherein the second temperature-control section has a second fluid inlet having a second control valve for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section, and a temperature-control device for temperature-controlling the temperature-control fluid, wherein the temperature-control device is coupled to the first control valve and the second control valve, such that a first fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section and a second fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section are controllable.

16. Oven system according to claim 15, wherein the first temperature-control section has a first fluid outlet for flowing out the temperature-control fluid out of the first temperature-control section.

17. Oven system according to claim 16, wherein the first fluid outlet has a further first control valve for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid out of the first temperature-control section.

18. Oven system according to claim 16, wherein the temperature-control device is coupled to the first fluid outlet, such that a fluid circuit flow of the temperature-control fluid is generatable.

19. Oven system according to claim 18, further having a temperature sensor, which is arranged between the first fluid outlet and the temperature-control device, such that a temperature of the temperature-control fluid, which flows out from the first fluid outlet, is measurable.

20. Oven system according to claim 15, wherein the second temperature-control section has a second fluid outlet for flowing out a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid out of the second temperature-control section.

21. Oven system according to claim 20, wherein the second fluid outlet has a further second control valve for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid out of the second temperature-control section.

22. Oven system according to claim 20, wherein the temperature-control device is coupled to the second fluid outlet, such that a fluid circuit flow of the temperature-control fluid is generatable.

23. Oven system according to claim 15, further having a further temperature-control device for temperature-controlling the temperature-control fluid at a second temperature, wherein the temperature-control device and the further temperature-control device are coupleable selectively to the first control valve and/or the second control valve.

24. Oven system according to claim 15, wherein the temperature-control device has a gas burning device having a combustion air ventilator, a circulating air blower and/or an electro-heating battery.

25. Oven system according to claim 15, further having a volume flow sensor, which is arranged between the temperature-control device and the first fluid inlet, such that a volume flow of the temperature-control fluid, which flows in through the first fluid inlet, is measurable.

26. Oven system according to claim 15, further having an exhaust air conduit for discharging the temperature-control fluid out of the first temperature-control section and/or the second temperature-control section.

27. Oven system according to claim 26, further having a heat exchanger, which is coupled to the temperature-control device and the exhaust air conduit, such that heat is exchangeable, by the heat exchanger, between the temperature-control fluid, which is discharged out of the first temperature-control section and/or the second temperature-control section and a temperature-control fluid, which is supplied to the temperature-control device.

28. Method for temperature-controlling a metal component, in particular an aluminium strip, the method having temperature-controlling the metal component at a first temperature in a first temperature-control section, temperature-controlling the metal component at a second temperature in a second temperature-control section, wherein the metal component is conveyed between the first temperature-control section and the second temperature-control section, controlling a fluid flow of a temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section by a first control valve at a first fluid inlet of the first temperature-control section, controlling a fluid flow of a temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section by a second control valve at a second fluid inlet of the second temperature-control section, temperature-controlling the temperature-control fluid by a temperature-control device, wherein the temperature-control device is coupled to the first control valve and the second control valve, such that a first fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section and a second fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section can be controlled.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In the following, for a further explanation and for a better understanding of the present invention, embodiment examples are described in more detail with reference to the appended drawing.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an oven system according to an exemplary embodiment example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Same or similar components in different figures are provided with same reference numerals. The representation in the figure is schematic.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an oven system for temperature-controlling a metal component 101, in particular an aluminium strip or a non-ferrous metal strip. The oven system may have a first temperature-control section 110 for temperature-controlling the metal component at a first temperature, a second temperature-control section 120 for temperature-controlling the metal component at a second temperature, and a temperature-control device 102 for temperature-controlling a temperature-control fluid. The first temperature-control section 110 and the second temperature-control section 120 may be configured such that the metal component 101 may be conveyable between the first temperature-control section 110 and the second temperature-control section 120. The first temperature-control section 110 may have a first fluid inlet having a first control valve 111 for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section 110. The second temperature-control section 120 may have a second fluid inlet having a second control valve 121 for controlling a fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section 120. The temperature-control device may be coupled to the first control valve 111 and the second control valve 121, such that a first fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the first temperature-control section 110 and a second fluid flow of the temperature-control fluid into the second temperature-control section 120 may be controllable.

[0041] The oven system may be formed according to the type of a continuous reheating furnace. During the passing through the oven system, the metal component 101 may pass by different temperature-control sections 110 to 180 one after another.

[0042] The first temperature-control section 110 and the second temperature-control section 120 may be arranged for example one behind the other in a conveying direction of the metal strip 101. The first temperature-control section 110 may be for example adjustable to a first temperature and the second temperature-control section 120 to a second temperature. According to the described oven system in FIG. 1, for example eight temperature-control sections may be arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. The temperature-control sections 110 to 180 may be formed by a common oven housing, which may be formed thermally insulated with respect to the surroundings of the oven system. Each temperature-control section 110 to 180 may have, respectively, an inlet, through which the metal component 101 may be carried in, and an outlet, through which the metal component 101 may be carried out.

[0043] Each temperature-control section 110 to 120 may have at its inlet and/or at its outlet for example a temperature-insulating positing system (or sluice), for example an aerodynamical positing system, through which the metal component 101 may be carried in and carried out.

[0044] The temperature-control sections 110 to 180 may be formed modularly and may be attached and/or coupled replaceably to neighbouring temperature-control sections 110 to 180. Accordingly, the number of the temperature-control sections 110 to 180 in the conveying direction may be adapted selectively.

[0045] Furthermore, a corresponding recirculating blower (or recirculating fan) 113 to 183 may be arranged in the temperature-control section 110 to 180, respectively, in order to recirculate a temperature-control fluid, which may serve for temperature-controlling the metal component 101, in the corresponding temperature-control section 110 to 180, in order to effectuate a homogeneous temperature-control effect on the metal component 101.

[0046] The temperature-control sections 110 to 180 may function as heating zones or as cooling zones. In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature between 550 C. to 800 C. may be adjusted in a temperature-control section as a heating zone. In an exemplary embodiment, a temperature between 250 C. to 500 C. may be adjusted in a temperature-control section as a cooling zone.

[0047] By the corresponding fluid inlets, the temperature-control fluid, for example as heating air or cooling air, may be blown into the interior of the corresponding temperature-control section 110 to 180. In the first fluid inlet and/or a second fluid inlet, a control valve 111 to 181 may be arranged, respectively. The fluid flow (i.e. the volume flow) of the temperature-control fluid into the interior of each temperature-control section 110 to 180 may be controlled by the control valves 111 to 181. Accordingly, a temperature-control power, i.e. a cooling power or a heating power, may be adjusted in each temperature-control section 110 to 180. The respective control valves 111 to 181 may be controlled for example by a central control unit.

[0048] The temperature-control fluid may be temperature-controlled by a central temperature-control device 102. The control valves 111 to 181 and/or the fluid inlets may be coupled to the temperature-control device 102. Thus, the temperature-controlled temperature-control fluid may be provided to all temperature-control sections 110 to 180 centrally via a central supply conduit 117. A desired temperature-control power and/or a desired temperature in the respective temperature-control sections may be adjusted by the control of the control valves 111 to 181 via an individual supply of the temperature-control fluid into the corresponding temperature-control sections 110 to 180.

[0049] The temperature-control device may have a gas burner 102, a recirculating blower (having heating elements, such as for example a resistance heating, or cooling elements) and/or an electro-heating battery (or register) 102. Furthermore, the temperature-control device may represent a cooling device, which may cool a temperature-control fluid.

[0050] Furthermore, the temperature-control sections 110 to 180 may have corresponding fluid outlets for flowing out the temperature-control fluid. Further control valves 112 to 182 may be arranged accordingly at the corresponding fluid outlets. Herein, the inflowing temperature-control fluid may push, so to say, out of the temperature-control section 110 to 180 the temperature-control fluid that may be located already in the temperature-control section 110 to 180.

[0051] The further control valves 112 to 182 may control in particular a volume flow out of the temperature-control sections 110 to 180. Thus, for example, an overpressure in the atmosphere of the temperature-control section 110 to 180 with respect to the surroundings may be established, such that an inflow of air from the surroundings into the temperature-control section 110 to 180 may be prevented.

[0052] The temperature-control device 102 may be coupled to the fluid inlets of the corresponding temperature-control sections 110 to 180 via the central supply conduit 117. Furthermore, the temperature-control device 102 may be coupled to the corresponding outlets of the corresponding temperature-control sections 110 to 180 via the central discharge conduit (or discharge pipeline) 118, such that a fluid circuit of the temperature-control fluid may be generatable. In other words, the temperature-control device 102 may use the temperature-control fluid, which may be tapped from the corresponding temperature-control sections 110 to 180, anew (or again), in order to adjust the temperature-control fluid to a desired temperature. Thus, the temperature-control fluid typically may have to be heated or cooled over a smaller temperature-control range as compared to a case when a temperature-control fluid may be used for example from the surroundings.

[0053] For example, a temperature-control sensor may be arranged at the corresponding fluid outlets, in order to thus measure the temperature of the temperature-control fluid flowing out of the respective temperature-control sections 110 to 180. According temperature sensors may also be arranged at the respective fluid inlets of the temperature-control sections 110 to 180.

[0054] In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, alternative temperature-control devices 102, 102 are represented by way of example. The temperature-control devices 102, 102 may form alternatives or may be switched in series one behind the other. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, a further temperature-control device 102, 102 for temperature-controlling the temperature-control fluid at a second temperature may be formed. The temperature-control devices 102, 102 then may feed selectively and separately from each other a corresponding temperature-controlled temperature-control fluid into the central supply conduit 117. For example, the first temperature-control device 102, 102 may serve as a heating device for heating the temperature-control fluid, and the further temperature-control device may serve as a cooling device for cooling the temperature-control fluid. Thus, a desired temperature-control fluid having a defined temperature may precisely and quickly be supplied selectively for the temperature-control section 110 to 180.

[0055] Furthermore, a volume flow sensor 103 may be provided in the discharge conduit 118 for a better control of the circuit of the temperature-control fluid. The volume flow of the temperature-control fluid, which may flow out of the temperature-control sections 110 to 180, may be measured precisely by the volume flow sensor 103. Correspondingly, a volume flow sensor 103 may be arranged in the supply conduit 117, such that a volume flow, which may flow into the corresponding temperature-control sections 110 to 180, may be measured. The information from the volume flow sensors 103 may be put at the disposition of the respective control valves 111 to 181, in order to precisely adjust the corresponding control valve 111 to 181.

[0056] The oven system further may have an exhaust air conduit 104 for removing the temperature-control fluid out of the temperature-control sections 110 to 180. Thus, for example, a temperature-control fluid, which may have already given away or received heat energy in a temperature-control section 110 to 180, may be emitted to the surroundings. For example, also only a part of the temperature-control fluid, which may have been emitted from the temperature-control sections 110 to 180, may be emitted to the exhaust air conduit 104, while another part of the temperature-control fluid may be supplied to the temperature-control device 102 anew (or again). For example, the exhaust air may be emitted through a chimney 116.

[0057] Furthermore, the oven system may have a heat exchanger 105, which may be coupled to the temperature-control device 102 via a supply conduit 119 and to the supply conduit 119 such that heat may be exchangeable, by the heat exchanger 105, between the temperature-control fluid, which may b e carried away from the temperature-control sections 110 to 180 by the exhaust air conduit 104, and a temperature-control fluid, which may be supplied to the temperature-control device 102.

[0058] A fresh temperature-control fluid may be brought from the surroundings for example via an air inlet 109 into the oven system. For example, air from the surroundings may be supplied as a temperature-control fluid via a filter in the air inlet 109. Furthermore, a sound absorber 114 may be provided in the oven system before the introduction for noise reduction. The new temperature-control fluid may be carried to the corresponding temperature-control device 102 for example in a supply conduit 119. The supplied new temperature-control fluid may have in particular a temperature from 5 C. to 45 C. The new temperature-control fluid may be mixed with the temperature-control fluid that may be already recirculating in the circulation, in order to adjust a desired temperature. For example, the temperature fluid behind the gas burner 102 may have a temperature of above 1000 C. Thus, by the newly added temperature-control fluid, for example air from the surroundings from the supply conduit 119, a temperature-control fluid having a temperature of, for example, 700 C. may be adjusted. A combustion air 115 of the gas burner may for example be blown out or may be used as a temperature-control fluid.

[0059] Furthermore, the new temperature-control fluid may be sucked in via the air inlet 109, in order to enable a quick cooling via the sucked-in fresh air. The sucked-in temperature-control fluid may also be supplied via the central supply conduit for example directly into the corresponding temperature-control sections 110 to 180 for a quick cooling. The degree of the quick cooling may be measured for example by the volume flow sensor 108.

[0060] Furthermore, the new temperature-control fluid may be supplied to the heat exchanger 105 by the supply conduit 119, and may be heated by the dissipated heat from the temperature-control fluid from the exhaust air conduit 104. Subsequently, the heated new temperature-control fluid may be supplied from the heat exchanger 105 to the temperature-control device 102 by the supply conduit 119.

[0061] For example, a blower 123 may be arranged in the central discharge conduit 118 and/or the supply conduit 119, in order to adjust the circulation of the temperature-control fluid.

[0062] Supplementarily, it should be noted that having (or comprising) does not exclude other elements or steps, and that a or an does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps, which have been described with reference to one of the embodiment examples above, can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiment examples described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as a limitation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0063]

TABLE-US-00001 101 metal component 102 temperature-control device/gas burner 102 electro-heating battery 103 volume flow sensor 104 exhaust air conduit 105 heat exchanger 106 volume flow sensor 107 volume flow sensor 108 volume flow sensor 109 air inlet/fresh air 110 first temperature-control section 111 first control valve 112 further first control valve 113 recirculation blower 114 sound absorber 115 combustion air 116 chimney 117 central supply conduit 118 central discharge conduit 119 supply conduit to temperature-control device 120 second temperature-control section 121 second control valve 122 further second control valve 123 blower 130 third temperature-control section 131 third control valve 132 further third control valve 140 fourth temperature-control section 141 fourth control valve 142 further fourth control valve 150 fifth temperature-control section 151 fifth control valve 152 further fifth control valve 160 sixth temperature-control section 161 sixth control valve 162 further sixth control valve 170 seventh temperature-control section 171 seventh control valve 172 further seventh control valve 180 eighth temperature-control section 181 eighth control valve 182 further eighth control valve