The steel industry is the cornerstone of modern industry, and steel products are widely used in construction, transportation, energy, manufacturing and other fields. In the production process of steel, especially in the heat treatment and cooling process, steel products are prone to deformation, affecting their final quality. In this process, industrial water quenching rollers, as important cooling equipment, play a vital role. They not only help the rapid cooling of steel, but also effectively reduce the deformation of steel during the cooling process through specific design and working principles, ensuring the stability of the size and shape of the product.

This article will explore in depth the working principle of industrial water quenching rollers and how to reduce the deformation of steel products through efficient cooling functions, thereby improving the quality and production efficiency of steel products.

What is an industrial water quenching roller?

Industrial water quenching rollers are a roller device used in the cooling process of steel production. Its basic working principle is to quickly cool the surface of steel to achieve the purpose of controlling its organizational structure, thereby improving the physical properties of steel. Water quenching rollers generally cool steel products efficiently through water circulation inside the roller body and an external water spray system. Especially in the hot rolling, cold rolling and subsequent heat treatment links in steel production, the role of water quenching rollers is crucial.

The main function of water quenching rollers is to quickly reduce the temperature of the steel surface through efficient heat exchange. This process is usually accompanied by phase change cooling, that is, the surface of the steel is rapidly cooled from high temperature to low temperature in a short time, thereby changing the crystal structure of the steel. This rapid cooling process not only helps to improve the hardness of steel, but also effectively control the deformation of steel.

Structure of water quenching rollers

The structure of water quenching rollers usually consists of three parts: roller body, water spray device and cooling water circulation system. The roller body is generally made of materials with high heat resistance, such as carbon steel, alloy steel, etc. In some high-end applications, the roller body may be chrome-plated or ceramic coated to enhance wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The water spray device is usually distributed on the surface of the roller body, and the cooling water is evenly sprayed on the steel surface to form an efficient cooling effect.

The circulating water system equipped inside the water quenching roller ensures the continuous flow of cooling water through the cooperation of pipes and pumps, thereby maintaining a relatively stable cooling performance. The temperature, flow rate, spray angle and pressure of the water will affect the cooling effect, so the design of the water quenching roller needs to consider these variables in order to achieve the best cooling efficiency.

Why is steel prone to deformation during cooling?

Steel is prone to deformation during cooling, mainly due to thermal expansion and contraction of the material and uneven cooling rate. At high temperatures, the molecular structure of steel is in an expanded state, and as the temperature decreases, the molecules of steel gradually shrink. If this process is not uniform, especially when there is a large temperature difference between the surface and the inside of the steel, internal stress is likely to occur, causing deformation or cracks on the surface of the steel.

In addition, phase changes during cooling can also affect the morphology of steel. For example, when steel is cooled from a high temperature state to a room temperature state, it will undergo a transformation from austenite to martensite, which is usually accompanied by volume expansion, further increasing the risk of deformation. In order to reduce this deformation, it is particularly important to control the cooling rate and cooling uniformity.

Types of deformation

During the cooling process of steel, deformation may take the form of warping, bending, twisting and other common forms. The degree of deformation depends on many factors, such as cooling rate, steel thickness, and uneven cooling. If not controlled, deformation will cause steel products to fail to meet design standards and even affect subsequent processing and performance.

How do industrial water-quenching rollers reduce deformation of steel?

1. Efficient and uniform cooling

The primary reason why water-quenching rollers can effectively reduce deformation is that they can provide uniform and rapid cooling. The temperature difference and thermal stress during the cooling process of steel are the main causes of deformation, and the design of water-quenching rollers can effectively and evenly cool the surface of steel and reduce the temperature difference. The water-quenching roller uses a precise water spray system to ensure that the cooling water can be evenly covered on the surface of steel, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the surface and the inner layer of steel.

The cooling efficiency of water-quenching rollers is very high. Through high-speed spraying water, the temperature of the steel surface can be quickly reduced, while the temperature inside the steel is relatively slow. In this way, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the steel is effectively controlled, thereby avoiding drastic thermal stress changes and reducing the occurrence of deformation.

2. Control the cooling rate

Excessively fast cooling rate may cause a large temperature difference between the surface and the inner layer of the steel, which in turn causes deformation and cracks. The water quenching roller can control the cooling rate by adjusting the flow rate and temperature of the cooling water to keep it within an appropriate range. At high temperatures, the water quenching roller cools down quickly through a high flow of cooling water, which is essential for the hardening effect of the steel surface. At lower temperatures, the water quenching roller may slow down the cooling rate to avoid deformation caused by rapid cooling.

3. Reduce local overheating or overcooling

Local overheating or overcooling of steel products during the cooling process usually leads to local expansion or contraction, which causes deformation. The water spray system of the water quenching roller is precisely designed to ensure that the cooling water is evenly covered on the steel surface, avoiding local overheating or overcooling during the cooling process. Especially in the case of large steel width, the water spray angle and pressure of the water quenching roller can be adjusted according to the actual situation to ensure that each part of the steel surface is evenly cooled.

4. Improve the flatness of the steel surface

In addition to reducing deformation by controlling the cooling rate and reducing the temperature difference, the water quenching roller can also improve the surface flatness of steel products through its uniform cooling effect during the cooling process. During the cooling process, the water quenching roller can effectively keep the steel surface in a flat state and prevent deformation such as warping or bending caused by temperature difference.

Especially during the hot rolling process of steel, the cooling effect of the water quenching roller helps the steel maintain a good surface quality and reduces the stress concentration on the surface and inside through uniform cooling. This is particularly important for ensuring high-quality steel products.

5. Reduce the accumulation of internal stress

The water quenching roller can effectively reduce the accumulation of internal stress in steel products through reasonable cooling rate control and water flow uniformity. Internal stress is one of the key factors that cause steel deformation. Through the cooling of the water quenching roller, the temperature difference and uneven cooling inside and outside the steel are effectively controlled, thereby reducing the generation and accumulation of internal stress and reducing the deformation of steel.

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