Temperature Applications

   - Hot Mill
   - Cold Mill 

   - Hot Metal Detection   

Hot Mill

Hot Mill Measurements:

• Ingot entry
• Roughing mill entry and exit
• Finishing mill entry and exit
• Coiler (strip or side-of-coil)

Aluminum temperature is a critical parameter required for process optimization in the hot mill. Ingot and strip temperatures are used to control the speed and reduction throughout the
rolling process.

• A hotter ingot or strip must be processed more slowly, or with a smaller reduction, in order to assure that the aluminum does not overheat.
• A colder ingot or strip must be run through at a faster speed, or with a greater reduction, in order to generate more heat during deformation so that the metal will remain mailable as it passes through the entire line.

By making the appropriate adjustments on each pass, each subsequent pass may be run under more optimized conditions.  Strip temperatures at the finishing mill and at the coiler are
most critical to ensure that the proper material properties are obtained.

The multi-wavelength PRO 120-20 sensor is used throughout the aluminum hot rolling mill to monitor these critical process parameters. With advanced ESP Algorithms, these sensors
provide unparalleled accuracy by compensating for emissivity variation, alloy changes, surface contamination, and dirty optics without requiring any adjustments to the sensor.

Cold Mill
At the cold mill,aluminum strips are reduced to tight mechanical tolerances, and cold worked to impart a hardness to the metal.  If the metal or the roll is allowed to heat, then the thermal
expansion can threaten the mechanical dimensions of the strip, and the heat buildup can soften the metal. Likewise, a strip that is well below the optimal temperature can be run
faster without concern for a loss of properties. The model 120-03 or 42-30 provide a continuous measure of strip temperature to assure optimization of the process.

Hot Metal Detection
Hot metal detectors are used to identify the leading and trailing edges of the strip to activate cooling sprays and handling equipment. Traditional hot metal detectors are not designed for the low temperature and low emissivity characteristics of aluminum.  The Williamson model 1100LT hot metal detector has been developed specifically to sense low-temperature, low-emissivity metals. With a response time of under 10 ms, this system provides exceptional performance in a compact and robust enclosure at a reasonable cost.