Method, computer program and cooling system for monitoring a component of the cooling system in a rolling mill

Abstract

A method allows monitoring a component of a cooling system in a rolling mill, the cooling system including the component being used to apply a coolant on a rolled stock to be cooled. To apply a coolant on the rolling stock with a desired target pressure or target volume flow, not only when the component is in the new state but also with the component in the used state, the cooling system provides for the acquisition of actual characteristic data for the component during and/or after the period of use of the component. These actual characteristic data are compared with predetermined target characteristic data, in order to determine a possible characteristic data deviation A, which represents a malfunction of the component with respect to its new state. The method then provides various measures for minimizing the characteristic data deviation, if this exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for monitoring a component ( 3 ) of a cooling system ( 100 ) in a rolling mill, wherein the cooling system ( 100 ) is used to apply a coolant on a rolled stock ( 20 ) to be cooled, the method comprising:
 specifying target characteristic data for the component ( 3 ), wherein the target characteristic data describe a calibrated behavior of the component ( 3 ) in a fault-free state during operation of the cooling system ( 100 );   acquiring actual characteristic data for the component ( 3 ) during and/or after a period of use of the component ( 3 );   comparing the actual characteristic data with the target characteristic data for the component ( 3 ) and determining a characteristic data deviation (Δ), which represents a malfunction of the component ( 3 ); and   taking a measure for minimizing the characteristic data deviation (Δ) if the characteristic data deviation (Δ) exceeds a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the measure comprises outputting a warning to an operator of the cooling system ( 100 ) or to a signaling system for checking the component ( 3 ).   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the cooling system ( 100 ) includes an open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ),   wherein the component ( 3 ) is an actuator connected downstream of the open-loop or closed-loop controller,   wherein the method further comprises outputting a control variable to the actuator for setting or regulating an actual pressure or an actual volume flow with which the coolant is applied to the rolled stock ( 20 ) to a specified target pressure or target volume flow, and   wherein the measure comprises introducing the characteristic data deviation (Δ) or a correction value calculated from the characteristic data deviation (Δ) as a disturbance variable ( 9 ) to the open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ) for determining a corrected control variable and for outputting the corrected control variable at an output of the open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ) to the actuator ( 3 ).   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the cooling system ( 100 ) has an open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ) with an upstream target value specification device ( 1 ),   wherein the component ( 3 ) is actuator for setting or controlling a pressure or a volume flow with which the coolant is applied on the rolled stock ( 20 ), and   wherein the measure comprises introducing the characteristic data deviation (Δ) or a correction value calculated from the characteristic data deviation (Δ) as a disturbance variable ( 9 ) to the upstream target value specification device ( 1 ) for adjusting a target value for the open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ).   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein at least some of
 acquiring the actual characteristic data for the component ( 3 ), 
 comparing the actual characteristic data with the target characteristic data for the component ( 3 ) and determining the characteristic data deviation (Δ), and 
 taking the measure for minimizing the characteristic data deviation (Δ) 
   are repeated continuously during the operation of the cooling system ( 100 ) or during breaks in operation.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the component ( 3 ) comprises a pump or a valve or a spray nozzle.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the actual characteristic data comprise at least individual points of an actual operating characteristic curve of the component ( 3 ), which describes a behavior of the component ( 3 ) when used during the operation of the cooling system ( 100 ) during a time interval of its acquisition.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the target characteristic data comprise at least individual points of a calibrated characteristic curve ( 10 ) of the component ( 3 ), which describes a behavior of the component ( 3 ) when like-new and fault-free in the operation of the cooling system ( 100 ) during a time interval of its acquisition.   
     
     
         24 . A computer program product that can be loaded directly into an internal memory of a digital computer and comprises sections of software code with which the method according to  claim 16  is carried out if the computer program product is running on the digital computer. 
     
     
         25 . A cooling system ( 100 ) for cooling a rolled stock ( 20 ) in a rolling mill, comprising:
 a supply device ( 10 ) for supplying a coolant for the cooling system ( 100 ) at a predetermined pressure;   a cooling section with a spray nozzle ( 4 ) for applying the coolant on the rolled stock ( 20 );   a line ( 12 ) for feeding the coolant from the supply device to the spray nozzle ( 4 );   a pressure or volume flow meter ( 5 ) for determining an actual pressure or an actual volume flow in the line;   a target value specification device ( 1 ) in form of a cooling model for specifying a target pressure or a target volume flow with which the coolant is to be applied on the rolled stock ( 20 );   an actuator ( 3 ) selected from the group consisting of a pump, a valve, and the spray nozzle ( 5 ) in the line;   an open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ) for outputting a control variable to the actuator ( 3 ) downstream of the open-loop or closed-loop controller for setting or regulating the actual pressure or the actual volume flow with which the coolant is applied on the rolled stock ( 20 ) to be cooled, to the specified target pressure or target volume flow;   an acquisition device ( 3   a ) for an opening degree of the actuator ( 3 );   a characteristic data acquisition device ( 6 ) for determining at least individual points of an actual operating characteristic curve for the actuator ( 3 ) as actual characteristic data in accordance with the actual pressure or the actual volume flow acquired by the pressure or volume flow meter ( 5 ) and the acquired opening degree of the actuator ( 3 ); and   a comparison and evaluation device ( 7 ) for comparing the actual characteristic data with target characteristic data which represent at least individual points of a calibrated characteristic curve for the actuator ( 3 ), for determining a characteristic data deviation (Δ) and for evaluating the characteristic data deviation (Δ) to determine whether the characteristic data deviation (Δ) exceeds a specified threshold value.   
     
     
         26 . The cooling system ( 100 ) according to  claim 25 ,
 further comprising an output device ( 8 ) for outputting an indication or a warning to an operator of the cooling system ( 100 ) or to a signaling system that the characteristic data deviation (Δ) exceeds the specified threshold value and/or that the actuator ( 3 ) must be checked.   
     
     
         27 . The cooling system ( 100 ) according to  claim 25 ,
 further comprising a disturbance variable introducing device ( 9 ) for introducing the characteristic data deviation (Δ) or a correction value calculated from it as a disturbance variable to the open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ) for determining a corrected control variable and for outputting the corrected control variable at the output of the open-loop or closed-loop controller to the actuator ( 3 ).   
     
     
         28 . The cooling system ( 100 ) according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the disturbance variable introducing device ( 9 ) is designed for introducing the characteristic data deviation (Δ) or the correction value calculated from it as a disturbance variable to the target value specification device ( 1 ) for adjusting the target pressure or the target volume flow for the open-loop or closed-loop controller ( 2 ).   
     
     
         29 . The cooling system ( 100 ) according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the characteristic data acquisition device ( 6 ) is designed to acquire the calibrated characteristic curve of the actuator ( 3 ) if the cooling system ( 100 ) and the actuator ( 3 ) are in each case like-new or fault-free.