Process Improvements in Rolling Mills by Using Safeset Torque Limiting Coupling

摘要

High demands and harsh operation conditions in the steel industry are pushing the rolling mills to their limits. New Heavy Plate Mills are set up around the world, normally using a motor power of 2x10000 kW. Steel specifications are getting increasingly demanding with continuous improvements on yield and tensile strength. Besides the newly built rolling mills there are numerous plant modernizations ongoing. The engineering tasks are coping with dimensional constraints, process optimization and handling overload in the driveline. This paper describes the torque limiting coupling, Safeset. The purpose for the Safeset coupling is to ensure minimized unscheduled downtime and making it possible running the rolling mill at its limits. The Safeset protect the driveline against catastrophic failure, by preventing consequential damage at the mill because of a torque overload condition. The Safeset coupling is used for the drivelines in all kinds of rolling mills, from small Wire Rod Mills to big reversing Heavy Plate Mills. As a case study, the paper also describes the system approach taken during a modernization of an existing reversing Plate Mill, and details the successful result of the project. The project includes installation of a Torque Monitoring System, Safeset Torque Limiting Coupling and Universal Joint Drive Shafts, all supplied by Voith.