Claims:I/We claim:
1. An annealing simulator (100), comprising:
a hot chamber (104); and
a cold chamber (108) detachably coupled to the hot chamber (104),
wherein the cold chamber (108) comprises spray nozzles (144) and a booster cooling system (145) configured to spray cooling gas to cool a specimen (172), and
wherein the cold chamber (108) comprises an infrared heating facility (191) to reheat the specimen (172) in the cold chamber (108) for execution of the multi-stage annealing process.
2. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold chamber (108) comprises a gate valve (140), the gate valve (140) being configured to detachably couple the cold chamber (108) with the hot chamber (104).
3. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cold chamber (108) comprises a specimen mounting arrangement (160), the specimen mounting arrangement (160) being configured to move along with the specimen (172) between the cold chamber (108) and the hot chamber (104), and wherein the hot chamber (104) being configured to heat the specimen (172) and the cold chamber (108) being configured to cool the specimen (172).
4. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the specimen mounting arrangement (160) is being configured to mount large plates of the specimen (172).
5. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cold chamber (108) comprises an opening (164) towards the hot chamber (104), the opening (164) being configured to route the specimen (172) mounted on the specimen mounting arrangement (160) inside the hot chamber (104), the opening (164) is closed by the gate valve (140) during an annealing process.
6. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the specimen mounting arrangement (160) along with the specimen (172) is guided between the hot chamber (104) and the cold chamber (108) by means of a loading mechanism (192).
7. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 3, comprising a first thermocouple connected to the specimen (172) to measure the temperature of the specimen (172).
8. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 3, comprising a second thermocouple coupled to the specimen mounting arrangement (160) to measure the temperature of the surrounding of the specimen (172).
9. The annealing simulator (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling gas is a mixture of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas in a volume proportion of 5-25 % hydrogen gas and 75-95% nitrogen gas.
, Description:AUXILIARY COLD CHAMBER FOR AN ANNEALING SIMULATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to relates to advancements in an annealing simulator. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an annealing simulator having an auxiliary cold chamber.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Annealing simulators have been used for quite a long time. The annealing simulators should be capable of providing varied conditions to the specimen (172) so that the specimen (172) can be tested in various conditions.
[0004] The annealing simulators comprise mainly a hot chamber for heating specimen (172) up to the required temperature are suitable for simulating batch-type annealing processes. But for simulation of continuous type annealing processed, simulators with a single hot chamber are not effective. This is because for high cooling rates of steel during a cooling segment of the annealing cycle, one has to rely on the hot chamber only and somehow entire chamber has to be cooled at desired cooling rates. This limits the simulation of high cooling rates required for continuous annealing cycle simulations, as the hot chamber temperatures can be as high as 1000 °C during heating and annealing cycle. Further, rapid cooling also affects the life of the hot chamber.
[0005] Accordingly, in the case of multiple cooling stages, it is very difficult to control temperature isothermally at lower temperature ranges of 250-450 °C.
[0006] Some of the prior arts, for instance, KR100727736, are only useful with batch-type annealing and can be used with a limited operating parameter of the continuous annealing process.
[0007] In the prior art, an annealing simulator comprising of a hot chamber, a detachable cold chamber, and a specimen mounting arrangement. The detachable cold chamber is coupled to the hot chamber with a specimen mounting arrangement, the specimen with its mounting arrangement is configured to move to and fro between the detachable cold chamber and the hot chamber. The specimen is heated in a hot chamber to the desired temperature at a preset heating rate according to a heating segment of the annealing cycle. After completion of heating and isothermal annealing segment of the annealing cycle, the specimen is retracted to the cold chamber and cooled at the desired cooling rate. This type of arrangement allows only single stage cooling step of the continuous annealing cycle. Thus, the simulation of two or more stage of the cooling cycle is not possible.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0009] A general object of the present disclosure is to develop a detachable cold chamber that can be coupled to an annealing simulator to rapidly cool specimen under multi-stage cooling cycle once the cold chamber is heat treated in a hot chamber.
[0010] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a detachable cold chamber that can accommodate the larger dimension of specimen plates or tensile specimens.
[0011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a detachable cold chamber that can facilitate simulation of multi-stages of cooling cycles of continuous annealing process at a single platform.
[0012] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a detachable cold chamber that can provide a heating stage in the cold chamber.
[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a detachable cold chamber that can maintain the uniform soaking temperature for the recommended time period in multiple cooling thermal cycles.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present disclosure is illustrated.

SUMMARY
[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an annealing simulator having an auxiliary cold chamber. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0016] The present disclosure relates to an annealing simulator. The annealing simulator includes a hot chamber and a cold chamber detachably coupled to the hot chamber. The cold chamber includes spray nozzles and a booster cooling system configured to spray cooling gas to cool a specimen. The cold chamber further includes an infrared heating facility to reheat the specimen in the cold chamber for execution of multi-stage annealing process.
[0017] In an aspect, the cold chamber includes a gate valve which is being configured to detachably couple the cold chamber with the hot chamber.
[0018] In an aspect, the cold chamber includes a specimen mounting arrangement which is being configured to move along with the specimen between the cold chamber and the hot chamber. The hot chamber is being configured to heat the specimen and the cold chamber is being configured to cool the specimen.
[0019] In an aspect, the specimen mounting arrangement is being configured to mount large plates of the specimen.
[0020] In an aspect, the cold chamber includes an opening towards the hot chamber. The opening is being configured to route the specimen mounted on the specimen mounting arrangement inside the hot chamber. The opening is closed by the gate valve during an annealing process.
[0021] In an aspect, the specimen mounting arrangement along with the specimen is guided between the hot chamber and the cold chamber by means of a loading mechanism.
[0022] In an aspect, the annealing simulator includes a first thermocouple connected to the specimen to measure the temperature of the specimen.
[0023] In an aspect, the annealing simulator includes a second thermocouple coupled to the specimen mounting arrangement to measure the temperature of the surrounding of the specimen.
[0024] In an aspect, the cooling gas is a mixture of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas in a volume proportion of 5-25 % hydrogen gas and 75-95% nitrogen gas.
[0025] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic line drawing of an annealing simulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 2A illustrates a cut section view of a cold chamber of the annealing simulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded view of the cold chamber of the annealing simulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 3A illustrates a front side perspective view of the cold chamber of the annealing simulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 3B illustrates a rear side perspective view of the cold chamber of the annealing simulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0032] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate various annealing profiles of different specimens obtained from the annealing simulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0034] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0036] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0038] Embodiments and/or implementations described herein relate to an annealing simulator comprising of a hot chamber, a detachable auxiliary cold chamber engaged with the hot chamber, the detachable cold chamber comprising of a specimen loading device, the specimen loading device is designed to move along with specimen between the detachable cold chamber, and the hot chamber, the hot chamber is designed to heat the specimen and the detachable cold chamber being designed to cool the specimen. Further, for execution of multi-stage annealing process, the cold chamber comprises a gas spraying channel and a booster cooling system so as to spray cooling gas to cool a specimen, and comprises an infrared heating facility to reheat the specimen in the cold chamber.
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates various components of an annealing simulator (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the annealing simulator (100) includes a hot chamber (104) and a detachable cold chamber (108).
[0040] The cold chamber (108) is an airtight compartment where the specimen (172) can be loaded at ambient temperature. The environment of the cold chamber is maintained at conditions similar to that of the hot chamber (108) so that no oxidation takes place when a specimen (172) enters from the hot chamber (108) to the cold chamber (104).
[0041] The cold chamber (108) includes a specimen mounting arrangement (160) which is configured to mount the specimen (172) for execution of the multi-stage annealing process. In an aspect, the specimen mounting arrangement (160) is being adapted to mount large plates of the specimen (172).
[0042] The specimen mounting arrangement (160) is adapted to move along with the specimen (172) between the cold chamber (108) and the hot chamber (104). For instance, the specimen mounting arrangement (160) along with the specimen (172) is guided between the hot chamber (104) and the cold chamber (108) by means of a loading mechanism (pushrod) (192).
[0043] Further, in an aspect, the cold chamber (108) includes an opening (164) towards a coupling plate (116) of the hot chamber (104). The opening (164) is being adapted to allow routing of the specimen (172) mounted on the specimen mounting arrangement (160) inside the hot chamber (104). In the said aspect, the opening (164) is closed by the gate valve (140) during an annealing process. Also, with the operation of the gate valve (140), the gate valve (140) is adapted to couple or detach the cold chamber (108) with the hot chamber (104).
[0044] Now, once the specimen (172) mounted on the specimen mounting arrangement (160) inside the hot chamber (104), the hot chamber (104) heats the specimen (172). For instance, the hot chamber (104) is supported on a platform (112). The hot chamber (104) is placed in the vicinity of an electric furnace (120). The electric furnace (120) is moveable on the platform (112) on which the hot chamber (104) is supported. In operation or during the annealing process, the electric furnace (102) is moved towards the hot chamber (104) so that the hot chamber along with the specimen (172) is inserted inside the electric furnace (120) for heating of the specimen (172). The hot chamber (104), inserted in the electric furnace (120), is subjected to controlled temperature and environment similar to the one that the steel experiences in the plant during various operations.
[0045] After the specimen (172) is annealed for desired heating cycle, the push rod (192) is pulled while opening the gate valve (140). After the specimen (172) is retracted, the gate valve (140) is again closed so as to prevent the cold chamber (108) being exposed to the heat of the hot chamber (104). In the cold chamber (108), the specimen (172) is rapidly cooled. For rapid cooling, the cold chamber (108) comprises spray nozzles (144) and a booster cooling system (145) configured to spray cooling gas to cool the specimen (172), as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the spray nozzles (144) are mounted on gas supply channels mounted along each longitudinal corners of the cold chamber (108) so that the spray nozzles (144) can spray the cooling gas in the entire cold chamber (144).
[0047] Also, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the booster cooling system (145) can be a pair of blocks having dimensions substantially equal to the specimen (172) loaded on the specimen mounting arrangement (160) so that the supply of the cooling gas can be directly sprayed on the specimen (172). As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art and as visible from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pair of blocks of the booster cooling system (145) can have spray nozzles towards the specimen (172) or the specimen mounting arrangement (160).
[0048] The spray cooling gas is supplied to the spray nozzles (144) and the booster cooling system (145) through a gas feeding system. The gas feeding system includes a gas mixing cylinder (124) receiving hydrogen gas from a hydrogen cylinder (128) and nitrogen gas from a nitrogen cylinder (132). The gas mixing cylinder (128) is adapted to provide a cooling gas which is a mixture of hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas in a volume proportion of 5-25 % hydrogen gas and 75-95% nitrogen gas. In some aspects, cooling gas may be humidified gas mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen that would be used as per the cooling requirements.
[0049] For subsequent annealing cycle, the cold chamber (108) includes an infrared heating facility (191) to reheat the specimen (172) in the cold chamber (108) for execution of multi-stage annealing process. The infrared heating facility (191) is mounted on reference lining (193) disposed on the bottom cover of the cold chamber (108). In an alternative implementation, each side cover of the cold chamber (108) may mount the infrared heating facility (191) for rapid reheating of the specimen (172), as shown in FIG. 2A.
[0050] For controlling the cooling and the heating, the annealing simulator (100) is controlled by the main control panel (MCP) (208). The MCP (208) is adapted to receive signals from multiple thermocouples mounted within the annealing simulator (100). In the annealing simulator (100), a first thermocouple (205) is spot welded to the specimen (172) to measure the temperature of the specimen (172) moving between the hot chamber (104) and the cold chamber (108), a second thermocouple (208) is coupled to the specimen mounting arrangement (160) to measure the temperature of the surrounding of the specimen (172) (inside the cold chamber during heating and cooling) for computing the temperature profile, a third thermocouple (204) is positioned in the hot chamber (104) to note the temperature of the hot chamber (104) and thereby change of temperature of the hot chamber (104), and a fourth thermocouple (208) placed in the cold chamber (108) for measuring its temperature all time.
[0051] Both the first and second thermocouples help in capturing the true temperature experienced by the specimens in the hot chamber (104) and the detachable cold chamber (108) while annealing treatment. Thereby, a true temperature profile of heating cycle can be recorded.
[0052] All the real-time temperature and the various heat treatments done on the annealing simulator on other different specimens are recorded can be graphically shown as in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0053] Following are the advantages of the auxiliary cold chamber (108) with the annealing simulator (100):
• The cold chamber (108) is detachable and can be used as an attachment to the annealing simulator (100).
• Varieties of unique annealing simulations can be made easier using the annealing simulator (100), i.e., it is versatile for several applications.
• The annealing simulator (100) can be applied for the batch as well as continuous annealing of steel specimens.
• The flexibility of heat treatment is provided under a controlled atmosphere as and when required.
• Smooth temperature control on the annealing process.
• Close control on the heating rate in annealing simulation.
• Precise control of the cooling rate of annealing simulation.
• Moreover, ultrafast cooling (>250oC/s) can also be done. All in a controlled gas environment.
• Larger steel specimens suitable for various tests tensile test, r-bar determination and hole expansion ratio, etc., can undergo annealing simulation.
• Precision environmental control on annealing simulation.
• The annealing simulator is compact and cost-effective.
[0054] Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0055] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0056] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.