Basic Study of Non-contacting Support of Thin Plate by Fluid Cushion Force

Abstract

In the surface finishing line of cold rolled steel, it is desirable to operate a strip run without contacting support of the roll in order to prevent the surface defects. This paper relates the adaptation of fluid cushion force for the electroplating line which we call LCC-H (Liquid Cushion Cell-Horizontal). As a basic study for supporting a thin plate without contact by fluid cushion force, with control of a flow velocity, the numerical analysis and experimental studies are carried out in order to obtain the pressure distributions necessary for supporting the plate and the velocity of fluid necessary to remove gases generated during plating. As a result, non-contacting support of thin plate is achieved by means of the cushion force produced by a jet from nozzles and control of the flow velocity is possible by determing the optimum condition of inlet angle of nozzles.