METHOD AND COOLING DEVICE Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC B21B37/74 C21D11/00 C22F1/04 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: object of the invention is a method of cooling an aluminium alloy slab with typical dimensions of 250–800 mm in thickness, 1000–2000 mm in width and 2000–8000 mm in length after metallurgical homogenisation heat treatment of said slab at a temperature usually in the range from 450 to 600 °C depending on the alloy, and prior to its hot rolling, according to the invention, cooling of 30 to 150 °C is carried out at a rate of 150-500 °C/h with a temperature difference of less than 40 °C throughout the entire slab, cooled from its homogenisation temperature. Invention relates also to an installation which enables to carry out said method, as well as to use of the installation. Invention relates also to an installation which enables to carry out said method, as well as to use of the installation.

EFFECT: technical result is rapid cooling of a slab at a rate of 150–500 °C/h with a temperature difference of less than 40 °C throughout the slab, cooling by 30–150 °C from 450–600 °C, creating a uniform temperature field which is controlled throughout the slab.

17 cl, 19 dwg, 3 ex