Using EPS Cells to Speed Up An Acid Pickling Line
Not only is the EPS Process a replacement for acid pickling, but EPS Cells can be installed in an existing acid pickling line to increase its throughput. This is considered especially attractive for large acid pickle lines that impractical to shut down for long periods of time.
As the animation shows, an EPS Cell installed near the front of the line – before or in place of the prewash – performs an initial descaling that lessens duty on the acid tanks. This increases line speed and capacity.
Over time, instead of replacing or overhauling acid tanks, install EPS Cells in their place. (two EPS Cells occupy roughly the same space as one acid tank). If all acid tanks are eventually replaced by EPS Cells, all of the EPS Product Advantages can be realized:
- A more consistent surface with optimized roughness
- Mitigation of mill surface defects (pitting, roll marks, silicon streaks, etc.)
- A surface that produces a more attractive, tight spangle after cold reduction/galvanizing
(see details in EPS Applications Testing Report)
Factors That Increase Speed
Depending on the materials you run, there are additional factors that may allow EPS Cells to speed up an acid pickling line even more. First, the scale on high strength steel is more difficult for acid to dissolve, so line speed must be slowed. EPS has no such problem with higher strength material such as HSLA, 1065, 6150, etc. An EPS Cell (shown at the left) in front of the acid tanks will remove much of this scale so the line can run faster.
Also, areas nearer the edge of the strip are more difficult to descale with acid. An EPS spray pattern that preferentially treats this area prior to acid immersion may let you speed up the line even more.
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