Magnetic actuator design for strip stabilizers in hot dip galvanizing lines

Electromagnetic strip stabilizers are viable tools for controlling the shape of steel strips in hot dip galvanizing lines. Such stabilizers typically consist of multiple electromagnets located at the top and the bottom side of the strip. The general design of electromagnetic actuators is a well established field of research but not all of this expertise is fully utilized in currently installed strip stabilization systems. This work presents typical design trade-offs and rules for the construction and installation of such electromagnets to assist in the development of future strip stabilization systems. Different core designs are analyzed in detail and their strengths and weaknesses with respect to their intended use are discussed. These results are extended to the multi-actuator setup typically used in hot dip galvanizing lines. Negative effects arising from the magnetic coupling between the actuators are discussed and simple means to prevent these negative effects are presented. Finally, all conclusions made are validated via force measurements carried out on an industrial hot dip galvanizing line.