FLAP Project

The objective of the project is the development of a team for the realization of a thermal treatment, unprecedented at present in the field of induction, consisting of the heating of copper strips of reduced thickness for the coating and protection of other materials. This process is known as “cladding”, one of its applications being the coating of high frequency communications cables. At present, the cladding process is carried out by means of contact heaters, which generate numerous problems and require a demanding maintenance to ensure adequate reliability and operation. The concept to be investigated and developed consists in obtaining a heat treatment by induction, not existing at present, that allows to maintain the existing productivity in the current heating lines by contact. To enable the heating of copper strips by induction heat treatment, maintaining a high productivity, it is necessary to provide the facility with capacity to work simultaneously with high power, given the diamagnetism of copper and the high production needs, and high frequencies, given the small thicknesses being treated. In the case of this project, the viability of using cross-flow treatment that provides higher power densities per surface will be studied, which allows us to meet the high demands of the equipment under development.

To be able to implement the indicated, it is necessary to develop specific inductors for the realization of heat treatment by induction by using transverse flow, which allows us to have the power densities required for heating copper strips in high production equipment. The indicated concept will allow the thermal treatment of copper strapping, this fact allows the introduction of thermal treatment by induction in the “cladding” sector, providing the advantages of induction to a sector where it has not had a place due to the problems existing for its application. The present development is a revolution for the heating of copper strips and therefore for cladding, which will allow GH to position itself as a pioneer in the heat treatment of copper strapping in high production equipment.

All this seeking to maintain or improve the performance, size and durability of current facilities. The typology of installation object of development of the present project, would suppose the introduction of a product currently required by a market whose demand, demands in terms of productivity and reduction of costs have increased in the last times.

The main technical objectives of the project are the development of the following elements, which make up the final prototype object of development.

• Conception, design and evaluation of new inductors for the heating of copper strapping in high production equipment, by means of the use of magnetic field of transversal flow, fulfilling optimal values of performance and reliability.
• Conception, design and evaluation of heating stations for the heating of copper strapping in high production equipment, by means of the use of magnetic field of transversal flow, fulfilling optimal values of performance and reliability.

Project summary

The scope of the project has focused on the development of a demonstrator for the thermal heating by induction of copper strapping in high productivity equipment, fulfilling optimal performance and reliability values. To this end, the following developments have been carried out satisfactorily:

• Development of inductor for thermal heating by induction of copper strapping in high productivity equipment.
• Development of new heating stations for thermal heating by induction of copper strapping in high productivity equipment.
• Development of the mechanical system of the prototype and the transmission system of this.

This project has been co-funded by CDTI, and the European Union through the Operational Programme Smart Growth ERDF 2014-2020. The reference number of the project is EXP 00098825 / IDI-20170338.

Project co-funded by CDTI and the EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND: IDI-20170338