METHOD FOR AUTOMATION OF A STEEL MIXING PLANT, IN PARTICULAR A PLANT FOR ROLLING METAL STRIPS

Description

[0001] Method for automating a metallurgical plant, in particular a plant for rolling metal strips

[0002] The invention relates to a method for automating a plant for rolling metal strips, comprising at least one rolling mill with at least one rolling stand, wherein the method is carried out using a multi-stage control system, comprising at least a level 1 automation, a level 2 automation and optionally a level 3 automation, wherein in the level 2 automation a pre-calculation of the working variables of the plant is carried out in the form of setting values ​​for the level 1 automation.

[0003] Such control systems are commonly used to monitor and control plants for rolling metal products.

[0004] Larger control systems are typically multi-level. Often, they contain subordinate controllers that receive setpoints from a higher-level device. The setpoints can be currently valid setpoints or setpoint curves. Level-2 systems typically calculate the setpoints using online optimization algorithms, which in turn rely on online models of the system to be controlled. The online models can be, for example, mathematical-physical models or AI systems. Alternatively, Level-2 systems can be implemented in a simplified form as specification tables. For example, DE 10 2008 028 777 A1 describes an operating procedure for a control system with a setpoint optimizer.

[0005] In the current state of the art, rolling mill stands are operated with various automation solutions. These automation solutions are provided on a customer-specific basis and are geared toward a specified optimization goal. The operator of such a plant typically has limited flexibility with regard to the specifications of the rolling process, particularly since the plant's regular operating modes are designed for full plant capacity. Especially with regard to planned or unplanned plant downtimes, existing automation solutions allow only very limited intervention by the plant operator.

[0006] A method for automatically controlling and / or regulating a metallurgical plant is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 036 112 A1. The method described in DE 10 2010 36 112 A1 addresses the problem described above by allowing the plant to be operated in an economy mode, in which the consumption of electrical energy and / or media is reduced. In particular, this minimizes the consumption of electrical energy and media such as gases, water, lubricants, and the like during a plant shutdown or partial shutdown. This is achieved through a targeted and automatic, controlled shutdown of supply systems.This automation solution is designed relatively one-sidedly for a specific, actual or planned plant downtime and does not take into account the fact that, with regard to the overall plant utilization, different optimization targets for the plant's automation solutions might be desirable at times. DE 10 2010 36 112 A1 does not provide any solutions in this regard.

[0007] Document DE 101 22 322 A1 describes a method for controlling a hot rolling process. The method is characterized in particular by a comprehensive hierarchical control and regulation structure. This structure takes into account the interrelationships between the steel processing stages and aims to achieve an optimal end product through hierarchical optimization of the entire process. A special feature of this method is that the existing separation between Level 0, Level 1, and Level 2 is eliminated.

[0008] EP 1 324 165 A2 describes a model-based system that controls the model-based distribution of certain resources, in this case water, within a network. The system is designed to select the optimal water distribution strategy.

[0009] Further prior art is known from the documents EP 3 112 961 A1 and EP 2 407 256 A1.

[0010] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a higher-level automation approach for a metallurgical plant, in particular for an automatic control and / or regulation of a plant for rolling metal products, with which the user or operator can change the optimization goal, in particular with regard to a temporarily different utilization of the plant.

[0011] The object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0012] The method according to the invention is particularly used for flat rolling metal strip in rolling mills with rolling stands. Part of the automation by means of a multi-stage control system comprises the specification of customer order data by a Level 3 system and the use of a pre-calculation of the working parameters of the rolling stands, such as rolling force, rolling speed and work roll bending, by a Level 2 system. These specifications are sent to a fast automation system, the Level 1 system. The Level 1 system first regulates and controls the parameters sent by the Level 2 specification and, through control systems, feedforward controls and manual intervention by the operating personnel, achieves the desired result, namely a metal strip within the flatness and thickness tolerances with stable strip tension. This part of the automation relates exclusively to one operating mode of the rolling mill or plant, in which the quality of the product usually has priority orThe goal is optimization. In this regard, the invention takes a novel, higher-level automation approach.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for the automation and / or control and / or regulation of a metallurgical plant, in particular a plant for rolling metal strips, wherein the plant comprises at least one rolling mill with at least one rolling stand, wherein the method is carried out using a multi-stage control system comprising a Level-1 automation and a Level-2 automation, wherein in the Level-2 automation a pre-calculation of the plant's operating variables takes place in the form of setting values ​​for the Level-1 automation and the method is further carried out using a computer-based prioritization system superordinate to the control system,Wherein the prioritization system performs and / or enables the selection of predefined automation targets for operating the plant with different optimization strategies, and the prioritization system generates optimization specifications according to the selected automation target and passes these on to the Level 1 and / or Level 2 automation.

[0014] The method according to the invention allows at least temporary strategic prioritization of one or more automation goals or optimization goals of the plant, such as CO2 efficiency, energy efficiency, plant productivity, product quality or plant utilization.

[0015] The invention is based on a higher-level automation approach that includes a selection and / or control of various automation goals or various operating scenarios of the system under different prioritizations or under different optimization aspects.

[0016] According to the invention, the selection of the predefined automation targets can be carried out manually by the user and / or automatically based on rules and / or via an expert system and / or with the aid of artificial intelligence.

[0017] In a preferred variant of the method according to the invention, an automatic selection of an automation target is carried out in a rule-based manner depending on recorded and / or measured operating variables from the plant operation, which are transferred from the control system to the prioritization system. For example, the prioritization system can automatically prioritize product quality depending on the measured operating variables of the process recorded by Level 1 Automation (and / or Level 2 and / or Level 3 and / or High Level Control 4.0).

[0018] When operating a rolling mill as a metallurgical plant, operating sizes can be, for example: Level 0 Measured value for the strip temperature Level 0 Measured value for bending force Level 0 Measured value for horizontal displacement of the rolls Level 0 Measured value for stand and / or strip speed Level 0 Measured value for strip thickness Level 0 Measured value for strip width Level 0 Measured value for temperature of the rolling medium, for example the emulsion in the feed and / or return line Level 0 Measured value for pump speed Level 0 Measured value for current measurement Level 0 Measured value for torque measurement Level 0 Measured value for rolling force measurement Level 0 Measured value for lead measurement Level 0 Volume flow measurement of the rolling medium, for example emulsion Level 0 Tension measurement, for example on the operator and / or drive side Level 0 Measurement of the strip and / or coil temperature Level 0 Volume measurement Level 1 Additional values ​​for main drives from a tension control Level 1 Additional values ​​for main drives from a thickness control Level 1 Additional values ​​for main drives from a load redistribution Level 1 Additional values ​​for reference thickness from a load redistribution Level 1 Additional values ​​for hydraulicStand adjustment from a tension control Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from a thickness control Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from a skin pass control Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from a roll eccentricity compensation Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from a friction value pre-control (pre-control of the rolling efficiency as a function of the rolling speed) Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from manual interventions Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from functions for thick coil cores Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from start / stop functions Level 1 additional values ​​for hydraulic stand adjustment from a load redistribution Level 1 additional values ​​for rolling force from manual interventions Level 1 additional values ​​for rolling force from skin pass controls Level 1 additional values ​​for drive torque from pre-controls Level 1 additional values ​​for the cooling quantity(Cooling can be a device intended for the rolls as well as for strip cooling) Level 1 Specifications for the total cooling quantity (Cooling can be a device intended for the rolls as well as for strip cooling) Level 1 Additional values ​​for the lubrication quantity of the roll gap lubrication Level 1 Specifications for the total lubrication quantity of the roll gap lubrication Level 1 Additional values ​​for the cooling pressure (Cooling can be a device intended for the rolls as well as for strip cooling) Level 1 Specifications for the total cooling pressure (Cooling can be a device intended for the rolls as well as for strip cooling) Level 1 Additional values ​​for the lubrication pressure of the roll gap lubrication Level 1 Specifications for the total lubrication pressure of the roll gap lubrication Level 1 Additional values ​​for the cooling spray angle (Cooling can be a device intended for the rolls as well as for strip cooling) Level 1 Specifications for the total cooling spray angle (Cooling can be a device intended for the rolls as well as forStrip cooling) Level 1 Additional values ​​for the lubricating spray angle of the roll gap lubrication Level 1 Specifications of the overall lubricating spray angle of the roll gap lubrication Level 1 Additional values ​​from manual interventions for the infeed pull Level 1 Additional values ​​from manual interventions for the outfeed pull Level 1 Additional values ​​from manual interventions for the inter-stand pull Level 1 Additional values ​​from pilot control functions for the infeed pull Level 1 Additional values ​​from pilot control functions for the outfeed pull (e.g. winding a hard coil core) Level 1 Additional values ​​from pilot control functions for the inter-stand pull (start functions, strategic tension changes) Level 1 Additional values ​​from profile pilot control for roll shifts (shift of the work and / or intermediate roll. A contour grind was applied to the roll to be shifted) Level 1 Additional values ​​from flatness control for roll shifts (shift of the work and / or intermediate roll. A contour grind was applied to the roll to be shifted) Level 1Additional values ​​from manual interventions for roll shifts (shift of the work and / or intermediate roll. A contour grind was applied to the roll to be shifted) Level 1 Additional values ​​from pilot control functions for roll shifts (shift of the work and / or intermediate roll. A contour grind was applied to the roll to be shifted) Level 1 Additional values ​​on the eccentric device for setting the change in the roll gap contour Level 1 Additional values ​​from flatness control for roll bends (work and / or intermediate rolls, or others) Level 1 Additional values ​​from manual interventions for roll bends (work and / or intermediate rolls, or others) Level 1 Additional values ​​from pilot control functions for roll bends (work and / or intermediate rolls or others) Level 1 Additional values ​​from flatness control for differential force and / or differential position adjustment of the hydraulic adjustments Level 1 Additional values ​​from manual interventions for differential forceand / or differential position adjustment of the hydraulic adjustments Level 1 Additional values ​​from pre-control functions for differential force and / or differential position adjustment of the hydraulic adjustments Level 1 Additional values ​​from a differential tension controller for differential force and / or a differential position adjustment of the hydraulic adjustments Level 1 Additional values ​​from a differential force controller for differential force and / or a differential position adjustment of the hydraulic adjustments Level 1 Additional values ​​for flatness target curves Level 1 Overall specification for flatness target curves Level 2 Setting values ​​(see definition of setting values, see below. In addition, further Level 2 values ​​are deliberately listed below) Level 2 Individual results, for example from the thermal calculation Level 2 Adaptation key and / or adaptation results Level 2 Material and / or dimension classification Level 3 Specification values ​​for the type, length and nature of defects Level 3 Specification values ​​for product limitations,for example, tolerances at the end customer Level 3 Specifications for strip properties such as strip module, chemical composition and / or strip strength Level 3 Specifications for strip dimensions, such as inlet width, inlet thickness Level 3 Specifications for the weight and / or length of a coil Level 3 Specifications for the weight and / or length of a section to be rolled Level 3 / Level 2 / Level 1 Information on the coil Diameter of the rolled product and / or a cut defect, for example a so-called pup coil (scrap coil with a small diameter) Process and / or system data and / or trends generated from it from long-term storage, for example from data storage of digitalization, Industry 4.0 Process and / or system data and / or trends generated from it from long-term storage, for example Level 0, Level 1, Level 2 and / or Level 3 data. Level 1 / Level 2 / Level 3 Roll data such as type and material of a roll and / or its surface properties such asRoughness and / or its dimension Industry 4.0 analysis results, for example, the specification of a typical thickness error depending on the acceleration and / or deceleration rate (as the amount of the actual thickness fluctuation around the specified target value); typical thickness error during constant travel for, for example, different material and speed classes (as the amount of the actual thickness fluctuation around the specified target value) Information on the current and / or expected type of energy supply Information on current and / or expected material properties such as dimensions, quality, yield strength and / or chemical composition Information on the current and / or expected costs of the energy supply Information on the current and / or expected costs of the system medium, for example the emulsion. Level of the planned utilization of the system as a current figure and / or as a medium and / or long-term classification, specifications can, for example, be indirectForm about, for example, planned rolling and / or downtimes Information about the hall and outside temperature Information and / or feedback from upstream and / or downstream process steps, for example in the case of the application according to the invention in a cold rolling mill, the information about the process and / or system parameters for a subsequent annealing process and / or finishing, painting, deep drawing and / or information about the process and / or system parameters of the upstream process of the hot finishing train and / or furnace processing Information about current and / or expected operating crew For example, statistical results regarding quality and productivity Plant data For example, the availability of units and / or measuring systems, the maintenance status of at least individual plant areas Hall interior temperature Type of storage before and / or after the process operated in an optimized manner according to the invention For example, location, air temperature,Contact surface, contact surface temperature, is stored hanging or standing, on the floor or on coils Identification numbers and / or identifiers for material classes, coil identification and / or roll identification

[0019] For example, it can also be provided within the scope of the invention that the user manually specifies a specific automation target or operating mode and that this specification is overridden by the prioritization system based on quality criteria that must be strictly adhered to for the end product. Likewise, the control system can, for example, detect or recognize whether electrical energy is being provided during a peak load period or an off-peak period of the grid and then automatically control an appropriate operating mode that takes this into account. Electrical energy is usually cheaper during off-peak times than during peak times. With regard to grid stability, which is desirable from the perspective of the grid operator, it can also be more advantageous to cover the system's increased energy demand during off-peak times of the grid.

[0020] According to the invention, command groups for various automation objectives of the system are generated and / or stored in the prioritization system, and the command groups each include specifications and / or limit values ​​for the setting values. A command group within the meaning of the invention comprises one or more operating variables or parameters of the system to be influenced, which affect one or more system components and / or one or more product quality criteria.

[0021] Setting values ​​for Level 2 automation can be the following for a rolling mill, for example: Level 2 setting values ​​for reference speeds Level 2 setting values ​​for reference thicknesses Level 2 setting values ​​for reference roll gaps Level 2 setting values ​​for reference adjustment positions for the hydraulic roll adjustments Level 2 setting values ​​for reference rolling forces Level 2 setting values ​​for drive torques for the driven rolls Level 2 setting values ​​for advance specifications Level 2 setting values ​​for roll displacement Level 2 setting values ​​for bending systems Level 2 setting values ​​for eccentric adjustment Level 2 setting values ​​for differential force Level 2 setting values ​​for differential position adjustment Level 2 setting values ​​for multi-zone cooling patterns Level 2 setting values ​​for heating patterns for edge heating Level 2 setting values ​​for inductive roll heating Level 2 setting values ​​for flatness target curves Level 2 setting of thermal roll formation Level 2 / Level 3 setting of acceleration rate Level 2 / Level 3 setting of target rolling speed Level 2 / Level 3 Specification of the threading and / or unthreading speed Level 2 / Level 3 Specificationthe cutting speed Level 2 / Level 3 Specification of the speed for passing through defects and weld seams Level 2 Specification values ​​for sensitivities, for example dBection / dstrip thickness, dBection / drolling force, dCVC / dC4, d / Bend / dC2 Level 2 Specification values ​​for system limitations, for example strip tension limitations, torque limits, setting force limits

[0022] The above list is also only exemplary and not exhaustive.

[0023] For the rolling mill, command groups that are optimized for one or more automation objectives or rolling scenarios can be, for example, the following: Changing the target thickness of the metal strip within the tolerance limits (also situation-related, for example in an operating mode with the goal of optimising the quality of the product during the acceleration phases of the metal strip, with a safety factor) Adjusting the target rolling speed Adjusting the cutting / product change rolling speed Adjusting the threading and unthreading rolling speed Changing the acceleration rate of the metal strip Fast threading and unthreading sequences of the metal strip,for example not optimized with regard to the dimension length Adjustment of the values ​​for the target strip thickness in different rolling phases Adjustment of the target strip flatness in different rolling phases Adjustment of the target strip profile in different rolling phases Adjustment of the specified values ​​for the strip tension Shutdown and release of the system Specification of the times planned for a roll change Specification of the tapping mode (optimized with regard to dimension / optimized with regard to throughput) Adjustment of the switchover points for a target value change Adjustment of the ramp lengths for target value changes and product changes Adjustment of the dimensional specifications for the running-in material Adjustment of the emulsion rolling oil quantities / adjustment of the temperature / adjustment of the pressure of the lubricating and / or cooling medium, for example emulsion and / or rolling oil Specification of the warm-up times for the stands Strategy specifications as of which level of a new set value a CVC, (continuously variable crown)Roll pair must be moved (CVC refers to rolls with continuously variable crowning or work rolls for cold rolling flat products, which have a slight, visually imperceptible S-shaped grind and can be moved axially against each other during the rolling process. The aim of this technology is to achieve a constant strip thickness across the strip width). Behavior when rolling defects and weld seams (is it stopped? What speed is selected for passing through? Is the target thickness increased for safe operation? etc.) Specification of the roll roughness Specification of the grind of at least one roll Strategy specifications as of which height a roll pair can be moved in the axial direction that has a contour grind of any type Adjustment of the default values ​​for moving one or more roll pairs in the axial direction that have a contour grind of any type Specification for activation and deactivationof control and / or regulation signals Use or at least partial attenuation of correction signals from control and / or regulation systems Temporary attenuation of the dynamics of various control variables such as bending dynamics, flatness control dynamics, cylinder adjustment dynamics, drive dynamics Active control of various systems in a preferably bearing-friendly area, such as a work roll bend, which in return avoids a bending area that is particularly wear-intensive for the bearing, for example, with a slightly worsened flatness result Specification of the size and position of a bearing-friendly area for, for example, the bending systems, the combination of strip tension and drive torque and rolling torque, the drive acceleration At least temporary and / or situation-dependent increase and / or decrease of the controller dynamics of a strip thickness control At least temporary and / or situation-dependent increaseand or reducing the controller dynamics of a strip width control At least temporarily and or depending on the situation Increasing and or reducing the controller dynamics of a strip profile control At least temporarily and or depending on the situation Increasing and or reducing the controller dynamics of a roll gap profile control At least temporarily and or depending on the situation Increasing and or reducing the controller dynamics of a flatness control At least temporarily and or depending on the situation Increasing and or reducing the controller dynamics of a strip tension control At least temporarily and or depending on the situation Increasing and or reducing the specified horizontal displacement to change the roll gap contour At least temporarily and or depending on the situation Limiting of work variables Specifying the threading-out mode (optimized with regard to dimension / optimized with regard to throughput) Specifying the operating temperature of edge heating Specifying the target temperature of the rolled product Specifying the duration ofRoll warm-up times, for example, using a warm-up mode without strip. Limitation of actuators, hydraulic adjustment, roll bending, roll shifting, roll cooling at least temporarily, so that the actuators cannot travel to the full control stroke. Specification of a speed and / or position from which the thickness change in the strip is carried out. Specification of the ramp length that is used to travel from one target strip thickness to the next target strip thickness. Specification of roll changes. Specification for the operation of individual units such as blow-off devices, inter-stand cooling and / or cameras.

[0024] The above list is also only exemplary and not exhaustive. The command groups mentioned may also occur multiple times, for example, once for each higher-level automation goal.

[0025] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the prioritization system comprises a selection level and an assignment level as automation levels, that the optimization target is determined in the selection level and that in the assignment level, command groups are transferred to the control system based on and / or using work variables recorded by the control system from the operation of the plant

[0026] Preferably, the work variables recorded by the control system from the operation of the plant are transferred to both the selection level and the allocation level.

[0027] The command groups are generated by an expert system and / or with the aid of artificial intelligence and selected according to the prioritization carried out at the selection level and passed on to the control system.

[0028] Various rolling scenarios, each with its own energy efficiency, are envisaged as automation goals. By implementing various rolling scenarios, the plant operator, unlike previously known automation methods, has the additional option of influencing plant behavior according to their current requirements. Furthermore, the inventive approach allows the application of superimposed rules and / or learning systems that automatically control intelligent operation of the various rolling scenarios.

[0029] In an advantageous variant of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the automation goals are selected from a group of automation goals comprising an energy-saving mode, an efficiency mode, a high-performance mode, a mode with optimized (reduced) system wear, which is designed, for example, for an increased service life of the rollers, a mode with reduced oversize length, a commissioning mode, a warm-up mode, an operating mode optimized with regard to the CO2 emissions of the system, various threading and / or unthreading modes and a quality mode.

[0030] Other automation goals could include the following: Eco Mode preferred operation of one or more plants in economically optimized operation Power Mode preferred operation of one or more plants in throughput-optimized operation High Quality preferred operation of one or more plants in quality-optimized operation, for example with improved product quality in the areas of strip width, strip thickness, strip profile and / or strip flatness Reduced Quality Requirements possible operation of one or more plants in operation with reduced quality, for example with high product quality in the areas of strip width, strip thickness, strip profile and / or strip flatness Service life optimized for the plant equipment preferred operation of one or more plants in an operation that is gentle on the plant,for example to increase the service life of the rolls and / or the roll bearing Maximum productivity Operating the system with maximum productivity Minimum productivity Operating the system with minimum productivity Reduced gauge lengths Preferred operation of one or more systems in an operation optimized with regard to the gauge length, for example with improved gauge length in the areas of strip width, strip thickness, strip profile, strip temperature and / or strip flatness Electricity cost optimized Preferred operation of one or more systems in electricity cost optimized operation Gas cost optimized Preferred operation of one or more systems in gas cost optimized operation Energy cost optimized Preferred operation of one or more systems in energy cost optimized operation CO 2 optimized Preferred operation of one or more systems in optimized operation with regard to CO 2 emissions,for example defined as CO2 emissions per tonne of rolling stock Profit-optimised preferred operation of one or more plants in optimised operation with regard to the monetary objectives Commissioning mode preferred operation of one or more plants in commissioning operation, for example tailored to different optimisation phases of a commissioning Temperature mode plant preferred operation of one or more plants in temperature-optimised operation, for example the warm-up phases of a plant and temperature controls of the bearings can be operated in an optimised manner, High performance preferred operation of one or more plants in performance-optimised operation, for example to optimise throughput depending on the sales strategy a) strip metres or b) strip tonnes Continuous mode operation of the plant in as constant a load operation as possible,

[0031] The various operating modes or higher-level automation goals can also be combined and prioritized, for example, so that at least two automation goals are pursued simultaneously, at least temporarily.

[0032] An automatic selection of the automation target can, for example, be made depending on the utilization of the power supply network that provides the power supply to the system.

[0033] The invention is explained below with reference to and based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

[0034] They show: Figure 1 a block diagram illustrating the prioritization system according to the invention and its relationship to the control system, Figure 2 a detailed block diagram of the selection level and the allocation level of the prioritization system and Figure 3an example of the transfer of control specifications or optimization specifications from the prioritization system to a metallurgical control system in the form of a rolling mill.

[0035] In Figure 1The sequence of automatic selection of a predefined automation target for the control and regulation of a rolling mill with a plurality of rolling stands is schematically illustrated. The prioritization system 1 according to the invention comprises a selection level 2 and an assignment level 3. The prioritization system 1 is superordinate to a multi-level control system, two levels of which are illustrated in the drawing: an information level 4 for various rolling scenarios and a command group level 5 for various rolling scenarios. Via the information level 4 of the control system, working variables or operating variables of the rolling process are provided to the selection level 2 of the prioritization system 1. These operating variables can be used as information both for selecting an automation target or a rolling scenario and for selecting the source for rolling scenario selection / prioritization.Permitted sources for selecting an automation target include manual input, rule-based input, input via an expert system, or input using artificial intelligence. Selection can be made using a single selection source or a combination of these sources.

[0036] In the program sequence shown, for example, a preselected combined rolling scenario is provided at selection level 2 which corresponds to an energy-optimised or CO2 emission-optimised automation target. Via information level 4 of the control system, information about the type of energy supply to the plant is provided to selection level 2 of the prioritization system 1. Such information could be, for example, whether the current voltage supply comes from renewable energy sources or whether off-peak or peak-load power is currently available. The rolling mill can now, for example, be operated with priority or be subjected to a higher load if the power supply comes from renewable energies, for example. The user could also call up the production of a coil which was produced using an energy-optimised or CO2-optimised method.

[0037] Based on the selection made at selection level 2, the corresponding command groups are created and / or defined for forwarding to command group level 5 of the control system. Command group creation or definition can also be done manually, rule-based, supported by an expert system, and / or with the help of artificial intelligence. The command groups are passed on to the level 1 and / or level 2 automation of command group level 5.

[0038] For example, the command groups cause target values ​​for the Level 2 system to increase and / or decrease based on the specifications of command group B. After receiving the new target values ​​in the form of command group B, the Level 2 automation calculates a new pass schedule and thus adjusted set values, which can be forwarded to the Level 1 system. The Level 2 system then optionally reports the successful recalculation to the prioritization system 1 via one or more operating variables R from the information level of control system 4. If a recalculation by the Level 2 system, which was carried out taking at least one command group into account, is unsuccessful, this is optionally reported back to the prioritization system 1 via the operating variables R of the information level of control system 4.

[0039] In the event of an unsuccessful Level 2 calculation taking into account at least one command group B of the prioritization system 1, for example because certain plant limitations have been reached, the command group B can, in the case of a rule-based and / or manual specification, be discarded by the Level 2 system and a calculation can be performed using the originally specified target values. As an alternative to discarding the command group B, the Level 2 system can, for example, iteratively search for solution values ​​for a successful calculation. According to the invention, these solution values ​​preferably lie between the originally planned value before the command group was issued and the value changed by the command group B.If an expert system and / or artificial intelligence is used within assignment level 3 of prioritization system 1, prioritization system 1 can optionally actively send one or more correction suggestions based on the operating variable R reported back from information level 4, with which the level 2 calculation is repeated. This correction can be achieved, for example, through iterative changes to command groups B in prioritization system 1.

[0040] Command groups B, which are sent directly to the Level 1 system of the command group level of control system 5, can activate and / or deactivate various systems in addition to optional target variable adjustment and / or parameter switching. Limitations, gains of control systems, and / or specifications for ramp steepness and / or sizes for the dynamic activation of functions and / or control systems can also be specified via command groups B.

[0041] In Figure 2 The functionality of the prioritization system is described in detail. Selection level 2 of the prioritization system is divided into two work areas: the generation of higher-level automation goals (II) and the prioritization of higher-level automation goals (I).

[0042] The generation of higher-level automation goals (II) occurs manually, rule-based, by expert systems, and / or via artificial intelligence. According to the invention, if at least one higher-level automation goal is generated, it is sent to the system for specifying higher-level automation goals (I), where, based on manual input, a prioritization of all generated automation goals A is specified, rule-based, via expert systems, and / or via artificial intelligence.

[0043] The results from these systems (II) and or (I), i.e. the higher-level automation goals A and their prioritization An = priority k are now forwarded to assignment level 3.

[0044] At selection level 2, prioritizations are generated according to the higher-level automation goals A. These higher-level automation goals A can, for example, be entered manually by the operator, according to the invention. For example, the system is preferably operated in a gentle mode if a roll change needs to be delayed. According to the invention, the prioritization of higher-level automation goals (I) can also be specified via rule sets. For example, if an end customer orders a green coil or the power supply is in a peak load phase, the system can then automatically be operated in an ECO mode as higher-level automation goal A with priority 1.

[0045] A further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention provides for the generation of the higher-level automation goals A by expert systems and / or by artificial intelligence via the generation of higher-level automation goals (II) of the selection level 2 of the prioritization system 1. In this case, one or more boundary conditions based on the operating variables R can be taken into account.

[0046] For example, the following goals can be pursued: Optimization of overall capacity utilization based on a cross-plant, overarching approach. Optimized roll change planning based on current roll grinding shop capacities. Optimized plant operation taking into account current rolling medium price trends.

[0047] Through this inventive use of the prioritization system 1 and the selection level 2, in addition to the optimized operation of the systems, higher-level tests and analysis processes can also be carried out, such as a cross-site quality comparison.

[0048] The command groups can be created manually, rule-based, by expert systems and / or by AI systems via the command group generation (J) from Figure 2 be specified.

[0049] The Figure 3 shows an example of the integration of the inventive specifications of scene-based automation goals into a metallurgical control system.

[0050] The control system shown consists of several levels: a higher-level production planning system, referred to as the MES system, a setpoint computer, referred to as the Level 2 system, a system for executing control and regulation tasks, referred to as the Level 1 system, and a plant visualization system, referred to as the HMI system. The control system shown is linked to the plant via sensors and actuators.

[0051] The inventive prioritization system 1, in Figure 3 designated "Scenario Control", includes the previously described selection level 2 and assignment level 3.

[0052] The higher-level prioritization system 1 is designed to exchange data with one or more levels of the process automation control system. The data exchange includes both the receipt of operating variables R, which are sent from the control system to prioritization system 1, and the transmission of command groups B from prioritization system 1 to the control system.

[0053] The Level 1 system of the control system includes a direct communication connection with the system, i.e. the sensors and actuators.

[0054] If Prioritization System 1 sends a command group B to the Level 2 system, the specifications sent from the Level 2 system to the Level 1 system can be adjusted, which further affects the control of the system's actuators by the Level 1 system. The installed sensors can record the effects of the transmitted command group B via measured values ​​from the process. These directly measured operating variables R and / or operating variables R processed by the control system are sent to Prioritization System 1.

[0055] The data exchange of command groups B and / or operating variables R can take place at least temporarily between all levels of the control system and / or between individual levels of the control system and the prioritization system 1.

[0056] Both the control system and Prioritization System 1 can be connected to a plant visualization system, a so-called HMI system. This connection enables manual input to Prioritization System 1 via the HMI system.

[0057] Manual specifications can be, for example: command groups, impact groups, impact group assignment, automation goals and / or the prioritization of automation goals.

[0058] In addition to the option of manual input, variables from the control system and / or prioritization system 1 can be displayed in the HMI system. Variables from prioritization system 1 displayed in the HMI system can be, for example, automation targets A, command groups B, and / or effect groups W.

[0059] Impact groups W refer to the effects of a deployed command group B. Each command group B can be assigned to one or more impact groups W. These impact groups W can also occur multiple times, e.g., once for each command group B. Impact groups can be, for example: Reduction of rolling time by increasing the target thickness ∘ Case a1) Increase in productivity when sold per ton ∘ Case b1) Reduction in productivity when sold per strip meter Reduction of the CO 2 load Reduced energy requirement per rolled ton Energy savings by reducing the offtake and thus the rolling performance Protection of the plant through lower load on the stands and the drive trains Increase in the thickness deviation during constant travel Increase in the thickness deviation during plant acceleration Increase in the thickness deviation during plant deceleration Reduction in throughput Increase in throughput Depending on the pass schedule, case a2) Improvement in plant efficiency ∘ Reduction in the CO 2 load ∘ Reduced energy requirement Depending on the pass schedule, case b2) Deterioration in plant efficiency ∘ Increased CO 2 load ∘ Increased energy requirement Case a3) Increasing the off-size length for high-strength grades Case b3) No impact on off-size length Case a4) Improvement in the thickness andor flatness quality Case b4) Deterioration of thickness and / or flatness quality Increased safety when passing through defects, weld seams, etc. Reduced safety when passing through defects, weld seams, etc. Reduction of plant costs per rolled tonne Dependent on pass schedule, Case a5) Improvement of plant efficiency ∘ Reduction of CO2 load ∘ Reduced energy demand Dependent on pass schedule, Case b5) Deterioration of plant efficiency ∘ Increased CO2 load ∘ Increased energy demand Risky passing through defects, weld seams, etc. Lower maximum rolling speed possible Lower consumption of the media pumps Lower wear of the operating pumps Reduced wear of plant components, for example the roll surface and / or the chocks of the bending systems At least temporarily deteriorated strip flatness At least temporarily improved strip flatness At least temporarily deteriorated strip tension At least temporarily improved strip tension At leasttemporarily worsened strip thickness at least temporarily improved strip thickness at least temporarily worsened strip roughness at least temporarily improved strip roughness at least temporarily worsened strip temperature at least temporarily improved strip temperature at least temporarily worsened strip cleanliness at least temporarily improved strip cleanliness at least temporarily worsened strip profile at least temporarily improved strip profile at least temporarily worsened strip width at least temporarily improved strip width at least temporarily worsened strip tension at least temporarily improved strip tension Increased wear on at least one roll Reduced wear on at least one roll More wear-intensive Gentle operation of the system Reduction of the reel runout Increase in the reel runout Reduction in the noise level of the system Specification of an automation target A

[0060] Command groups of Prioritization System 1 are preferably sent to modules. These modules are in the Figure 2 In the control system, Level 1 is designated with the identifier ML1. Modules at Level 1 can, for example, be individual or group functions.

[0061] Additional modules are designated ML2 in the control system for Level 2. Modules at Level 2 can be process modules, for example.

[0062] Additional modules are designated MM in the control system for the MES level. Modules in the MES level can be, for example, planning modules.

[0063] The effect group assignment (L) describes the assignment of the command groups B and the effect groups W to a given automation target A.

[0064] These impact group assignments from module (L) in Figure 2can also occur multiple times, e.g. once for each higher-level automation target (A) and / or for each command group B and / or for each effect group W. Effect group assignments can be, for example: (V) = advantageous (N) = disadvantageous (n) = neutral (V)(Z) = advantageous, weighted (N)(Z) = disadvantageous, weighted

[0065] For example, there is a higher-level automation goal A1 and a second higher-level automation goal A2, specified via the generation of the automation goals (II).

[0066] Furthermore, a first command group B1 and a second command group B2 are specified via the command group generation (J).

[0067] Furthermore, an impact group W1 and a second impact group W2 are specified via the impact group generation (K).

[0068] A simplest form of the effect group assignment according to the invention is an assignment, measured against the given automation goal A1, A2, in (V) for a beneficial effect, in (N) for a detrimental effect and or in (n) for an effect of the command group that is to be regarded as neutral with respect to the higher-level automation goal.

[0069] Thus, for example, the following assignments could be set. A 1 , B 1 , W 1 = V A 1 , B 2 , W 1 = N A 1 , B 2 , W 2 = n A 2 , B 1 , W 1 = N A 2 , B 2 , W 1 = n A 2 , B 2 , W 2 = V

[0070] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, additional weighting criteria (Z) can be introduced into the impact group assignments (L). This can be done manually, rule-based, via expert systems, and / or using artificial intelligence.

[0071] In their simplest form, weighting criteria (Z) can be factors with which an impact group W is classified as, for example, particularly advantageous or only slightly advantageous for a specific overarching automation goal A.

[0072] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, weighting criteria (Z) can be changed at least temporarily based on operating variables R. Thus, for different plant states, rolling modes, pass schedules and / or other changed boundary conditions, the fulfillment of the higher-level automation goals can be optimally adapted to the respective situation. The results of the effect group assignments (L) and / or the weighting criteria (Z) form the basic information for the decision as to whether one or more command groups are issued. Thus, the variables (L), (Z), (I) and / or (II) are fed to the module for command group activation (M1) (M11).

[0073] A concrete application example for the automation goal "Maximum productivity" on a hot mill can include the following steps: Command group control: 1. Setting a high volume for supply systems, for example compressed air and cooling media 2. Permitting a low limit for the furnace outlet temperature 3. Permitting maximum acceleration rates and speeds at the scale breaker 4. Permitting maximum acceleration rates and speeds at the roughing mill 5. Permitting maximum acceleration rates and speeds for rolling and reversing 6. Setting the maximum cooling quantity 7. Using the maximum speed for gap adjustment 8. Early, high-frequency feeding of the slabs into the rolling mill 9. Permitting maximum acceleration rates and speeds at the finishing train 10. Control of the maximum cooling quantity 11. Setting a maximum speed for given restrictions 12. Permitting the strip to be fed in from the following strip with a minimum gap after the current strip leaves a first rolling stand

[0074] The command group control for the automation goal "Minimal Productivity" can be as follows: 1. Setting a low volume for supply systems, for example compressed air and cooling media 2. Setting the maximum furnace outlet temperature 3. Setting the maximum acceleration rates and speeds on the scale breaker 4. Limiting the maximum acceleration rates and speeds on the roughing mill 5. Permitting low acceleration rates and speeds for rolling and reversing 6. Setting the minimum cooling quantity 7. Gap setting with reduced speed 8. Feeding the subsequent slabs into the rolling mill in a reduced cycle sequence 9. Reducing the acceleration rates and speeds on the finishing train 10. Controlling the minimum possible cooling quantity 11. Setting appropriate upper speed limits according to the given restrictions Allowing the strip to be fed in from the following strip only after the rolling process of the current strip has been completed List of reference symbols

[0075] 1Prioritization system 2Selection level of the prioritization system 3Assignment level of the prioritization system 4Information level of the control system 5Command group level of the control system A1-AnAutomation targets B1-BnCommand groups ROperating variables W1-WnImpact groups

Claims

1. Method for automation of a plant for the rolling of metal strips, comprising at least one rolling train with at least one roll stand, wherein the method is performed with use of a multi-stage control system comprising at least a level 1 automation and a level 2 automation, wherein advance computation of work variables of the plant in the form of set-point values for the level 1 automation is carried out in the level 2 automation, wherein the level 1 system controls the variables sent by the level 2 presetting, wherein selection of a predetermined automation target for operation of the plant with a superordinate optimisation strategy is undertaken with use of a prioritisation system (1) superordinate to the control system and the prioritisation system (1) generates optimisation presets in correspondence with the selected automation target and transfers these to the level 1 and / or level 2 automation, characterised in that command groups for different automation targets are generated in the prioritisation system (1), the command groups each comprise presets and / or limit values for the set-point values, the prioritisation system (1) comprises a selection plane (2) and an assignment plane (3) as automation plane, the automation target is fixed and / or prepared in the selection plane (2), command groups are transferred to the control system in the assignment plane (3) on the basis of and / or with use of work variables, which are detected by the control system, from the operation of the plant, the command groups are generated by way of an expert system and / or with the assistance of artificial intelligence and are selected in correspondence with the prioritisation carried out in the selection plane (2) and transferred to the control system, and different scenarios for operation of a rolling train are provided as automation target.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the selection of the predetermined automation targets is carried out manually by way of the user and / or automatically based on rules and / or by way of an expert system and / or with the help of artificial intelligence.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that an automatic selection of an automation target based on rules is carried out in dependence on detected and / or measured operating variables, which are transferred by the control system to the prioritisation system (1), from the operation of the plant.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that work variables, which are detected by the control system, from the operation of the plant are transferred to both the selection plane (2) and the assignment plane (3).

5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the automation targets are selected from a group of automation targets comprising at least an energy-saving mode, an efficiency mode, a high-performance mode, a mode with optimised plant wear, a mode with reduced dimensional length, a mode of placing in operation, a heating-up mode, an operating mode optimised with respect to CO2 emissions of the plant, different modes of threading in and taking out and a quality mode.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that an automatic selection of the automation target is carried in dependence on the capacity utilisation of the current supply mains providing the voltage supply of the plant.