Energy saving support system for rolling plants

Abstract

An energy saving support system according to the present invention extracts and presents candidate apparatuses with potential for energy saving from among multiple electric motors installed in multiple rolling apparatuses in a rolling plant. The energy saving support system includes a data storage device and a data processing device. The data processing device extracts from the data storage device operating performance data and specification data for each of the multiple target apparatuses currently operating at a fixed speed; calculates an actual energy consumption value for each of the multiple target apparatuses; simulates conversion of each of the multiple target apparatuses to variable speed operation so as to calculate a predicted energy consumption value for each of the multiple target apparatuses when the variable speed operation is implemented; determines the effectiveness of the variable speed operation; and presents certified target apparatuses for which the variable speed operation is determined to be effective as candidate apparatuses.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an energy-saving support system for a calendering plant. More specifically, this invention relates to an energy-saving support system that identifies and highlights candidate devices with potential for energy saving from among a plurality of electric motors installed in a plurality of calendering machines. Prior Technology

[0002] Steel mills, non-ferrous metal mills, and other rolling mills typically possess multiple rolling equipment, such as roughing mills, finishing mills, cooling devices, and winding machines. To perform functions such as rolling, cooling, and sliding, each rolling mill is equipped with multiple main equipment and multiple auxiliary equipment. The main equipment is the equipment installed to perform the aforementioned functions of the rolling mill, while the auxiliary equipment is the equipment installed to perform the functions of the main equipment. Each rolling mill is equipped with multiple electric motors that drive these main and auxiliary equipment. These electric motors drive devices such as conveying rollers, fans, pumps, and compressors. Taking a finishing mill as an example, to perform the function of a finishing mill that performs finishing rolling of the rolled material, a main equipment electric motor (hereinafter also referred to as the "main motor") is provided to drive the rolling rollers. Furthermore, to perform the function of the main equipment that drives the rolling rollers, the finishing mill is equipped with an electric motor for a cooling device (auxiliary equipment) that cools the main motor (hereinafter also referred to as the "auxiliary equipment motor").

[0003] Here, among the motors provided in the plurality of rolling mills, there are also motors that belong to both the main equipment and the auxiliary equipment without being biased towards either the main equipment or the auxiliary equipment. That is, among the plurality of rolling mills, there are also motors that are difficult to classify as either the main equipment or the auxiliary equipment.

[0004] To achieve the required functions, the motors in auxiliary equipment often operate at a fixed speed regardless of the operating conditions of the calendering equipment and the main equipment. Similarly, the motors in the main equipment may also operate at a fixed speed regardless of the operating conditions of the calendering equipment. When the motors operate at a fixed speed, this can lead to over-operation for the required functions, resulting in the consumption of excess energy.

[0005] In this regard, energy conservation in calendering plants can be achieved by allowing the motor to operate at variable speeds based on the operating conditions of the calendering equipment. For example, Patent Document 1 below applies a variable speed drive device to at least one motor that drives a water supply pump based on the operating conditions of the descaling device. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 below performs variable speed control of motors driving water-cooled pumps, cooling fans, etc., based on an operating model (operating conditions) set from the predicted value of the load rate (operating conditions) of the variable speed drive device. [Previous Technical Documents] [Patent Literature]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 6819627 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 6611194 Summary of the Invention

[0007] [The problem the invention aims to solve] Here, the number of motors installed in multiple rolling mills is very large, especially the number of motors installed in multiple auxiliary equipment, which is usually more than 100, and sometimes as many as 500. If energy saving is reviewed for each motor individually, considering its characteristics (i.e., reviewing energy saving for each motor one by one), it will take a lot of time and will not be able to efficiently save energy in the rolling mill.

[0008] This invention was made to solve the problems described above. The object of this invention is to provide an energy-saving potential diagnostic system for auxiliary equipment in a calendering plant, which identifies and suggests candidate equipment with potential for energy saving from a plurality of motors, in order to efficiently reduce energy consumption in calendering plants. [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0009] The first aspect of this invention relates to an energy-saving support system, which identifies and suggests candidate devices with potential for energy saving from a plurality of electric motors in a plurality of rolling mills located in a rolling mill. The energy-saving support system comprises: a data storage device for storing operational performance data and specification data of each of the plurality of rolling mills and electric motors; and a data processing device for processing the operational performance data and specification data. The data processing device is configured to perform the following processes: identify a plurality of target devices operating at a fixed speed from a plurality of motors; extract the operating performance data and specification data of each of the plurality of target devices from a data storage device; use the operating performance data and specification data of each of the plurality of target devices to calculate the actual energy consumption value of each of the plurality of target devices; simulate variable speed operation of each of the plurality of target devices and calculate the predicted energy consumption value of each of the plurality of target devices when performing variable speed operation; compare the actual energy consumption value with the predicted energy consumption value for each of the plurality of target devices to determine the effectiveness of variable speed operation; and identify the target devices among the plurality of target devices that are determined to be effective in variable speed operation as candidate devices.

[0010] The second viewpoint, compared to the first, has the following additional characteristics: the operational performance data includes operational command performance values ​​for a plurality of motors. The data processing device is configured to further perform the following processing: based on the operational command performance values, motors among the plurality of motors that do not have the possibility of variable speed operation are identified as exception devices. The simulation is performed on a plurality of target devices excluding the exception devices.

[0011] The third viewpoint has the following additional features compared to the first viewpoint: the data processing device is configured to perform the following processing: using the actual energy consumption value and the predicted energy consumption value of the identified equipment, calculate the energy consumption reduction cost caused by variable speed operation; calculate the equipment modification cost required for variable speed operation of the identified equipment; using the energy consumption reduction cost and the equipment modification cost, calculate the payback period for the equipment modification cost; and display the energy consumption reduction cost, equipment modification cost, and payback period together with the candidate equipment.

[0012] The fourth viewpoint has the following additional feature compared to any of the first to third viewpoints: the operational performance data includes the timing data of the operational command performance values ​​for a plurality of motors. The data processing device is configured to perform the following processing: identify a plurality of additional target devices that operate at variable speeds from a plurality of motors; extract the operating performance data and specification data of the plurality of additional target devices from a data storage device; calculate the energy consumption performance value of the plurality of additional target devices using the operating performance data and specification data of each of the plurality of additional target devices; generate an operating command value that is different from the operating command performance value of the plurality of additional target devices; simulate the plurality of additional target devices with the operating command value and calculate the predicted energy consumption value of the plurality of additional target devices; compare the energy consumption performance value with the predicted energy consumption value for each of the plurality of additional target devices to determine the validity of the operating command value of the plurality of additional target devices; and identify the additional target devices whose operating command values ​​are determined to be valid as candidate devices.

[0013] The fifth viewpoint, which is based on any of the first to third viewpoints, further has the following characteristics: the data processing device is configured to further perform the following processing: after a predetermined time elapsed from the time when the energy consumption performance values ​​of each of the plurality of object devices are calculated, recalculate the current energy consumption performance values ​​of each of the plurality of object devices; and display the difference between the recalculated energy consumption performance values ​​of each of the plurality of object devices and the previously calculated energy consumption performance values. [Effects of the invention]

[0014] According to the first point of view, candidate equipment with potential for energy saving can be selected from a large number of motors. Since the responsible personnel who receive the selection can review the energy saving of the candidate equipment, the energy saving of the rolling mill can be carried out more efficiently than reviewing the energy saving of each motor individually.

[0015] According to the second viewpoint, excluding exceptional devices from the objects of simulation can shorten the simulation time.

[0016] According to the third perspective, the cost-benefit analysis of equipment modification can be presented along with the candidate equipment. The responsible personnel receiving this feedback can then consider the cost-benefit analysis of the equipment modification and decide which energy-saving candidate equipment to review from among several options.

[0017] According to the fourth viewpoint, multiple additional object devices that operate at variable speeds can also be included in the simulated object.

[0018] According to the fifth point of view, it can be pointed out that the electric motor consumes more energy due to years of deterioration. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a steel plant's rolling production line, showing the energy-saving support system implemented in implementation type 1. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system in implementation type 1. Figure 3 shows a specific example of a simulation of variable speed operation. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system in implementation type 2. Figure 5 shows the actual operating performance of the exceptional equipment. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system in implementation type 3. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system in implementation type 4. Figure 8 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the data processing device in an energy-saving support system. Implementation

[0020] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, will illustrate an example of the energy-saving support system of the present invention being applied to a steel mill in a rolling mill. In these drawings, identical or equal parts are marked with the same symbols, and repeated descriptions are simplified or omitted as appropriate.

[0021] Implementation Type 1 Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the rolling production line 2 of a steel plant using the energy-saving support system 1 of implementation type 1. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the energy-saving support system 1 of implementation type 1.

[0022] The steel plant includes: a rolling production line 2 for rolling rolled material 20, which will become rolled products; a control system 3 for controlling the rolling production line 2; and a display device 4.

[0023] The calendering production line 2 is equipped with a plurality of calendering machines. Examples of the main calendering machines include, for instance, a heating furnace 21, a rough calender 22, a fine calender 23, a cooling device 24, and a winding machine 25. The calendered material 20 is passed through these calendering machines, where it is sequentially heated, processed, cooled, and wound to ultimately produce a finished product. To achieve functions such as calendering, cooling, sliding, and driving, these plurality of calendering machines 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 are equipped with a plurality of main equipment 221, 231, and 251 and a plurality of auxiliary equipment 211, 212, 222, 232, 241, 242, and 252. Each of the multiple main equipment 221, 231, 251 and the multiple auxiliary equipment 211, 212, 222, 232, 241, 242, 252 is equipped with electric motors (also referred to as "drive equipment") 211a to 252a, such as those driving conveying rollers, fans, pumps, and compressors. That is, each of the multiple calendering machines 21 to 25 is equipped with a multiple electric motor 211a to 252a. Each of the multiple calendering machines and each of the multiple electric motors is controlled separately by the operation command values ​​transmitted by the control system 3. The operation command performance values, which are time-series data of the operation command values ​​at regular intervals, are stored in the data storage device 11 as operation performance data.

[0024] The rolling production line 2 is equipped with a plurality of sensors. The operational performance data measured by these plurality of sensors is stored in the data storage device 11.

[0025] The energy-saving support system 1 includes a data storage device 11 and a data processing device 12. The data storage device 11 includes, for example, magnetic disks such as HDDs, optical disks such as DVDs, and flash memory storage devices such as SSDs. Here, the data storage device 11 may also be configured to have one or more databases.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the data storage device 11 stores the operating performance data of the calendering equipment and the motor, the specification data of the calendering equipment and the motor, the actual energy consumption value and predicted energy consumption value of the target equipment (described later), and the candidate equipment and the identified target equipment (described later). The operating performance data includes the actual operating command values ​​of each of the calendering equipment and the motor. The specification data includes information about the capabilities (e.g., acceleration and deceleration capabilities), limitations, etc., of each of the calendering equipment and the motor, the relationship between the calendering equipment and the motor (including the relationship between the main equipment and auxiliary equipment), and reference tables and mathematical models describing the input and output responses of each of the calendering equipment and the motor. The data storage device 11 also stores the results obtained by processing by the various parts of the data processing device 12 (described later).

[0027] The data processing device 12 includes: a data extraction unit 121, a data consumption performance value calculation unit 122, a data consumption prediction value calculation unit 123, a variable speed operation effectiveness judgment unit 124, and a candidate equipment prompt unit 125.

[0028] The data extraction unit 121 analyzes the operational performance data of the rolling mill equipment and the electric motors, and identifies a plurality of target devices (target motors) that operate at a fixed speed from among a plurality of electric motors. The plurality of target devices includes electric motors installed in a plurality of main equipment and electric motors installed in a plurality of auxiliary equipment. The data extraction unit 121 extracts the operational performance data and specification data of each of the identified plurality of target devices. The data extraction unit 121 transmits the extracted operational performance data and specification data to the energy consumption performance value calculation unit 122 and the energy consumption prediction value calculation unit 123.

[0029] The energy consumption performance value calculation unit 122 uses the operating performance data and specification data of a plurality of target devices to calculate the energy consumption performance value of each of the plurality of target devices. That is, the energy consumption performance value calculation unit 122 calculates the energy consumption performance value of each of the plurality of target devices when operating at a fixed speed.

[0030] The energy consumption prediction calculation unit 123 uses the operational performance data and specifications of a plurality of target equipment to simulate variable-speed operation of the plurality of target equipment and calculates the predicted energy consumption of the plurality of target equipment when variable-speed operation is performed. The simulation system generates a virtual operation command value model that enables variable-speed operation of the plurality of target equipment. Taking into account the operational performance data of the target equipment, the capabilities and limitations of the target equipment contained in the specifications, and the relationships between related rolling mills, the virtual operation command value is generated simply and concretely. The generated virtual operation command value model includes the start and end times for executing variable-speed operation.

[0031] Figure 3 shows a specific example of a simulation of variable speed operation. In this example, the calendering equipment is a fine calender 23, and the target equipment is the auxiliary equipment motor of the cooling device (auxiliary equipment) that cools the main motor (motor of the main equipment) that drives the calendering rolls. The auxiliary equipment motor is a drive device that drives the heat exchanger, fan, etc. of the cooling device. In order to control the temperature of the main motor at a target value (e.g., below 100 degrees Celsius), the auxiliary equipment motor of the target equipment operates at a constant speed (see Figure 3) as shown in the "Target Equipment Operation Performance" in Figure 3. The temperature of the main motor operating at such a constant speed is also shown in the "Calendering Equipment Temperature Performance" in Figure 3 and is stored in the data storage device 11 as performance data of the calendering equipment. As shown in the "Calendering Equipment Operation Performance" in Figure 3, the calendering equipment and the main motor operate intermittently according to the changing load performance. As shown in the "Calendering Equipment Temperature Performance" above, the temperature performance of the calendering equipment does not maintain a high level of temperature constant relative to the target value. Therefore, there is still a possibility to reduce energy consumption by operating the auxiliary motor of the target equipment with variable speed. The virtual operation command value (simulation) is a virtual operation command value model generated by simulating the variable speed operation of the auxiliary motor. Based on the actual operating performance of the calendering equipment and the main motor, and considering the rule that even if the target equipment is stopped during the calendering equipment's shutdown period, the temperature of the main motor driving the calendering equipment will not exceed the target value, this virtual operation command value model is generated considering reasonable constraints for the target equipment to operate during the calendering equipment and main motor's shutdown periods, and the acceleration and deceleration capabilities included in the target equipment's specifications. The calendering equipment temperature (simulation) is the predicted temperature of the main motor driving the calendering equipment when the target equipment is operated with variable speed according to the virtual operation command value model. If the generated predicted value does not reach the target value (below 100 degrees), the virtual operation command value for the target equipment is regenerated, or the variable speed operation of the target equipment is stopped.

[0032] Here, since the operating conditions of a steel plant, and even the operating commands of each rolling mill, vary depending on the type (steel grade) of the rolled material and products being processed, the production plan including production intervals, and weather conditions such as temperature, it is preferable to take these operating conditions into account when generating the virtual operating command value model. It is even better to use actual operating data from rolling mills under similar operating conditions to generate the virtual operating command value model.

[0033] The energy consumption prediction calculation unit 123 calculates the predicted energy consumption of a plurality of target devices when they are operated at variable speed using virtual operation command values.

[0034] The variable speed operation effectiveness judgment unit 124 compares the actual energy consumption value calculated by the actual energy consumption value calculation unit 122 with the predicted energy consumption value calculated by the predicted energy consumption value calculation unit 123 for each of the plurality of target equipment to determine the effectiveness of the variable speed operation. The variable speed operation effectiveness judgment unit 124 determines whether the related rolling mill equipment has achieved the control target and whether energy consumption reduction has been achieved through variable speed operation.

[0035] The candidate device prompting unit 125 selects from a plurality of target devices the identified target device (identified target motor) that is valid for variable speed operation and prompts it on the display device 4 as a candidate device (candidate motor).

[0036] As explained above, according to this embodiment, candidate devices with potential for energy saving can be selected from the numerous motors installed in multiple rolling mills and displayed on the display device 4. Since the responsible personnel 5 who receive the notification can review the energy saving of the candidate devices, energy saving in the steel plant can be achieved more efficiently than reviewing the energy saving of each of the numerous motors individually (i.e., reviewing the energy saving of each of the numerous motors one by one). Generally speaking, the number of motors in auxiliary equipment operating at a fixed speed is greater than the number of motors in main equipment operating at a fixed speed. Therefore, considering that a number of candidate devices with potential for energy saving can be selected from the numerous motors in the auxiliary equipment installed in multiple rolling mills, this is more advantageous than the prior art.

[0037] Implementation Type 2 The above-described implementation type 1 simulates all of the multiple target devices, but these multiple target devices may include those that are not suitable for variable speed operation. From the perspective of reducing computational load, it is preferable to exclude the target devices that are not suitable for variable speed operation from the simulation.

[0038] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system 1 in Embodiment 2. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the operating performance of the exception equipment. The difference between the energy-saving support system 1 shown in Figure 4 and Embodiment 1 is that it includes an exception equipment determination unit 126.

[0039] The exception equipment determination unit 126 analyzes the operational performance data of a plurality of target equipment and determines the target equipment (exceptional motor) that operates intermittently for a relatively short period of time, as shown in Figure 5. Since the target equipment operating intermittently is considered to have no possibility of reducing energy consumption through variable speed operation, there is no point in simulating it. Regarding the method for determining exception equipment, a threshold value can be appropriately set, for example, for the time between operation and stop, and the number of times the threshold value is exceeded within a certain period can be calculated. When the calculated number exceeds another threshold value, it is determined to be exception equipment. The energy consumption prediction calculation unit 123 simulates the plurality of target equipment that excludes the exception equipment determined by the exception equipment determination unit 126.

[0040] As explained above, in this embodiment, since the exception device is excluded from the simulation, the simulation time can be shortened.

[0041] Implementation Type 3 Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system 1 in Embodiment 3. The difference between the energy-saving support system 1 shown in Figure 6 and Embodiment 1 is that it has an equipment modification cost-benefit calculation unit 127.

[0042] The Equipment Modification Cost-Benefit Calculation Unit 127 calculates the cost-benefit of equipment modification (motor modification cost-benefit) for the identified equipment. Specifically, the Equipment Modification Cost-Benefit Calculation Unit 127 uses the actual and predicted energy consumption values ​​of the identified equipment to calculate the energy consumption reduction cost resulting from variable speed operation. The Equipment Modification Cost-Benefit Calculation Unit 127 also calculates the equipment modification cost (equipment investment) required for variable speed operation of the identified equipment. Furthermore, the Equipment Modification Cost-Benefit Calculation Unit 127 uses the energy consumption reduction cost and the equipment modification cost (motor modification cost) to calculate the payback period for the equipment modification cost. The Candidate Equipment Display Unit 125 displays the energy consumption reduction cost, equipment modification cost, and payback period calculated by the Equipment Modification Cost-Benefit Calculation Unit 127, along with the candidate equipment, on the display device 4.

[0043] As explained above, according to this implementation model, the cost-benefit analysis of equipment modification can be presented along with the candidate equipment. The responsible personnel receiving this presentation can consider the cost-benefit analysis to decide which candidate equipment to review for energy conservation. Here, by presenting the candidate equipment with the greatest cost-benefit analysis first, the responsible personnel can easily conduct the review.

[0044] Implementation Type 4 Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the energy-saving support system 1 in Embodiment 4. The energy-saving support system 1 shown in Figure 7 differs from Embodiment 1 in that it includes an operation command value validity determination unit 128. Embodiment 1 uses a plurality of motors operating at a fixed speed as the target devices. In contrast, in this embodiment, a plurality of motors operating at variable speeds are used as a plurality of additional target devices (additional target motors), and in addition to the aforementioned target devices, additional target devices are also used as simulated objects.

[0045] As shown in Figure 7, the data extraction unit 121 analyzes the operating performance data of the calendering equipment and a plurality of motors to identify a plurality of additional target equipment that will operate at variable speeds from among the plurality of motors. The data extraction unit 121 extracts the operating performance data and specification data of the plurality of additional target equipment from the data storage device 11. The energy consumption performance value calculation unit 122 calculates the energy consumption performance value of the plurality of additional target equipment using the operating performance data and specification data of each of the plurality of additional target equipment. The energy consumption prediction value calculation unit 123 generates an operation command value that differs from the operating command performance value of each of the plurality of additional target equipment, and simulates each of the plurality of additional target equipment using the operation command value to calculate the predicted energy consumption value of each of the plurality of additional target equipment. The operation command value validity judgment unit 128 compares the energy consumption performance value with the predicted energy consumption value for each of the plurality of additional target equipment to determine the validity of the operation command value of each of the plurality of additional target equipment. The candidate device prompting unit 125 selects the additional target device (additional target motor) that is determined to have a valid operation command value from among a plurality of additional target devices and prompts it on the display device 4 as a candidate device.

[0046] As explained above, in this embodiment, multiple additional object devices that operate at variable speeds can also be included in the simulated object.

[0047] Implementation Type 5 The above-described implementation type 1 provides candidate devices based on a single simulation of a plurality of target devices. Here, as the target devices deteriorate over time, energy consumption may increase. For example, if the pressure generated by a deteriorated motor falls below a critical value, the energy supplied to the motor will be increased to bring the pressure back to the critical value.

[0048] In this embodiment, the energy consumption performance calculation unit 122 recalculates the current energy consumption performance of each of the plurality of target devices after a predetermined time has elapsed since the initial calculation of the energy consumption performance performance of each of the plurality of target devices. The candidate device prompting unit 125 displays the difference between the recalculated energy consumption performance of each of the plurality of target devices and the previously calculated energy consumption performance performance on the display device 4. The candidate device prompting unit 125 may also prompt the display device 4 to indicate a target device whose difference exceeds a threshold value as a candidate device.

[0049] As explained above, this implementation model can alert personnel to motors whose energy consumption has increased due to years of deterioration. Upon receiving this alert, the responsible personnel can repair or replace the motor to achieve energy savings.

[0050] Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the data processing device 12 of the energy-saving support system 1. The aforementioned functions of the data processing device 12 can be implemented by the processing circuit 120 shown in Figure 8. This processing circuit 120 may include dedicated hardware 120a. This processing circuit 120 may also have a processor 120b and memory 120c. Alternatively, a portion of the processing circuit 120 may be formed as dedicated hardware 120a and may also have a processor 120b and memory 120c. The example shown in Figure 8 is where a portion of the processing circuit 120 is formed as dedicated hardware 120a, and the processing circuit 120 also has a processor 120b and memory 120c. The processing circuit 120 may also be at least one dedicated hardware 120a. In this case, the processing circuit 120 is equivalent to, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a flattened programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. The processing circuit 120 may also have at least one processor 120b and at least one memory 120c. At this time, the various functions of the data processing device 12 are implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and firmware are described as programs and stored in memory 120c. The processor 120b reads and executes the programs stored in memory 120c to implement the various functions of the data processing device 12. The processor 120b may also be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU), processing device, arithmetic device, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. Memory 120c is equivalent to non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM. Thus, the processing circuit 120 can implement the various functions of the data processing device 12 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0051] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the contents of the above plurality of embodiments can also be appropriately combined and implemented.

[0052] In the above embodiments, when the number, quantity, amount, or range of each element is mentioned, unless otherwise explicitly stated or clearly defined in principle, the present invention is not limited to the mentioned quantity. Furthermore, the structures described in the above embodiments are not necessarily essential elements of the present invention unless otherwise explicitly stated or clearly defined in principle.

[0053] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is based on the case of applying the energy-saving support system 1 of the present invention to a steel plant, but the energy-saving support system 1 can also be applied to non-steel plants.

[0054] Furthermore, the above implementation is illustrated using the case where candidate devices are displayed on display device 4 as an example, but candidate devices can also be displayed on a report.

[0055] 1: Energy-saving support system 2: Calendering production line 3: Control System 4: Display device 5: Person in charge 11: Data storage device 12: Data processing device 20: Calendered materials (calendered products) 21: Heating furnace (calendering equipment) 22: Rough calender (calendering equipment) 23: Fine calendering machine (calendering equipment) 24: Cooling device (calendering equipment) 25: Winding machine (calendering equipment) 120: Processing Circuit 120a: Dedicated hardware 120b: Processor 120c: Memory 121: Data Extraction Department 122: Energy Consumption Performance Value Calculation Department 123: Energy Consumption Prediction Calculation Department 124: Variable Speed ​​Operation Effectiveness Judgment Department 125: Candidate Device Notification Department 126: Exception Equipment Determination Department 127: Equipment Modification Cost-Benefit Calculation Department 128: Operation Command Value Validity Judgment Unit 211,212,222,232,241,242,252: Auxiliary equipment 211a,212a,221a,222a,231a,232a,241a,242a,251a,252a: Electric motors 221,231,251: Host device

Claims

1. An energy-saving support system for a rolling mill, which identifies and indicates candidate equipment with potential for energy saving from a plurality of electric motors in a plurality of rolling mills located in the rolling mill, the energy-saving support system comprising: a data storage device for storing operational performance data of each of the plurality of rolling mills and the plurality of electric motors, and specification data of each of the plurality of rolling mills and the plurality of electric motors; and a data processing device for processing the operational performance data and the specification data; the data processing device being configured to perform the following processing: identifying a plurality of target equipment operating at a fixed speed from the plurality of electric motors; extracting the operational performance data and specification data of each of the plurality of target equipment from the data storage device; and calculating the energy consumption performance value of each of the plurality of target equipment using the operational performance data and specification data of the plurality of target equipment. The system simulates variable-speed operation of a plurality of the aforementioned target devices and calculates the predicted energy consumption of each of the aforementioned target devices when the variable-speed operation is performed. For each of the aforementioned target devices, the actual energy consumption value is compared with the predicted energy consumption value to determine whether energy consumption reduction is achieved through the variable-speed operation. The system then identifies the target devices among the aforementioned target devices that are deemed effective in reducing energy consumption through variable-speed operation as candidate devices. The actual operation data includes the actual operation command values ​​of a plurality of the aforementioned motors. The data processing device is configured to further perform the following processing: Based on the actual operation command values, the motors among the plurality of aforementioned motors that do not have the possibility of variable-speed operation are identified as exception devices. The simulation is performed on a plurality of the aforementioned target devices that exclude the exception devices.

2. The energy-saving support system for the calendering plant as described in claim 1, wherein, The aforementioned data processing device is configured to perform the following processing: using the aforementioned actual energy consumption value and the aforementioned predicted energy consumption value of the aforementioned target equipment, calculate the energy consumption reduction cost caused by the aforementioned variable speed operation; calculate the equipment modification cost required for the aforementioned target equipment to achieve the aforementioned variable speed operation; using the aforementioned energy consumption reduction cost and the aforementioned equipment modification cost, calculate the recovery period of the aforementioned equipment modification cost; and display the aforementioned energy consumption reduction cost, the aforementioned equipment modification cost, and the aforementioned recovery period together with the aforementioned candidate equipment.

3. An energy-saving support system for a calendering plant as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The aforementioned operational performance data includes timing data of operational command performance values ​​for the operation command values ​​of the plurality of aforementioned motors; the aforementioned data processing device is configured to further perform the following processing: determine from the plurality of aforementioned motors a plurality of additional target devices that perform variable speed operation; extract the aforementioned operational performance data and the aforementioned specification data of the plurality of aforementioned additional target devices from the aforementioned data storage device; calculate the energy consumption performance value of the plurality of aforementioned additional target devices using the aforementioned operational performance data and the aforementioned specification data of each of the plurality of aforementioned additional target devices; generate an operation command value that is different from the aforementioned operational command performance value of each of the plurality of aforementioned additional target devices; simulate the plurality of aforementioned additional target devices with the aforementioned operation command value, and calculate the predicted energy consumption value of the plurality of aforementioned additional target devices; For each of the aforementioned additional target devices, the aforementioned actual energy consumption value is compared with the aforementioned predicted energy consumption value to determine whether energy consumption reduction is achieved by the aforementioned operating command value of each of the aforementioned additional target devices; and the additional target devices among the aforementioned additional target devices that are determined to have the aforementioned operating command value effective for energy consumption reduction are suggested as the aforementioned candidate devices.

4. An energy-saving support system for a calendering plant as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The aforementioned data processing device is configured to perform the following processing: after a predetermined time elapsed since the calculation time of the aforementioned energy consumption performance value of each of the plurality of aforementioned object devices, recalculate the current aforementioned energy consumption performance value of each of the plurality of aforementioned object devices; and display the difference between the recalculated aforementioned energy consumption performance value of each of the plurality of aforementioned object devices and the previously calculated aforementioned energy consumption performance value.

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