Information processing device, information processing method, and method for manufacturing continuous casting slab

Abstract

This information processing device has an acquisition unit and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires planned values and actual values for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process. The control unit can calculate a first temperature and a second temperature using a model on the basis of the plurality of factors. The control unit determines the temperature of molten steel at the end of a refining treatment as a target temperature so that the calculated first temperature and second temperature are included in a first range. Each time the actual values of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start of, and during, execution of the steelmaking process are acquired in a stepwise manner, the control unit updates the first temperature and the second temperature on the basis of the actual values and the planned values for the other factors. The control unit determines the target temperature each time the first temperature and the second temperature are calculated and updated.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and method for manufacturing continuous cast slab CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-211521, filed on December 14, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a method for producing a continuously cast slab.

[0003] The refining process, in which molten iron tapped from a blast furnace is decarburized, impurities are removed, and the composition is adjusted to obtain molten steel, is an important process in steelmaking. In the refining process, molten steel is blown into a converter, undergoes secondary refining as necessary, and is then cast from a continuous caster. In this steelmaking process, the molten steel temperature at the start of casting by the continuous caster must be optimized.

[0004] The temperature of the molten steel at the start of casting must be determined so that the molten steel does not solidify during casting. On the other hand, an excessively high temperature of the molten steel at the start of casting must be avoided from the viewpoint of unnecessarily increasing production costs. Therefore, proper management of the molten steel temperature at the start of casting is required.

[0005] In the steelmaking process, the temperature of molten steel changes continuously due to heat removal during each sub-process from the end of converter processing through secondary refining to continuous casting. Therefore, in order to properly control the molten steel temperature at the start of casting, it is important to set the molten steel temperature at the end of converter processing and secondary refining to an appropriate temperature.

[0006] In the conventional method for setting the target temperature at the end of the refining process, refining conditions such as the oxygen supply amount and the amount of auxiliary raw material input are specified from the time of measurement during the refining process to the end of the refining process so that the molten steel temperature and element concentration at the end of the refining process will be preset for each steel type. In addition, the temperature change of the molten steel during each process and transportation after the end of the refining process is estimated by the operator based on the schedule of each process. Therefore, the target value of the molten steel temperature at the end of the refining process is modified at the discretion of the operator.

[0007] In the case of corrections made by operators, the actual molten steel temperature may fall below the required temperature at the start and end of each sub-process due to variations in the amount of temperature drop in each sub-process after the end of the refining process. To prevent the actual molten steel temperature from falling below the required temperature, the target molten steel temperature at the end of the refining process may be corrected to a higher value. Correcting the target temperature to a higher value increases the cost of the flux required to remove impurity elements from the molten steel and the maintenance cost of the ladle.

[0008] As a method for controlling the molten steel temperature at the end of refining processing, Patent Document 1 below proposes acquiring operation schedule information for multiple charges, and determining the processing order, start and end times of each process, and the start and end temperatures of each process, so as to minimize the error from the target value of the molten steel temperature at the start of casting, the total processing time, the total non-operating time, the tapping temperature, or the temperature variation at the start of casting, while satisfying constraints such as the processing order and the upper and lower temperature limits of each process.

[0009] Patent No. 6582582

[0010] However, in the method for setting a target value for the molten steel temperature at the end of refining treatment described in Patent Document 1, only operation schedule information before the start of the steelmaking process is used to predict the amount of drop in the molten steel temperature for calculating the target value. Therefore, with this method for setting the target value, it is difficult to reduce variations in the molten steel temperature due to changes in the schedule or operating conditions after the start of the steelmaking process.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure, made in consideration of the above-described problems of the conventional art, is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a method for manufacturing a continuous cast slab that more appropriately determine a target value for the molten steel temperature at the end of the refining process.

[0012] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information processing device according to a first aspect comprises: an acquisition unit that acquires predicted values ​​and actual values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; and a control unit that is capable of calculating, as a first temperature and a second temperature, temperatures at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine, using a model that calculates the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes that make up the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, and that determines, as a target temperature, the temperature of molten steel at the end of at least one refining treatment in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first temperature and second temperature are within a first range whose lower limit is a target temperature of molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle into the continuous casting machine. The control unit calculates the first temperature and the second temperature based on the planned values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution, updates the first temperature and the second temperature based on the actual values ​​and planned values ​​for other factors each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start of execution of the steelmaking process and during execution are gradually acquired, and determines the target temperature each time the first temperature and the second temperature are calculated and updated.

[0013] Further, an information processing method according to a second aspect includes the steps of: acquiring predicted values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; calculating, using a model that calculates the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes that make up the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, as a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine, based only on the predicted values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution; and determining, as a target temperature, the temperature of the molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first and second temperatures are within a first range whose lower limit is a target temperature of the molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle to the continuous casting machine; each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start of execution of the steelmaking process and during execution are acquired in a stepwise manner, updating the first temperature and the second temperature using the model based on the actual values ​​and predicted values ​​for other factors; and determining the target temperature each time the updating step is performed.

[0014] According to the information processing device and information processing method according to the present disclosure configured as described above, the target value of the molten steel temperature at the end of the refining process can be determined more appropriately.

[0015] It is a schematic diagram of a steelmaking process for which a target temperature is determined by an information processing device according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing device according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart for explaining a temperature determination process executed by a control unit of Figure 2. It is a flowchart for explaining a temperature determination subroutine executed by the control unit of Figure 2.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] 1 is a schematic diagram of a steelmaking process 10 for which a target temperature, described later, is determined by an information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Continuously cast slabs may be produced by the steelmaking process 10. The steelmaking process 10 is a process from processing in a converter 11 to the completion of continuous casting in a continuous casting machine 12. The steelmaking process 10 may be composed of multiple sub-processes 13.

[0018] The multiple sub-processes 13 may include at least a converter sub-process 14 and a continuous casting sub-process 15. The multiple sub-processes 13 may further include a converter tapping sub-process 16, a post-tapping temperature measurement sub-process 17, and a transport sub-process 18. The multiple sub-processes 13 may further include at least one secondary refining sub-process 19.

[0019] The converter sub-process 14 may be a molten steel treatment in a converter 11. Specifically, the molten steel treatment in a converter is a primary refining treatment whose main purpose is to decarburize the molten steel 20. In the converter sub-process 14, auxiliary materials may be added to the molten steel 20 during treatment.

[0020] The continuous casting sub-process 15 may be a molten steel treatment in a continuous caster 12. Specifically, in the continuous casting sub-process 15, a billet 21 may be formed from the molten steel 20 using the continuous caster 12. Also, in the continuous casting sub-process 15, inclusions may be removed using a tundish in the continuous caster 12.

[0021] In the continuous casting sub-process 15, as will be described later, molten steel 20 placed in ladles 22 is discharged to the continuous casting machine 12. The molten steel 20 discharged from one ladle 22 may form a billet 21. Alternatively, the molten steel 20 discharged from multiple ladles 22 may form a billet 21. In the following description, the number of ladles 22 used when forming the billet 21 from the molten steel 20 discharged from multiple ladles 22 is referred to as the number of continuous casting processes.

[0022] In the converter tapping sub-process 16, the converter 11 may be tilted to tap molten steel 20 into a ladle 22 from a nozzle formed on the side of the converter 11. The tilting of the converter 11 may be performed by an operation input from an operator. The operation input for tilting the converter 11 may include a variable tilting speed. In the converter tapping sub-process 16, an alloy 23 may be added to the molten steel 20.

[0023] In the post-tapping temperature measurement sub-process 17, the temperature and composition of the molten steel 20 in the ladle 22 may be measured.

[0024] In the transfer subprocess 18, the ladle 22 is transferred from the location where the subprocess 13 immediately preceding the transfer subprocess 18 was executed to the location where the next subprocess 13 following the transfer subprocess 18 is executed. A plurality of converters 11, a plurality of secondary refining apparatuses 24, and a plurality of continuous casters 12 may be installed in a dispersed manner within the premises of, for example, a steelworks where the steelmaking process 10 is executed. Therefore, the post-tapping temperature measurement subprocess 17 after tapping from the converter 11 may be executed at a plurality of locations. Furthermore, the secondary refining subprocess 19 may be executed at a plurality of locations. Furthermore, the continuous casting subprocess 15 may be executed at a plurality of locations. Therefore, in the transfer subprocess 18, a plurality of routes may be used for transfer from a specific subprocess 13 to a location where another specific subprocess 13 is executed.

[0025] In the secondary refining sub-process 19, the molten steel 20 is subjected to, for example, decarburization, degassing, and composition adjustment. In the secondary refining sub-process 19, a secondary refining device 24 is attached to the molten steel 20 in the ladle 22. The secondary refining device 24 is, for example, a Ruhrstahl-Heraeus (RH).

[0026] In the steelmaking process 10, the ladle 22 is used to process and transport the molten steel 20 in one cycle, which is the process from the converter tapping sub-process 16 to the continuous casting sub-process 15. After being used in one cycle of processes, the ladle 22 may be reused in a second cycle of processes, in other words, in the steelmaking process 10.

[0027] Throughout the steelmaking process 10, the temperature of the molten steel 20 drops due to heat removal, but may increase in the converter subprocess 14 and the secondary refining subprocess 19. Therefore, in the steelmaking process 10, the temperature may be increased in the converter subprocess 14 and the secondary refining subprocess 19 so that the molten steel 20 does not solidify during continuous casting.

[0028] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure determines the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of at least one refining process, which satisfies the conditions described below, as the target temperature at the end of the refining process. The temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of each refining process may be controlled to approach the target temperature by a control device that controls the steelmaking process 10 or an operation by an operator. The control device may be configured by an information processing device such as a personal computer or a workstation. The control device may also collect values ​​measured for various factors in the steelmaking process 10, which will be described below.

[0029] An information processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be, for example, a server device or a personal computer. As shown in Fig. 2, the information processing device 25 includes an acquisition unit 26 and a control unit 27. The information processing device 25 may further include an output unit 28 and a storage unit 29.

[0030] The acquisition unit 26 acquires planned values ​​and actual values ​​for a plurality of factors. The plurality of factors belong to the steelmaking process 10, and changes in the state of the factors affect the temperature of the molten steel 20 during continuous casting. The plurality of factors may be adopted from the perspective of, for example, heat transfer from the molten steel 20 to equipment used in the steelmaking process 10, heat dissipation to the atmosphere, radiant heat, heat of fusion of the added auxiliary materials and alloy 23, heat of oxidation of substances in the molten steel 20, etc. The plurality of factors may include factors for which only planned values ​​are obtained, factors for which only actual values ​​are obtained, and factors for which both planned and actual values ​​are obtained.

[0031] The planned values ​​are values ​​determined according to the operating conditions created for the steelmaking process 10. The actual values ​​are values ​​that are actually measured during the actual execution of the steelmaking process 10. As will be described later, the actual values ​​are obtained by the execution of each sub-process 13. Therefore, the actual values ​​may be detected step by step during the progress of the steelmaking process 10 and acquired by the acquisition unit 26.

[0032] The multiple factors may include, for example, factors related to the ladle 22 immediately before tapping the molten steel 20, factors related to the converter sub-process 14, factors related to the converter tapping sub-process 16, factors related to the post-tapping temperature measurement sub-process 17, factors related to the transportation sub-process 18, factors related to the secondary refining sub-process 19, and factors related to the continuous casting sub-process 15.

[0033] Factors related to the ladle 22 immediately before tapping include, for example, actual shape measurement values, actual temperature measurement values ​​of the inner surface, actual maintenance processing values, actual values ​​from the time when the molten steel 20 is tapped from the converter 11 to the time when delivery to the continuous casting machine 12 is completed in the previous steelmaking process 10, actual temperature measurement values ​​of the inner surface at the time when delivery is completed, planned and actual values ​​of the elapsed time from the time when the molten steel 20 is completed delivery to the continuous casting machine 12 in the previous steelmaking process 10, and actual values ​​of the time when the lid is placed on the ladle 22 after delivery.

[0034] Factors related to the converter sub-process 14 include, for example, actual values ​​of the temperature and composition of the molten iron being charged, planned values ​​related to the specifications of the molten steel 20 in the converter 11, planned and actual values ​​of the processing time from when the molten iron is charged into the converter 11 to when it is tapped, actual values ​​of the type and amount of auxiliary materials to be charged, and actual values ​​of temperature measurements of the molten steel 20 before charging into the converter 11 and when it is tapped.

[0035] Factors related to the converter steel tapping sub-process 16 include, for example, the planned and actual values ​​of the time required for steel tapping, the planned and actual values ​​of the converter tilting pattern such as the speed at which the converter 11 is tilted, the planned and actual values ​​of the steel tapping speed, the planned and actual values ​​of the operator who will perform the tilting operation, and the planned and actual values ​​of the type and amount of alloy 23 to be added.

[0036] Factors related to the post-tapping temperature measurement sub-process 17 include, for example, the actual value of the temperature measurement of the molten steel 20 in the ladle 22 and the time from the end of tapping from the converter 11 until the temperature measurement is performed.

[0037] Factors related to the transfer subprocess 18 include, for example, the planned and actual values ​​of the transfer time, the planned and actual values ​​of the transfer route, the planned and actual values ​​of the time for which the ladle 22 is covered during transfer, the actual value of the heat insulating material addition process during transfer, and the planned and actual values ​​of the amount of metal oxide in the molten steel 20 in the ladle 22. In this specification, the transfer time means the time from the end of the execution of the subprocess 13 immediately preceding the transfer subprocess 18 to the start of the execution of the subprocess 13 following the transfer subprocess 18.

[0038] Factors related to the secondary refining sub-process 19 include, for example, planned and actual values ​​related to the state of the secondary refining equipment 24, planned and actual values ​​for the installation time of the secondary refining equipment 24, planned and actual values ​​for the types and amounts of auxiliary materials and alloys to be input, and planned and actual values ​​for the refining treatment pattern. The state of the secondary refining equipment 24 may include the number of times the secondary refining equipment 24 has been used, and the elapsed time from the end of the previous use of the secondary refining equipment 24 that performs the target secondary refining sub-process 19 to the start of execution of the secondary refining sub-process 19. The refining treatment pattern may include a combination of oxygen supply and current supply.

[0039] Factors related to the continuous casting sub-process 15 include, for example, a planned number of continuous casting runs, a planned value for the elapsed time since the start of the previous casting, planned values ​​related to the status of the continuous casting machine 12, a planned value for the start time of casting, a planned value for the casting time, and a planned value for the casting speed. The number of continuous casting runs is the number of runs performed to produce a series of semi-finished products from the continuous casting machine 12, with one run being the number of times the molten steel 20 corresponding to one ladle 22 is continuously cast. The start of the previous casting is the time at which the molten steel 20 from the ladle 22 to be processed starts to be poured into the continuous casting machine 12 the previous time. The status of the continuous casting machine 12 may include the number of times a tundish is used to produce a series of semi-finished products and a status related to the execution of preheat treatment on the tundish.

[0040] In the above example of factors, for information that is not originally a numerical value, such as information about a state, a planned value and a performance value may be expressed as identification information such as a numerical value that identifies the information.

[0041] The acquisition unit 26 may include, for example, an input device, a physical connector, and a wireless communication device. The input device detects an operation input by an operator, such as a mouse, keyboard, or pointing device. The operation input device may acquire predicted values ​​and actual values ​​of the above-mentioned factors based on the detected operation input. The physical connector may be connected via a wire to external devices such as sensors, control devices, and memory devices provided in the converter 11, the continuous casting machine 12, the ladle 22, and the secondary refining device 24. The physical connector may acquire information transmitted via a wire from the external devices. The wireless communication device may be connected wirelessly to the external devices. The wireless communication device may acquire information transmitted wirelessly from the external devices. The information transmitted from the external devices may be predicted values ​​and actual values ​​of the above-mentioned factors.

[0042] The output unit 28 may output the target temperature determined by the control unit 27, which will be described later. The output unit 28 may output the predicted values ​​of the above-mentioned factors predicted by the control unit 27, which will be described later. The output unit 28 may output the target temperature, predicted values, etc. so that they can be notified to an operator, for example, on a display. The steelmaking process 10 may be controlled by an operator who recognizes the target temperature, predicted values, etc. and operates the control device. Furthermore, the output unit 28 may be connected to the control device, for example, via a physical connector or a wireless communication device, and output the target temperature, predicted values, etc. in a manner that transmits them. The control device that receives the target temperature, predicted values, etc. may control the steelmaking process 10.

[0043] The storage unit 29 is, for example, but not limited to, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, etc. The storage unit 29 stores any information used in the operation of the control unit 27. The storage unit 29 may store a temperature calculation model and a prediction model, which will be described later.

[0044] The temperature calculation model calculates the temperature of the molten steel 20 in the sub-process 13 based on the values ​​of the multiple factors described above. The temperature calculation model calculates, as a first temperature, the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the start of pouring from any ladle 22 into the continuous casting machine 12. The temperature calculation model also calculates, as a second temperature, the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of pouring from any ladle 22 into the continuous casting machine 12. The temperature calculation model can also calculate the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of the refining process. The refining process may include a converter sub-process 14 and a secondary refining sub-process 19. In the converter sub-process 14, the end of the refining process may be the start of tilting the converter 11 in the subsequent converter tapping sub-process 16. In the secondary refining sub-process 19, the end of the refining process may be the start of movement of the ladle 22 in the subsequent conveying sub-process 18.

[0045] The temperature calculation model is, for example, a model created by learning based on actual values ​​of multiple factors in the steelmaking process 10 that has already been executed and the actual temperature of the molten steel 20 discharged to the continuous casting machine 12. The actual temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of the refining process may also be used to learn the temperature calculation model. The actual temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of continuous casting may also be used to learn the temperature calculation model. A supervised learning model, including a generalized linear model, a partial least squares regression model, a neural network, a decision tree, a support vector machine, or the like, may be applied as the temperature calculation model. Alternatively, the temperature calculation model may be created by a method of identifying parameters for a physical model based on actual values. When creating the temperature calculation model, actual values ​​of multiple factors may be clustered based on characteristic indicators of the operating conditions. Alternatively, when creating the temperature calculation model, actual values ​​similar to the characteristic indicators of the operating conditions may be extracted. The dataset of past actual values ​​used to generate the model may be limited by clustering or extraction.

[0046] The prediction model may predict a predicted value of a specific factor based on planned values ​​and actual values ​​of other factors, as described below. The prediction model may be created based on logic defined for the values ​​of the other factors. Alternatively, the prediction model may be created by learning, for example, based on planned values ​​and actual values ​​of multiple factors in the steelmaking process 10 that has already been executed and the actual value of the specific factor. As the prediction model, a supervised learning model including a generalized linear model, a partial least squares regression model, a neural network, a decision tree, a support vector machine, etc. may be applied. Alternatively, the prediction model may be created by a method of identifying parameters for a physical model based on actual values. When creating the prediction model, actual values ​​of multiple factors may be clustered based on characteristic indicators of operating conditions. Alternatively, when creating the prediction model, actual values ​​similar to characteristic indicators of operating conditions may be extracted. The dataset of past actual values ​​used for model generation may be limited by clustering or extraction.

[0047] The control unit 27 includes one or more processors. The processor may be, but is not limited to, a general-purpose processor or a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated processor may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The control unit 27 may include a programmable logic device (PLD). The PLD may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit 27 controls each component of the information processing device 25.

[0048] The control unit 27 may store the planned value and the actual measured value of each of the multiple factors acquired by the acquisition unit 26 in the memory unit 29 in association with the steelmaking process 10 for which the target temperature is to be determined. The control unit 27 may store the predicted value in the memory unit 29 after calculating the predicted value, which will be described later.

[0049] The control unit 27 is capable of calculating a first temperature using a temperature calculation model based on the values ​​of the multiple factors. The control unit 27 is also capable of calculating a second temperature using a temperature calculation model based on the values ​​of the multiple factors. The control unit 27 determines the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of at least one refining treatment in the steelmaking process 10 as the target temperature so that the calculated first temperature and second temperature fall within a first range. The first range is a range having a predetermined temperature width with the target temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of pouring from any ladle 22 to the continuous casting machine 12 as the lower limit. The target temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of pouring may be a temperature obtained by adding a temperature margin set for each steel type to the liquidus temperature of the molten steel 20, which is the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of continuous casting after being lowered during continuous casting. Specifically, the control unit 27 uses the first temperature and the second temperature as objective variables and the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of the refining process as an explanatory variable, calculates the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of the refining process so that the first temperature and the second temperature fall within a first range, and determines that temperature as the target temperature.

[0050] The control unit 27 calculates the first temperature and the second temperature and determines the target temperature before execution of any one cycle of the steelmaking process 10. Before execution of the steelmaking process 10, the control unit 27 calculates the first temperature and the second temperature and determines the target temperature based on the expected values ​​of each of the multiple factors in the steelmaking process 10.

[0051] Furthermore, the control unit 27 updates the first temperature and the second temperature and determines the target temperature during the execution of the steelmaking process 10. After the start of execution of the steelmaking process 10 and each time the control unit 27 acquires actual values ​​of some of the factors detected during the execution, the control unit 27 updates the first temperature and the second temperature and determines the target temperature. When the control unit 27 acquires changed planned values ​​for the factors, the control unit 27 may update the first temperature and the second temperature and determine the target temperature using the changed planned values ​​and actual values. The control unit 27 may determine only the target temperature for the refining process before execution. In other words, the control unit 27 does not need to determine the target temperature for the refining process that has already been executed. Furthermore, the control unit 27 may determine only the target temperature for the most recent refining process among the refining processes before execution.

[0052] During the execution of the steelmaking process 10, the control unit 27 updates the first temperature based on actual values ​​of some of the factors detected after the start of and during the execution of the steelmaking process 10, and on predicted values ​​of other factors of the some of the factors. During the execution of the steelmaking process 10, the control unit 27 may also update the first temperature and the second temperature by using a predicted value of a specific factor in the steelmaking process 10 instead of the predicted value of the factor. The predicted value may be predicted using a prediction model based on the predicted or actual values ​​of other factors of the factor for which the predicted value is obtained.

[0053] The specific factors for which the predicted value is estimated may include the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of at least some of the multiple sub-processes 13. The specific factors may also include the time required for tapping, the converter tilting pattern, the tapping speed, and the type and amount of alloy 23 added in the converter tapping sub-process 16. The specific factors may also include the amount of metal oxide in the molten steel 20 in the ladle 22 in the conveying sub-process 18. The specific factors may also include the installation time of the secondary refining equipment 24, the types and amounts of auxiliary materials and alloys added, and the refining treatment pattern in the secondary refining sub-process 19. The specific factors may also include the casting start time, casting duration, and casting speed in the continuous casting sub-process 15.

[0054] The control unit 27 may control the output unit 28 to output the target temperature every time the control unit 27 determines the target temperature. The control unit 27 may control the output unit 28 to output the predicted value every time the control unit 27 predicts a predicted value.

[0055] Next, the temperature determination process executed by the control unit 27 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 3. The temperature determination process starts, for example, when the acquisition unit 26 acquires an operation input requesting determination of a target temperature. Note that this operation input may be assumed to be input after input of planned values ​​of each factor corresponding to the operational conditions finalized for the steelmaking process 10 for which the target temperature is to be calculated.

[0056] Immediately after the start of the temperature determination process, the control unit 27 starts a target temperature determination subroutine S200. After the target temperature determination subroutine S200 ends, control proceeds to step S100.

[0057] In step S100, the control unit 27 controls the output unit 28 to output the target temperature. After the target temperature is output, the control proceeds to step S101.

[0058] In step S101, the control unit 27 determines whether or not a new actual value of any factor has been acquired. If not, control returns to step S101. If acquired, control starts the target temperature determination subroutine S200. Note that the control unit 27 may determine whether or not there has been a change in the predicted value of any factor, and if there has been a change, the target temperature determination subroutine S200 may also be started. After the target temperature determination subroutine S200 ends, control proceeds to step S102.

[0059] In step S102, the control unit 27 controls the output unit 28 to output the most recently determined target temperature. After the target temperature is output, the control proceeds to step S103.

[0060] In step S103, the control unit 27 determines whether the final refining process in the steelmaking process 10 for which the target temperature is to be determined has been completed. The control unit 27 may determine whether the final refining process has been completed based on the planned values ​​and actual values ​​of factors related to the refining processes (the converter sub-process 14 and the secondary refining sub-process 19) for the steelmaking process 10. If the final refining process has not been completed, the control returns to step S101. If the final refining process has been completed, the temperature determination process ends.

[0061] Next, the temperature determination subroutine S200 executed by the control unit 27 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0062] In step S201, the control unit 27 determines whether any of the performance values ​​has been acquired. If any of the performance values ​​has been acquired, the control proceeds to step S201. If any of the performance values ​​has not been acquired, the control proceeds to step S202.

[0063] In step S202, the control unit 27 predicts the predicted value using the actual value acquired in step S201. After predicting the predicted value, the control proceeds to step S203.

[0064] In step S203, the control unit 27 selects, in order of priority, the actual value, the predicted value, and the scheduled value for each factor in the steelmaking process 10 for which the target temperature is to be determined. In other words, the actual value is selected with the highest priority for any factor. If an actual value has not been acquired, the predicted value is selected. If neither the actual value nor the predicted value is stored in the memory unit 29, the scheduled value is selected. After the selection, control proceeds to step S204.

[0065] In step S204, the control unit 27 determines the target temperature using the values ​​of the factors selected in step S203. After the determination, the target temperature determination subroutine S200 ends.

[0066] The information processing device 25 of this embodiment configured as described above includes an acquisition unit 26 that acquires planned values ​​and actual values ​​for a plurality of factors in the steelmaking process 10 from the processing in the converter 11 to the end of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of the molten steel 20 during continuous casting in the continuous casting machine 12, and is capable of calculating, using a model that calculates the temperature of the molten steel 20 in a plurality of sub-processes 13 that make up the steelmaking process 10 based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, the temperatures at the start and end of pouring of the molten steel 20 from an arbitrary ladle 22 into the continuous casting machine 12 as a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, and the calculated first temperature and second temperature are calculated based on the values ​​of the molten steel 20 from the ladle 22 into the continuous casting machine 12. and a control unit (27) that determines a target temperature for the molten steel (20) at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process (10) so that the target temperature for the molten steel (20) at the end of pouring into the steelmaking process (12) is within a first range, the lower limit of which is a target temperature for the molten steel (20) at the end of pouring into the steelmaking process (10). The control unit (27) calculates the first and second temperatures based on scheduled values ​​of each of a plurality of factors in the steelmaking process (10) before execution, updates the first and second temperatures based on the actual values ​​and scheduled values ​​for the other factors each time actual values ​​of some of the factors detected after the start and during execution of the steelmaking process (10) are acquired, and determines the target temperatures each time the first and second temperatures are calculated and updated. With this configuration, the information processing device (25) reflects actual values ​​of the factors acquired during the steelmaking process (10) in determining the target temperatures and repeatedly determines the target temperatures, thereby improving the prediction accuracy of the first and second temperatures. Therefore, the information processing device (25) can optimize the target temperatures at the end of the refining process.

[0067] Furthermore, the information processing device 25 predicts the predicted values ​​of some of the factors based on the planned values ​​or actual values ​​of the other factors, and uses the predicted values ​​to update the first temperature and the second temperature. With this configuration, the information processing device 25 replaces the predicted values ​​that reflect the actual values ​​with the planned values, compared to a configuration in which the first temperature and the second temperature are updated simply using the planned values ​​and actual values, thereby increasing the likelihood that the values ​​of the corresponding factors will approach the actual values. Therefore, the information processing device 25 further improves the prediction accuracy of the first temperature, and can further optimize the target temperature at the end of the refining process.

[0068] Furthermore, in the information processing device 25, factors for which prediction values ​​are estimated include the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of at least some of the sub-processes 13. Among the factors in the steelmaking process 10, the temperature of the molten steel 20 at the end of the sub-process 13 has a large effect on the prediction accuracy of the first temperature and the second temperature. In response to such an event, the information processing device 25 having the above-described configuration further improves the prediction accuracy of the first temperature and the second temperature, thereby making it possible to further optimize the target temperature at the end of the refining process.

[0069] Furthermore, the information processing device 25 creates a temperature prediction model based on actual values ​​of multiple factors in the steelmaking process 10 that has already been executed and the actual temperature of the molten steel 20 discharged to the continuous casting machine 12. It is difficult to theoretically calculate the temperatures at the start and end of continuous casting in the steelmaking process 10 from factors alone, and they are estimated by the operator's intuition. Therefore, the prediction accuracy of the temperatures varies depending on the operator's level of proficiency. In response to such a situation, the information processing device 25 having the above-described configuration creates a model using actual values, thereby further improving the prediction accuracy of the first temperature and the second temperature. Therefore, the information processing device 25 can further optimize the target temperature at the end of the refining process.

[0070] In one embodiment, (1) an information processing device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires predicted values ​​and actual values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; and a control unit that is capable of calculating, as a first temperature and a second temperature, temperatures at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine, using a model that calculates the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes that make up the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, and that determines, as a target temperature, the temperature of molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first temperature and second temperature are within a first range whose lower limit is a target temperature of molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle into the continuous casting machine. The control unit calculates the first temperature and the second temperature based on the planned values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution, updates the first temperature and the second temperature based on the actual values ​​and planned values ​​for other factors each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start of execution of the steelmaking process and during execution are gradually acquired, and determines the target temperature each time the first temperature and the second temperature are calculated and updated.

[0071] (2) In the information processing device of (1) above, the control unit predicts predicted values ​​of some of the multiple factors based on planned values ​​or actual values ​​of other factors, and uses the predicted values ​​to update the first temperature and the second temperature.

[0072] (3) In the information processing device of (2), the factors for which the predicted value is predicted include a temperature of the molten steel at the time of completion of at least some of the plurality of sub-processes.

[0073] (4) In any of the information processing devices described in (1) to (3), the model is created based on actual values ​​of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process that has already been executed and the actual temperature of the molten steel discharged to the continuous casting machine.

[0074] (5) In the information processing device according to any one of (1) to (4), the control unit transmits the target temperature every time the control unit determines the target temperature.

[0075] In one embodiment, (6) an information processing method includes the steps of: acquiring predicted values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; calculating, using a model that calculates the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes that make up the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, temperatures at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine as a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, based only on the predicted values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution; and determining, as a target temperature, the temperature of the molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first temperature and the calculated second temperature are within a first range whose lower limit is a target temperature of the molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle to the continuous casting machine; each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start of execution of the steelmaking process and during execution are acquired in a stepwise manner, updating the first temperature and the second temperature based on the actual values ​​and predicted values ​​for other factors using the model; and determining the target temperature each time the updating step is performed.

[0076] In one embodiment, (7) a method for producing a continuously cast slab includes the steps of: acquiring predicted values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; calculating, using a model that calculates the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes constituting the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, temperatures at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine as a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, based only on the predicted values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution; and determining, as a target temperature, the temperature of the molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first temperature and the calculated second temperature are within a first range whose lower limit is a target temperature of the molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle into the continuous casting machine; each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start of execution of the steelmaking process and during execution are acquired in a stepwise manner, updating the first temperature and the second temperature using the model based on the actual values ​​and predicted values ​​for other factors; and determining the target temperature each time the updating step is performed.

[0077] The above has described an embodiment of the information processing device 25, but the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be implemented as a method or program for implementing the device, as well as a storage medium on which a program is recorded (for example, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a magnetic tape, a hard disk, or a memory card, etc.).

[0078] Furthermore, the implementation form of the program is not limited to application programs such as object code compiled by a compiler or program code executed by an interpreter, but may also be in the form of a program module incorporated into an operating system. Furthermore, the program may or may not be configured so that all processing is performed solely by the CPU on the control board. The program may also be configured so that part or all of it is executed by another processing unit mounted on an expansion board or expansion unit added to the board as needed.

[0079] The drawings illustrating the embodiments of the present disclosure are schematic, and the dimensional ratios and the like in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to the actual ones.

[0080] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art could make various modifications or alterations based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these modifications or alterations are included in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the functions included in each component can be rearranged so as not to cause logical inconsistencies, and multiple components can be combined or divided into one.

[0081] All of the features described in this disclosure and / or all steps of all of the disclosed methods or processes may be combined in any combination except combinations in which these features are mutually exclusive. Furthermore, each feature described in this disclosure may be replaced by an alternative feature serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly denied. Thus, unless expressly denied, each disclosed feature is only one example of a generic series of identical or equivalent features.

[0082] Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific configurations of any of the above-described embodiments, but rather extend to any novel feature or combination thereof described herein, or any novel method or process step or combination thereof described herein.

[0083] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Steelmaking process 11 Converter 12 Continuous casting machine 13 Sub-process 14 Converter sub-process 15 Continuous casting sub-process 16 Converter tapping sub-process 17 Post-tapping temperature measurement sub-process 18 Conveyance sub-process 19 Secondary refining sub-process 20 Molten steel 21 Steel billet 22 Ladle 23 Alloy 24 Secondary refining device 25 Information processing device 26 Acquisition unit 27 Control unit 28 Output unit 29 Memory unit

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a continuous casting machine comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires planned values ​​and actual values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to the end of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in the continuous casting machine; and a control unit that is capable of calculating, as a first temperature and a second temperature, the temperatures at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine, respectively, using a model that calculates the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes that constitute the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors, and that determines the temperature of molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process as a target temperature so that the calculated first temperature and second temperature are within a first range whose lower limit is a target temperature of molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle into the continuous casting machine; The control unit calculates the first temperature and the second temperature based on planned values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution, updates the first temperature and the second temperature based on the actual values ​​and planned values ​​for other factors each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after start of and during execution of the steelmaking process are obtained in a stepwise manner, and determines the target temperature each time the first temperature and the second temperature are calculated and updated.

2. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit predicts predicted values ​​of some of the multiple factors based on planned values ​​or actual values ​​of other factors, and uses the predicted values ​​to update the first temperature and the second temperature.

3. An information processing device according to claim 2, wherein the factors for which the predicted value is predicted include a temperature of the molten steel at the end of at least some of the plurality of sub-processes.

4. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the model is created based on actual values ​​of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process that has already been executed and on the actual temperature of the molten steel discharged to the continuous casting machine.

5. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit transmits the target temperature every time the control unit determines the target temperature.

6. An information processing method comprising the steps of: acquiring planned values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; calculating, as a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, the temperatures at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle to the continuous casting machine, based only on the planned values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution, using a model for calculating the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes constituting the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors; determining, as a target temperature, the temperature of molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first and second temperatures are within a first range, the lower limit of which is a target temperature of molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle to the continuous casting machine; updating, using the model, the first and second temperatures based on the actual values ​​and planned values ​​for other factors each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start and during execution of the steelmaking process are acquired in a stepwise manner; and determining the target temperature each time the updating step is performed.

7. A method for producing continuously cast slabs, comprising the steps of: acquiring scheduled values ​​for a plurality of factors in a steelmaking process from processing in a converter to completion of continuous casting, which affect the temperature of molten steel during continuous casting in a continuous casting machine; calculating, as a first temperature and a second temperature, respectively, at the start and end of pouring of molten steel from an arbitrary ladle into the continuous casting machine, based only on the scheduled values ​​of each of the plurality of factors in the steelmaking process before execution, using a model for calculating the temperatures of molten steel in a plurality of sub-processes constituting the steelmaking process based on the values ​​of the plurality of factors; determining, as a target temperature, the temperature of molten steel at the end of at least one refining process in the steelmaking process so that the calculated first and second temperatures are within a first range, the lower limit of which is a target temperature of molten steel at the end of pouring from the ladle to the continuous casting machine; updating, using the model, the first and second temperatures based on the actual values ​​and scheduled values ​​for other factors each time actual values ​​of some of the plurality of factors detected after the start and during execution of the steelmaking process are acquired in a stepwise manner; and determining the target temperature each time the updating step is performed.

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