Hot Strip Mill Temperature Control Across Interacting Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closed-loop and open-loop controls in hot strip mills fail to effectively manage interactions across multiple units, leading to suboptimal production processes, particularly in high-quality steel strip production, and do not always result in optimized energy and production costs.
Innovation Solution
A superordinate process model integrates with subordinate models to optimize target value specifications across the plant, using an optimization algorithm to adjust temperature and structure development, enabling early deviation detection and correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If unit-related process models and open-loop or closed-loop controls are used for each individual unit, then the control system is simple to implement, but the interactions between multiple units are not mapped and the overall production process cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unit-related process models into a single superordinate process model that encompasses the entire hot strip mill production process. This superordinate model integrates furnace, roughing stand, finishing stand, and cooling section models to capture interactions between units, enabling comprehensive optimization of the overall production process while maintaining reliable product quality consistency.
2Productivity
If individual unit controls are optimized independently, then each unit operates efficiently, but the overall production process and energy costs are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a superordinate optimization level that operates above individual unit controls. This superordinate process model considers the entire production chain from slab heating through rolling to coiling, optimizing target value specifications across all units simultaneously. By adding this dimensional layer of integration, the system achieves both unit-level efficiency and plant-wide energy optimization.
3Ease of operation
If static target value specifications are used based on empirical knowledge, then the control approach is simple, but dynamic optimization of the production process cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static target value specifications into dynamic, adaptive specifications through the superordinate process model. The model continuously calculates optimized target values based on current process conditions, slab characteristics, and production goals. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying conditions while maintaining ease of operation through automated calculations.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex interactions of time, temperature, and structure development are considered, then product quality can be optimized, but the control system becomes too complex to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex production process into distinct unit-related process models (furnace, roughing stand, finishing stand, cooling section), each handling specific aspects of temperature and structure development. The superordinate model then integrates these segmented models to manage complex interactions systematically. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining precise control of product properties.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling or regulating the temperature of a steel strip in hot forming in a hot strip mill. A superordinate open-loop or closed-loop controller has a process model that predetermines the temperature development of the hot strip. The target values of the individual units are adjusted based on this predetermined temperature development.