Danieli Automation model-based and predictive control system for heating units

摘要

Heating of steel is an important process in a steelmaking operation because it affects directly the rolling process. A proper heating is a fundamental prerequisite for good finished product quality. Unfortunately, heating is a slow process, which demands giving products the right amount of energy in the right time. In addition, the furnace state is not observable, except at the end of the process when it is too late to get any correcting action. With these elements in mind, the only effective way to control a heating unit is by the use of mathematical models and a feed-forward control strategy based on them. This article presents the model-based approach to heating furnace control and the results obtained with the application of this control rule.