Predictive control of temperature and width for Hot Strip Mills

The paper addresses the problems associated with the control of temperature and width at the exit of the Finishing Mill (FM) of a Hot Strip Mill (HSM). The general structure of HSM control is introduced and established principles of dynamic control as applied to gauge and runout table temperatures are reviewed. By extension and with changes necessitated by the characteristics of the process, width and temperature controllers based on similar principles were designed, simulated and commissioned. The paper describes a basic controller applied to temperature and more complete controllers applied to temperature and width. Copyright (C) 1998 IFAC.