A Control Method for Improvement in the Tandem Hot Metal Strip Rolling Process

The tandem rolling of hot metal strip is a highly complex nonlinear process and as such presents an extremely difficult control challenge. This challenge is further exacerbated by the hostile hot metal rolling environment which precludes the location of certain sensors to measure variables that are important for control. Our previous work using a state-dependent Riccati equation technique for control of the tandem cold metal rolling process carries over well as a basis for the development of an improved method for control of the much more complex tandem hot metal strip rolling process. We present in this paper a comprehensive model of this process plus the results of our initial efforts toward the development of a suitable process controller. The strong possibility of significant improvement in the quality of the final product is shown by the results of simulations with the new controller is coupled to the model.