Control method for mill train

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine code directly executable by a control computer for a rolling mill train which causes the control computer to carry out a control method comprising:

• determining actual temperatures of strip sections of a strip upstream of a first roll stand of the rolling mill train;
• obtaining predicted temperatures of the strip sections for a time of rolling of a respective strip section in the first roll stand by a strip model based on the actual temperatures using a first prediction horizon which corresponds to a plurality of strip sections to be rolled in the first roll stand;
• predicting a roll gap profile, formed by the work rolls of the first roll stand when the respective strip section is rolled, for the first roll stand by a roll stand model using the predicted temperatures of the strip sections and a manipulated variable characteristic that influences the roll gap profile, for the strip sections corresponding to the first prediction horizon;
• optimizing the manipulated variable characteristic for the first prediction horizon based on the roll gap profile for the strip sections and a respective setpoint profile;
• determining at least one control parameter for rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand using the predicted temperatures of the strip sections, based on a current value of the optimized manipulated variable characteristic;
• and
• controlling an adjusting device acting on the first roll stand during rolling of the respective strip section taking the at least one control parameter into account, the adjusting device including an operator-side roll gap control system influencing a roll gap on an operator side of the first roll stand and a drive side roll gap control system influencing the roll gap on a drive side of the first roll stand, said controlling including
• predicting a respective current operator-side material modulus and a respective current drive-side material modulus for the strip sections, using the predicted temperatures for a time of the rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand;
• and
• parameterizing the operator-side roll gap control system and the drive-side roll gap control system at the time when the respective strip section is rolled in the first roll stand using material moduli corresponding to the at least one control parameter.

A control computer for a rolling mill train, comprising:

• an adjusting device, acting on a first roll stand of the rolling mill train during rolling of a respective strip section, the adjusting device including an operator-side roll gap control system influencing a roll gap on an operator side of the first roll stand and a drive side roll gap control system influencing the roll gap on a drive side of the first roll stand;
• and
• at least one processor programmed to perform a control method during ongoing operation that includes
• determining actual temperatures of strip sections of a strip upstream of the first roll stand of the rolling mill train;
• obtaining predicted temperatures of the strip sections for a time of rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand by a strip model based on the actual temperatures using a first prediction horizon which corresponds to a plurality of strip sections to be rolled in the first roll stand;
• predicting a roll gap profile, formed by the work rolls of the first roll stand when the respective strip section is rolled, for the first roll stand by a roll stand model using the predicted temperatures of the strip sections and a manipulated variable characteristic that influences the roll gap profile, for the strip sections corresponding to the first prediction horizon;
• optimizing the manipulated variable characteristic for the first prediction horizon based on the roll gap profile for the strip sections and a respective setpoint profile;
• determining at least one control parameter for rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand using the predicted temperatures of the strip sections, based on a current value of the optimized manipulated variable characteristic;
• and
• controlling an adjusting device acting on the first roll stand during rolling of the respective strip section taking the at least one control parameter into account, including
• predicting a respective current operator-side material modulus and a respective current drive-side material modulus for the strip sections, using the predicted temperatures for a time of the rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand, and
• parameterizing the operator-side roll gap control system and the drive-side roll gap control system at the time when the respective strip section is rolled in the first roll stand using material moduli corresponding to the at least one control parameter.

A rolling mill train for rolling a strip, comprising:

• a first roll stand;
• an adjusting device, acting on the first roll stand of the rolling mill train during rolling of a respective strip section, the adjusting device including an operator-side roll gap control system influencing a roll gap on an operator side of the first roll stand and a drive side roll gap control system influencing the roll gap on a drive side of the first roll stand;
• and
• a control computer programmed to perform a control method during ongoing operation that includes
• determining actual temperatures of strip sections of a strip upstream of a first roll stand of the rolling mill train;
• obtaining predicted temperatures of the strip sections for a time of rolling of a respective strip section in the first roll stand by a strip model based on the actual temperatures using a first prediction horizon which corresponds to a plurality of strip sections to be rolled in the first roll stand;
• predicting a roll gap profile, formed by the work rolls of the first roll stand when the respective strip section is rolled, for the first roll stand by a roll stand model using the predicted temperatures of the strip sections and a manipulated variable characteristic that influences the roll gap profile, for the strip sections corresponding to the first prediction horizon;
• optimizing the manipulated variable characteristic for the first prediction horizon based on the roll gap profile for the strip sections and a respective setpoint profile;
• determining at least one control parameter for rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand using the predicted temperatures of the strip sections, based on a current value of the optimized manipulated variable characteristic;
• and
• controlling an adjusting device acting on the first roll stand during rolling of the respective strip section taking the at least one control parameter into account, including
• predicting a respective current operator-side material modulus and a respective current drive-side material modulus for the strip sections, using the predicted temperatures for a time of the rolling of the respective strip section in the first roll stand, and
• parameterizing the operator-side roll gap control system and the drive-side roll gap control system at the time when the respective strip section is rolled in the first roll stand using material moduli corresponding to the at least one control parameter.