Two-point boundary temperature control of hot strip via water cooling

Abstract This paper presents a two-point boundary temperature control system approach, for Run Out Table (ROT) cooling, used in hot strip mills. The system relies on a linearized model for describing heat radiated to the environment and heat transferred to cooling water. A basic feedforward control design to control the temperature at the second boundary point, the only measurable controlled parameter, is first presented. A modified control scheme, which minimizes the temperature error via Dynamic Programming, is then discussed in detail. System performance analysis via simulation is presented for both control schemes. Simulation results show that temperature error minimization by Dynamic Programming improves system performance.