Prediction of the measured temperature after the last finishing stand using artificial neural networks

In this report the development of an artificial neural network, capable of predicting the temperature after the last finishing stand of a hot strip mill for a certain class of steels, is described. Three neural networks with different numbers of hidden nodes (3, 5 and 7) were trained. The relative standard deviation in finish temperature as predicted by the best performing neural network model (7 hidden nodes] was just over 25% smaller than that of the linear Hoogovens model. This improved accuracy can be explained by the incorrect assumptior in the Hoogovens model of linear dependence of the finishing temperature on some input parameters. With the trained neural network, the influence of the various input parameters on the finishing temperature could be examined. The dependencies predicted by the neural network can be approximated by a linear fit and are a factor 2 lower for all input parameters. It is conceivable that operation of the mill using an artificial neural network for the prediction of the finishing temperature would have resulted in smaller operational fluctuations.