Hot rolling mill hydraulic gap control (HGC) thickness control improvement

Abstract

In this article the AGC (Automated Gauge Control) system, of a hot rolling mill is analyzed and different methods are described to improve its performance. The mill stretch compensation and other disturbances during the rolling process are compensated and a rolling speed dependent, adaptive PI controller is developed to accomplish fine thickness control. The improved system has been validated by measurements. Future improvement options are also analyzed, like eccentricity compensation, and predictive control of thickness.