A Furnace Control System for Tracing Reference Reheating Curves

A control system for tracing the reference reheating curves of individual steel slabs in continuous furnaces is presented. The system enables the predefined, controllable reheating of slabs in a furnace. The slab temperatures are obtained by the simulation of a mathematical model of the slab‐reheating process. The interior of the continuous furnace is divided into six control zones. The individual zone temperatures are adjusted by the control system in such a way that the temperatures of the slabs in the zone are as close as possible to the desired slab temperatures. To take into account delays in the production line and to synchronize the furnace with the rolling mill's capacities, a time shift of the reference reheating curves and a prolonged drop‐out interval are introduced.