Process optimization for the manufacturing of sheets with estimated balance between product quality and energy consumption

Reducing energy consumption and emissions are crucial environmental concerns. While industry requires high-quality sheet steel for forming, the production of this steel by the steel industry consumes huge amounts of electric energy and emits considerable CO2. Conventionally, hot rolling process parameters have been determined empirically to achieve the desired mechanical properties, with the quality of the hot-rolled products having priority over energy consumption. We have developed a novel optimization system that evaluates both energy consumption in the sheet manufacturing process and the mechanical properties of the hot-rolled products. This paper describes the optimization of hot rolling strategies based on the estimation of energy consumption and prediction of mechanical properties.