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.