Development of scalable real-time observers for continuous reheating furnaces based on mathematical modeling techniques

This paper presents a computationally scalable real-time observer, which allows the evolution of temperature distribution within slabs reheated in continuous furnaces to be tracked. Accurate tracking of skidmarks requires the use of two-dimensional models, which demand high computational power, generally provided by multiprocessor computers. To evaluate the behaviour of the observer under both typical and extreme operational conditions, a simulator of a complete furnace is presented. The emulation of extreme operational conditions using a real furnace would be impossible, due to the material waste and the cost of delaying normal production. This furnace simulator is the simplest method of generating the variables of the temperatures in the various furnace zones, which are fed to the observer during its operation in real time. Finally, in order to configure the observer, a simple and efficient graphic method is proposed. The method generates an optimum solution, minimizing the number of processors required to fulfil the specifications and maximize their utilization under all operational conditions.