Speed control of a continuous casting machine using a street of coupled DC-motors at Hoogovens IJmuiden

Out of iron ore, Hoogovens makes fluid steel. Continuous casting, in which slabs are cast direct from molten metal, replaces the traditional method of pouring molten steel into a mould to produce ingots which, when solidified, are reheated and rolled into slabs. Continuous casting not only saves time and energy, but also improves the quality of the steel and increases the yield. Moreover, the process is more controllable. At the moment a continuous slab casting machine is used with a street of coupled DC-motors. At the Technical University of Delft a control simulation language PSIE has been developed, which allowed the authors to make a good control model. With this model the real system could be essentially improved. The system is made less sensitive to disturbances in the system