Simulation Model of a Steelmaking-Continuous Casting Process Based on Dynamic-Operation Rules

Area of Science:

• Metallurgical Engineering
• Industrial Process Simulation
• Operations Research

Background:

• The steelmaking-continuous casting process (SCCP) is a complex manufacturing operation with inherent variability.
• Accurate simulation is crucial for optimizing SCCP production and addressing challenges like fluctuating cycles and ladle operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dynamic simulation model for the SCCP using Plant Simulation software.
• To design dynamic operation rules and a control program using SimTalk for continuous caster operation.
• To verify the model's effectiveness and compare scheduling strategies.

Main Methods:

• Development of a dynamic simulation model for SCCP based on Plant Simulation.
• Implementation of dynamic operation rules and a SimTalk-based control program.
• Validation using metrics like total completion time, transfer time, and ladle turnover frequency.

Main Results:

• The dynamic simulation model accurately reflects actual SCCP production behavior.
• The optimized schedule, based on 'furnace-machine coordinating' mode, reduced total completion time by 8.7 minutes and transfer waiting time by 45.5 minutes compared to heuristic schedules.
• The optimized schedule also decreased rescheduling frequency, demonstrating superior application effects.

Conclusions:

• The dynamic simulation model is effective for simulating and optimizing SCCP.
• The 'furnace-machine coordinating' scheduling mode significantly improves production efficiency and reduces delays.
• This approach offers a valuable tool for enhancing operational control and decision-making in steelmaking.