Load Distribution Optimization Based on Max-Min Ant Colony Algorithm in Hot Strip Rolling Process

Abstract

A reasonable allocation of load distribution is expected when the full capacity of rolling equipment is exerted, and energy conservation and strip quality requirements are satisfied. In this work, the minimum value of the mill consumptive power summation and the optimum of the mill shape are used as the target function. Based on equipment parameters of a national hot strip rolling mill, a load distribution optimization method (subjected to certain constraints) was applied and a Max-Min ant-colony algorithm was subsequently used to optimize the load distribution of the mill. The optimization value was determined from the optimal path chosen by ants, and the optimum load distribution was obtained after a series of iterations. The compression ratio from upstream stands to downstream stands decreased gradually after optimization by this method, and the proportional crowns varied less than those associated with the traditional energy method. In fact, the amplitude of fluctuation was reduced by nearly 50%, which is favorable for strip shape controlling, and the total dissipative power was lower than that of the energy consumption method. Moreover, the overall power can be reduced by 4.19%, and an optimal rolling load distribution of the hot strip rolling process can be obtained.