The algorithm of Intelligent Control Adjustment of the Mode Map of Hot Blast Stove’s Unit Based on Fuzzy Logic

Hot blast stoves are intermittent heat exchangers designed to heat the air supplied into the blast furnace. To provide the continuity of the hot blast supply, separate stoves are combined into a unit. The definition of the time of heating and cooling periods for each stove is based on the calculation of providing the blast furnace with a hot blast with the maximum possible temperature for the entire period of operation of the hot blast stove's unit. Due to the different characteristics of the stove checkerworks, a reasonable heating time of each stove will be different; it changes over time, due to the checkerwork degradation. The studies conducted showed that to describe the state of the stove checkerworks in the unit, it is possible to use a linguistic variable with the terms ("low") and ("hard") characterizing the checkerwork capacity of heat accumulation. In this paper, a fuzzy controller is developed using the linguistic variable introduced. The controller allows controlling the heating time of each stove to provide the maximum heat absorption by the checkerwork taking into account its condition. Simulation modeling of the blast heating process showed that, providing a constant cycle time of the stove unit, the blowing temperature can be increased by 18 °C.