How 5G Helps Steel Intelligent Manufacturing

From a microscopic point of view, OT in the steel industry can be understood as control, such as controlling a piece of equipment, involving basic automation electrical control level PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)/DCS (Distributed Control System)/Industrial Computer (L1); Looking at it, it can be understood as running, such as running a production line, involving L1 and process computer control level PCS (Process Control System) (L2). Sensing and executing the device-level L0, L1, and L2 is a narrow understanding of the OT category that is relatively common at present. OT in a narrow sense will be the main battlefield for 5G wireless connection to enter the core manufacturing process of the steel industry, and it is also the main battlefield for giving full play to the key features of 5G and reflecting its core value (as shown in the table).

 

5G empowers the L1 level of the steel manufacturing process - gradually evolving from the existing "electronic + electrical" architecture to a new "computing + communication" architecture, with a shorter scan cycle (more than 20 milliseconds, which can cover more than 70% of basic automation control) The scene) logic (control function) and parameter automatic control function are gradually migrated to the edge cloud side, truly realizing the horizontal integration and automatic data flow between various devices on a production line, and then realizing the "small closed-loop optimization control" of the entire production line.

 

      Ubiquitous cloud-based control will gradually replace traditional PLCs, DCSs and industrial computers, etc., and realize the security and reliability of core technologies such as real-time operating systems, industrial control development environments, 5G time-sensitive and deterministic networks, and unified open protocols.

 

5G empowers the L2 level of the steel manufacturing process - gradually evolves from the existing L2 system independent architecture of each production line to the multi-production line shared system architecture, and the process control function is gradually migrated to the edge cloud side, truly realizing the horizontal relationship between upstream and downstream production lines Integration, vertical integration and automatic data flow between L1 and L2 levels, to achieve "mid-closed-loop optimal control" between L1 and L2, and between upstream and downstream production lines.

 

From a macro perspective, OT can be understood as operation. For example, operating a steel company involves manufacturing execution control layer (L3), enterprise resource planning layer (L4), and business intelligence. At this stage, it is not appropriate to put all data on the central cloud, and the terminal and edge cloud (according to the prediction of the International Data Corporation IDC, more than 50% of the data will be processed on the edge) should share the necessary functions of data processing, storage, analysis and computing, etc. .

 

At present, the main application scenarios of 5G at the generalized OT level include remote control and centralized control of processes (such as steelmaking, hot rolling, cold rolling, etc.), predictive maintenance of equipment, energy efficiency and emission monitoring, and human-machine-material safety monitoring. 5G empowers the L3 level of the steel manufacturing process, which can truly realize the "large closed-loop optimization control" between L1 and L3 and between upstream and downstream processes.