Thermal imaging system detects steel slag

The software system in a thermal imaging system provides steel plant engineers with the tools to develop and improve the transfer of steel from one process to another.

The new SDS slag detection system from Land Instruments International combines the latest thermal imaging technology and almost 60 years' experience of the steel industry to control slag carry-over from furnace to ladle.

Once the system hardware is installed in a suitable position to view the tapping area, the pre-installed and configured image processing software works 'straight out of the box' with minimum set-up - a feature not available with any other system.

The operator has access to all the data for quality control purposes, and can view critical information such as the live thermal image, steel and slag percentages, time versus percentages graph, alarm level and alarm status.

Secondary information such as tap number and sensor temperature is also available, but is less prominent so as not to distract the operator during the tap.

SDS records each tap and simultaneously generates a log and graph of the steel/slag data.

When a pre-set percentage of slag or steel is detected within the defined window, an alarm is generated to stop the tap and the video, text and graph files are saved and identified by tap number for later analysis.

There are a number of interconnectivity options for on-line control, and tap data is automatically recorded in three forms for post analysis and future process improvement.

In addition, up to four users can view remotely a condensed view of the live tap anywhere on the plant Inputs and outputs from the steel plant and slag detection system include digital output, DDE, OLE, Ethernet and OPC.

Data to the SDS includes tap number, alarm level and five unique user-specified variables, such as charge number, heat number, steel grade and tap temperature.

The SDS software system has been purpose-designed to provide steel plant engineers with the tools to develop and improve the transfer of steel from one process to another.

The SDS camera uses a focal plane array microbolometer with a temperature measurement range of 600 to 2000 deg C and a thermal image resolution of 320 x 240 pixels.

Its operating wavelength is 3.9?m, with a field of view 6 deg x 4.5 deg and a motorised focusing range from 3m to infinity.

The thermal imaging camera is shielded from the harsh conditions in the tapping 'front line' by a comprehensive enclosure incorporating a robust housing with a durable sapphire protection window, an adjustable mounting assembly for precise alignment with the tapping stream, and air purging and water cooling services.

Protection against the impact of liquid metal on the enclosure and sapphire window is provided by a sacrificial protection plate and sighting tube.

All the services and signal connections are at the rear of the housing for added protection.

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