AMETEK Land, the global expert in temperature measurement, has enhanced its slag detection system (SDS), leading to improved yields, higher-quality end products and reduced costly downstream processing.
Text & image by AMETEK Land
The SDS V2 is ideal for use in a variety of applications across the steel-making process, including secondary steel-making vessels such as electric arc furnaces (EAF) and basic oxygen furnaces (BOF), argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) as well as specialty metals processes like stainless steel, copper, and platinum smelting. The SDS uses an industrial high-resolution, medium-wavelength smart thermal imaging camera to detect the transition between steel and slag. This dedicated camera has been specifically designed to work in harsh operating conditions where smoke and fumes obscure vision, through utilising a particular wavelength path.
Real-time camera data allows operators to make informed decisions about the tapping process, with clear alarm notifications to stop the tap before slag is carried over.
The SDS has been shown to improve operator response time and consistency at the end of each tap. This typically results in a reduction in slag depths of up to 25% compared to traditional methods of stream monitoring.
Automatic operation
Designed for automatic operation, the system helps to ensure accurate, real-time detection of steel and slag independent of charge weight and without operator intervention.
The SDS also assists the de-carbonisation process in steel production by supporting continuous process control and optimisation, energy savings and carbon emission reduction.
Slag detection is a critical process during the early stages of production, as slag can negatively affect steel quality and increase costs. Detecting and analysing the composition and amount of slag in the steel melt helps manufacturers take timely corrective actions to ensure the production of high-quality steel with minimal waste, contributing to more sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes.
Thermal imaging process
The SDS is supported by AMETEK Land’s powerful IMAGEPro thermal imaging process monitoring and control software. This includes the IMAGEPro SDS application, which allows users with the optional multi-camera licence to seamlessly integrate additional imagers into the system, enabling them to operate independently from the camera and continuous slag detection system. By using additional analysing features, such as regions of interest (ROI), together with a secondary thermal imaging camera integrated into the system, optional features such as stream position or freeboard height can provide advanced process monitoring and control.
Prasath Venkatasamy, Global Industry Manager – Metals, from AMETEK Land, said: “The cost of additional downstream processing time and materials can be a significant burden on an operating plant. By controlling slag carry-over with the aid of the latest version of our SDS, this costly downstream processing can be reduced or eliminated, improving plant throughput, product quality and operating margins.”
About this Tech Article
This tech article appeared in Stainless Steel World, January/February 2024 magazine. To read many more articles like these on an (almost) monthly basis, subscribe to our magazine (available in print and digital format) – SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR DIGITAL VERSION ARE NOW FREE.
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