· Fusión y equipos ·
Wilfried Schmitz *, Frank Donsbach * and Henrik Hoff **.
* Otto Junker GmbH, Simmerath, GERMANY, ** Lios Technology GmbH, GERMANY.
67th World Foundry Congress
Dependable protection of the induction coil against overheating and, the
more so, against contact with molten metal is of vital importance for
ensuring safe and reliable operation of an induction furnace.
Addressing this requirement, various technical solutions for monitoring the
refractory crucible condition were proposed and implemented in the past
but an optimum solution has not been found as yet.
The present paper describes the development and use of a totally new
temperature measuring and monitoring system. The new system uses
fibre-optical sensors which are particularly suitable for interference-free
crucible monitoring in induction melting furnace applications, and provide
direct and independent temperature field measurement in the immediate
vicinity of the induction coil.
Following months of experiments in the test bay during which all minor
problems were duly identified and remedied, long-term tests were
conducted in several furnaces under production conditions.
The result can be summarised as follows: Crucible cracks and erosion are
detected and localised reliably and precisely and normal refractory wear is
under close control.
