Charge surface profile detection device and operation method of various facilities

Abstract

A detection device for three-dimensionally detecting the surface profile of a charge material has a simpler, smaller, and lighter configuration. [Solution] A detection device that is installed at the opening of a container of various equipment, transmits a detection wave through the opening toward the surface of a charge material that has been supplied to the container and piled up, and receives the detection wave reflected by the surface to detect the surface profile of the charge material, and is equipped with a transmitting / receiving means that transmits and receives the detection wave, an antenna that is connected to the transmitting / receiving means and transmits and receives the detection wave, and a scanning means that includes a first motor that rotates the antenna in a first direction relative to the surface of the piled up charge material, and a second motor that rotates the antenna in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and by using a point on the axis of the antenna as a rotation fulcrum and rotating the antenna in the first direction and the second direction, the surface of the charge material is scanned in a planar manner with the detection wave.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a detection device for three-dimensionally detecting the surface profile of a charge deposited in a vessel of various equipment, and also to a method for operating various equipment using said detection device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a detection device for detecting the surface profile of a burden material that is charged and piled up in a container of various facilities, such as iron ore or coke in a blast furnace, molten steel in a converter, coal in a hopper, garbage in a garbage incinerator, or grains in a storage facility such as a silo, by transmitting a detection wave toward the surface of the burden material and receiving the reflected wave.

[0003] For example, in a blast furnace, iron ore and coke are usually charged alternately from the top of the furnace, and the charging operation is performed so that the surface profile of the charged materials is an inverted cone shape like an antlion's pit. In such a blast furnace, forming an appropriate deposition state of iron ore and coke stabilizes the gas flow within the furnace, making it possible to reduce fuel costs and extend the life of the furnace body. To achieve an appropriate deposition state, it is necessary to accurately measure the surface profiles of the iron ore and coke in a short time and replenish the iron ore and coke so that a predetermined theoretical deposition state, i.e., a "theoretical deposition profile," is achieved.

[0004] In order to detect such a surface profile of the burden material in a blast furnace, the present applicant has also previously proposed a detection device shown in Patent Document 1. The detection device described in Patent Document 1 uses a variable-angle reflector, the inclination angle of the reflecting surface of the detection wave toward the blast furnace being variable, and a fixed-angle reflector, and the variable-angle reflector and the fixed-angle reflector are attached to a rotating plate that rotates horizontally with the opening of the blast furnace, and by rotating the rotating plate, the surface profile of the burden material accumulated in the blast furnace can be quickly detected in a linear or planar manner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6857933 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The detection device in Patent Document 1 is configured to transmit detection waves in the radial direction of the blast furnace by adjusting the inclination angle of the angle-variable reflector while rotating the rotating plate. Therefore, the detection device needs a capacity to accommodate the angle-variable reflector, which limits how compact it can be.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a detection device for three-dimensionally detecting the surface profile of a burden material, which has a simpler configuration and is smaller and lighter in weight. Another aim of the present invention is to provide an operating method using such a detection device and supplying a burden material to a vessel of equipment based on the detection results. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following charge surface profile detection devices (1) to (6).

[0009] (1) A detection device that is installed at the opening of a container of various equipment, transmits a detection wave through the opening toward the surface of a charge material that is supplied to and accumulated in the container, and receives the detection wave reflected by the surface to detect the surface profile of the charge material, a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the detection wave; an antenna connected to the transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the detection wave; a scanning means including a first motor for rotating the antenna in a first direction relative to the surface of the piled material and a second motor for rotating the antenna in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; Equipped with A surface profile detection device for a charge material, characterized in that a point on the axis of the antenna is used as a rotation fulcrum, and the antenna is rotated in the first direction and the second direction, thereby scanning the surface of the charge material in a planar manner with the detection wave. (2) a housing that further accommodates the transmitting / receiving means, the antenna, and the scanning means, has an opening for passing the detection wave from the antenna, and is installed at the opening of the container; a first mounting member including a pair of first arms protruding toward the antenna and fixed to the housing, and a first bottom portion connecting the first arms, the first motor being attached to the first bottom portion on the side opposite the antenna; a second mounting member disposed between the pair of first arms, comprising a pair of second arms parallel to the first arms, and a second bottom connecting the pair of second arms and parallel to the first bottom, the second arms supporting the antenna, one of the second arms connected to an output shaft of the second motor, and the second bottom connected to an output shaft of the first motor; The surface profile detection device for a charge according to (1) is characterized by comprising: (3) The surface profile detection device for a charge material according to (1), characterized in that the detection wave is a microwave or a millimeter wave. (4) The surface profile detection device for a charge according to (2), characterized in that the antenna is a drop antenna. (5) The surface profile detection device for a charge material according to (1), characterized in that measurements are repeatedly taken at the same rotation position of the antenna and the average value is treated as the measurement result.

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention also provides the following (6) methods for operating various types of equipment.

[0011] (6) A method for operating various equipment, characterized by using the surface profile detection device for charge material according to any one of (1) to (5), and controlling the amount of the charge material to be charged into a vessel of the various equipment based on the surface profile of the charge material.

[0012] In the following description, the "surface profile detection device for the charge material" will also be simply referred to as the "detection device." [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a detection device that has a simpler configuration and is smaller and lighter in size.

[0014] Furthermore, based on the detection results, it becomes possible to appropriately supply materials to the equipment containers, thereby enabling stable operation of various equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a state in which a detection device is attached to a vessel (blast furnace), and is a schematic diagram for explaining scanning of the surface of a burden material by a detection wave. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating main components of an example of a detection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view of the inside of the housing of the detection device shown in FIG. 2, viewed from the drop antenna side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. 2, and is an explanatory diagram when the second motor is driven. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and is an explanatory diagram when the first motor is driven. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be implemented with any modifications within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0017] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a detection device 1 installed in an opening 101 formed in a blast furnace 100 as a container for various facilities such as iron ore and coke in a blast furnace, molten steel in a converter, coal in a hopper, garbage in a garbage incinerator, and grains in a storage facility such as a silo. Charge materials 110 such as iron ore and coke are charged (supplied) into the blast furnace 100 via a chute 120 and piled up, and a detection wave M is used to planarly scan the surface 110a of the charge materials 110.

[0018] 2 is a perspective view showing the main components of the detection device 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, a detection wave M is transmitted and received from a transmitting / receiving means 50 via an antenna through an opening 101 of a blast furnace 100. The detection wave M is preferably a microwave or a millimeter wave.

[0019] There are no limitations on the antenna, and it may be a horn antenna or one equipped with a dielectric lens. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, a drop antenna 45 is preferred. This drop antenna 45 is equipped with a drop-shaped dielectric lens, and has the characteristics of obtaining high gain with a simple structure and having high aperture efficiency. In addition, the drop antenna 45 is housed in a cylindrical antenna case 47.

[0020] The main components, such as the drop antenna 45, antenna case 47, transmitting / receiving means 50, and a first motor 63 and a second motor 65 described below, are housed in a housing 90. The housing 90 is attached to an opening 101 of a blast furnace 100 by a mounting bracket 95. The detection wave M is transmitted from the drop antenna 45 to the inside of the blast furnace 100 through a detection wave transmitting / receiving port 92 of the housing 90. The detection wave transmitting / receiving port 92 can be blocked with a detection wave transmitting plate 96 made of Teflon (registered trademark), glass, ceramics, or the like to prevent high heat and dust from entering the blast furnace 100 and protect the detection device 1.

[0021] A first bracket 70 protruding toward the drop antenna 45 is fixed to the housing 90. Fig. 3 is a view of the inside of the housing 90 seen from the drop antenna 45 side. The first bracket 70 (first mounting member) has a U-shaped cross section and is composed of a pair of arms 72, 72 (first arms) protruding from the housing 90 toward the drop antenna 45, and a bottom 74 (first bottom) connecting the arms 72, 72. A first motor 63 is disposed in the center of the bottom 74 of the first bracket 70, below in the figure, and an output shaft 64 of the first motor 63 is connected to a bottom 84 of the second bracket 80.

[0022] The second bracket 80 (second mounting member) is disposed between the pair of arms 72, 72 of the first bracket 70. The second bracket 80 has a U-shaped cross section and is composed of a pair of arms 82, 82 (second arms) extending opposite the bottom 74 of the first bracket 70, and a bottom 84 (second bottom) connecting the arms 82, 82. The arms 72, 72 of the first bracket 70 and the arms 82, 82 of the second bracket 80 are parallel, and the bottom 74 of the first bracket 70 and the bottom 84 of the second bracket 80 are parallel.

[0023] The arms 82, 82 of the second bracket 80 support the antenna case 47, and a second motor 65 is disposed on the outside of one of the arms 82 (the left side in the drawing, but it can also be the right side), and an output shaft 66 of the second motor 65 is connected to one of the arms 82 of the second bracket 80. The other arm 82 (the right side in the drawing) of the second bracket 80 supports the antenna case 47 via a bearing 68 disposed on an extension of the output shaft 66.

[0024] In this way, the first motor 63 and the second motor 65 are arranged perpendicular to each other, and the output shaft 64 of the first motor 63 is connected to the second bracket 80, and the output shaft 66 of the second motor 65 is connected to the second bracket 80 that supports the antenna case 47.

[0025] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, which is a view taken along the arrow BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, which is a view taken along the arrow AA in FIG. 2, the tilting manner of the drop antenna 45 when the first motor 63 and the second motor 65 are driven will be described.

[0026] When the second motor 65 is rotated, the antenna case 47, the drop antenna 45, and the transmitting / receiving means 50, which are supported on the output shaft 66 of the second motor 65, rotate together with the output shaft 66 of the second motor 65. As shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 4, when the second motor 65 is rotated forward and backward within a certain range, the antenna case 47, the drop antenna 45, and the transmitting / receiving means 50 rotate in the first direction R1 around the output shaft 66 of the second motor 65 as the rotation fulcrum O, and the irradiation destination of the detection wave M also changes accordingly.

[0027] When the first motor 63 is driven, the second motor 65, the antenna case 47, the drop antenna 45, and the transmitting / receiving means 50, which are connected to the second bracket 80 attached to the output shaft 64 of the first motor 63, rotate together with the output shaft 64 of the first motor 63. As indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5, when the first motor 63 is rotated forward and backward within a certain range, the second bracket 80, the second motor 65, the antenna case 47, the drop antenna 45, and the transmitting / receiving means 50 rotate in the second direction R2 around the output shaft 64 of the first motor 63 as the rotation fulcrum O, and the irradiation destination of the detection wave M also changes accordingly.

[0028] The rotation fulcrum O is preferably the output shaft 64 of the first motor 63 and the output shaft 66 of the second motor 65, and also, as shown in the figure, the protruding length of the drop antenna 45 is preferably adjusted so that it is located at a point (up to the protruding tip) on the axis of the drop antenna 45. As a result, the protruding tip of the drop antenna 45 becomes a position equivalent to the rotation fulcrum O, and the drop antenna 45 rotates in the first direction R1 and the second direction R2 around that point to transmit and receive the detection wave M.

[0029] In this way, by controlling the first motor 63 and the second motor 65, the detection wave M from the drop antenna 45 can be used to planarly scan the surface 110a of the charge 110 in the blast furnace 100.

[0030] Furthermore, during scanning, the first motor 63 and the second motor 65 can be stopped at any position, and measurements using the detection wave M can be repeatedly performed at the stopped position, and the received data can be averaged to attenuate randomly changing reflected waves and floor noise from the load 110 by 1 / √N (where N is the "number of repeated measurements"). This allows the surface profile of the load 110 to be measured more accurately.

[0031] As described above, in the detection device of Patent Document 1, scanning is performed with the detection wave M via an angle-variable reflector, but in this embodiment, by using a method in which the antenna itself rotates, the angle-variable reflector is not required, and therefore the detection device 1 can be significantly simplified and made smaller and lighter.

[0032] [Operation method] The present invention also relates to a method for operating various facilities such as a blast furnace 100 using the above-mentioned detection device 1. That is, by accurately measuring the surface profile of the charge material 110 using the detection device 1 and controlling the amount of the charge material 110 being charged into the vessel of the various facilities such as the blast furnace 100 based on the measured surface profile, the various facilities can be operated well and stably. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Detection device 45 Drop Antenna 47 Antenna Case 50 Transmission and Reception Means 63 First Motor 64,66 Output shaft 65 Second Motor 68 Bearings 70 First bracket (first mounting member) 72 Arm (first arm) 74 Bottom (First Bottom) 80 Second bracket (second mounting member) 82 Arm (Second Arm) 84 Bottom (Second Bottom) 90 Housing 92 Detection wave transmission / reception port 95 Mounting Bracket 96 Detection wave transmission plate 100 blast furnace 101 Aperture 110 Charge 110a surface 120 shots

Claims

1. A detection device that is installed at an opening of a container of various equipment, transmits a detection wave through the opening toward a surface of a charge material that is supplied to and accumulated in the container, and receives the detection wave reflected by the surface to detect a surface profile of the charge material, a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the detection wave; an antenna connected to the transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving the detection wave; a scanning means including a first motor for rotating the antenna in a first direction relative to the surface of the piled charge and a second motor for rotating the antenna in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; Equipped with A surface profile detection device for a load material, characterized in that a point on the axis of the antenna is used as a rotation fulcrum, and the antenna is rotated in the first direction and the second direction, thereby scanning the surface of the load material in a planar manner with the detection wave.

2. a housing that accommodates the transmitting / receiving means, the antenna, and the scanning means, has an opening for passing the detection wave from the antenna, and is installed at the opening of the container; a first mounting member including a pair of first arms protruding toward the antenna and fixed to the housing, and a first bottom portion connecting the first arms, the first motor being attached to the first bottom portion on the side opposite the antenna; a second mounting member disposed between the pair of first arms, the second mounting member comprising a pair of second arms parallel to the first arms, and a second bottom connecting the pair of second arms and parallel to the first bottom, the second arms supporting the antenna, one of the second arms connected to an output shaft of the second motor, and the second bottom connected to an output shaft of the first motor; The charge surface profile detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

3. 2. The apparatus for detecting the surface profile of a charge according to claim 1, wherein the detection wave is a microwave or a millimeter wave.

4. 3. The apparatus for detecting the surface profile of a charge as claimed in claim 2, wherein said antenna is a drop antenna.

5. 2. The apparatus for detecting the surface profile of a charge according to claim 1, wherein the measurement is repeatedly carried out at the same rotation position of the antenna, and the average value thereof is used as the measurement result.

6. A method for operating various equipment, characterized in that the amount of the charge material to be charged into a container of the equipment is controlled based on the surface profile of the charge material using the surface profile detection device of the charge material according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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