Sound-based electrode-rod current control apparatus and method

Abstract

A sound-based electrode-rod current control apparatus, according to an embodiment, executes, through one or more processors, program code loaded in one or more memory devices, to control, on the basis of sound information, the amount of current applied to an electrode rod. The program code is executed to: detect sound inside an electric furnace via a plurality of sound sensors disposed inside the electric furnace; classify types of sound information of the detected sound by using a first artificial intelligence model; and adjust the amount of current to the electrode rod on the basis of the sound information classified by type.

Description

Acoustic-based electrode current control device and method

[0001] The present invention relates to an acoustic-based electrode current control device and method, and more specifically, to an acoustic-based electrode current control device and method for improving the operational productivity of scrap.

[0002] Traditional steel production methods have adopted a method of reducing and melting iron ore in a blast furnace before refining it in a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF). The molten iron produced in a blast furnace is called pig iron. Pig iron is transferred to a BOF and refined into molten steel. This BOF-BF method adopts a method of reducing iron ore using coke, specifically carbon from the coke or carbon monoxide generated from the coke; however, the use of coke inevitably causes large amounts of CO or CO2 emissions.

[0003] To reduce such carbon emissions, the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) is being recently developed and introduced. An EAF refers to an electric furnace that melts iron sources (e.g., cold iron sources) using an arc generated from electrode rods. The EAF accepts Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI), scrap, and other auxiliary materials and melts them using the arc from the electrode rods.

[0004] One embodiment of the present invention aims to provide an acoustic-based electrode current control device and method that installs an acoustic sensor inside and / or outside an electric furnace and controls the amount of current applied to an electrode rod based on sensed acoustic information.

[0005] Among the embodiments, the acoustic-based electrode current control device is an acoustic-based electrode current control device that controls the amount of current applied to an electrode based on acoustic information by executing program code loaded into one or more memory devices through one or more processors, wherein the program code is executed to detect sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace, classifies the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model, and can adjust the amount of current of the electrode based on the acoustic information classified by type.

[0006] It may further include controlling the intensity of stirring of the electric furnace based on the above type of acoustic information.

[0007] The plurality of acoustic sensors mentioned above may be positioned between the lance and the road line so as to be adjacent to the lance.

[0008] Detecting sounds inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace may include detecting charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise inside the electric furnace.

[0009] Classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the above-detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model may include distinguishing the acoustic information as one of charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise.

[0010] Adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the classified acoustic information classified by the above types may include applying the acoustic information to one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on the type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model, and adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the applied acoustic information using one of the second artificial intelligence models.

[0011] Among the embodiments, the acoustic-based electrode current control method may include the steps of detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace, classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model, and adjusting the current amount of the electrode based on the acoustic information classified by type.

[0012] The method may further include a step of controlling the intensity of stirring of the electric furnace based on the above type of acoustic information.

[0013] The step of detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace may include the step of detecting the sound through the plurality of acoustic sensors disposed between the lance and the hearth so as to be adjacent to the lance inside the electric furnace.

[0014] The step of detecting sounds inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace may include detecting charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise inside the electric furnace.

[0015] The step of classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model may include distinguishing the acoustic information as one of charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise.

[0016] The step of adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the classified acoustic information classified by the above types may include the step of applying the acoustic information to one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on the type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model, and the step of adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the applied acoustic information using one of the second artificial intelligence models.

[0017] A method for controlling the current amount of an electrode rod based on acoustics according to one embodiment may include the steps of detecting sound inside an electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside an electric furnace, classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model, applying the acoustic information to one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on the type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model, and selectively adjusting the current amount of an electrode rod inside the electric furnace or the intensity of stirring using one of the second artificial intelligence models.

[0018] An acoustic-based electrode current control device and method according to one embodiment of the present invention can install an acoustic sensor inside and / or outside an electric furnace and control the amount of current applied to the electrode based on the sensed acoustic information.

[0019] FIG. 1 schematically shows an acoustic-based electrode current control system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an acoustic-based electrode current control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4 are flowcharts of an acoustic-based electrode current control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a computing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The acoustic-based electrode current control method detects sounds inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors placed inside the electric furnace, classifies the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sounds using a first artificial intelligence model, and can adjust the current amount of the electrode based on the acoustic information classified by type.

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification are denoted by similar reference numerals.

[0025] Throughout the specification and claims, when a part is described as "comprising" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. Such terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0026] Terms such as "...part," "...unit," and "module" as used in the specification may refer to a unit capable of processing at least one function or operation described in this specification, and may be implemented as hardware or a circuit, software, or a combination of hardware or a circuit and software.

[0027] In addition, at least some components or functions of the acoustic-based electrode current control device and method according to the embodiments described below may be implemented as a program or software, and the program or software may be stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 schematically shows an acoustic-based electrode current control system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, the electrode current amount control system may include an acoustic sensor (10), an electric furnace (20), and an acoustic-based electrode current amount control device (100).

[0031] The acoustic sensor (10), electric furnace (20), and acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can be connected to each other via a wired / wireless network to communicate with one another.

[0032] The acoustic sensor (10) can be attached inside the electric furnace.

[0033] The acoustic sensor (10) converts an acoustic signal containing acoustic information into an electrical signal and detects it. The detected acoustic information can be classified by type.

[0034] For example, the acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can classify acoustic information by type using a pre-learned classification model.

[0035] Acoustic sensors (10) may be provided in multiple numbers. Multiple acoustic sensors (10) may be positioned adjacent to a lance within an electric furnace. For example, multiple acoustic sensors (10) may be positioned between the lance and the furnace head.

[0036] An electric furnace (20) refers to a furnace that melts and refines metal using heat generated by electricity. The types are broadly divided into electric arc, electric resistance, and induction heating depending on how the electricity is specifically used.

[0037] A typical example is an electric arc furnace that melts iron by heating it with the heat of an arc discharge generated from electrodes to which high voltage is applied. Scrap metal is used as the main raw material.

[0038] The electric furnace (20) includes electrode rods and stirring. The electrode rods are used to supply current in the electric furnace (20) to generate high temperature and melt metal. Stirring is used to mix and homogenize the molten metal inside the electric furnace.

[0039] The electric furnace (20) can reduce power consumption and increase the melting speed by optimizing the position of the electrode rod and current conditions.

[0040] The electric furnace (20) includes a lance and a furnace head. The lance is a device for introducing gas or material into the electric furnace or inducing a reaction, and the furnace head is the bottom part of the electric furnace, serving to contain molten metal and slag that accumulates from melting.

[0041] In one embodiment, the electric furnace (20) includes one or more processors. The processor is electrically and / or telecommunicationally connected to the electric furnace (20) and the acoustic sensor (10) within the electric furnace. The processor determines a subsequent action based on acoustic information provided by the acoustic sensor. The subsequent action includes, for example, deep learning (or machine learning) inference and / or electrode rod control.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-described processor may be implemented as an acoustic-based electrode current control device (100). Alternatively, the acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) may include one or more of the above-described processors.

[0043] That is, the acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can classify acoustic information received through an acoustic sensor (10) that collects acoustic information within an electric furnace (20) by type, and control the current amount of the electrode rod within the electric furnace using an artificial intelligence model based on the type of acoustic information.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an acoustic-based electrode current control device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] An acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) according to one embodiment can execute program code or instructions loaded into one or more memory devices through one or more processors.

[0046] For example, the acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) may be implemented as a computing device (900) as described below in relation to FIG. 5. In this case, one or more processors may correspond to the processor (910) of the computing device (900), and one or more memory devices may correspond to the memory (930) of the computing device (900).

[0047] Program code or instructions can be executed by one or more processors to control the amount of current applied to electrode rods in an electric furnace based on acoustic information. In this specification, the term "module" has been used to logically distinguish these functions performed by program code or instructions.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 2, the acoustic-based electrode current amount control device (100) may include an acoustic information receiving module (110), an acoustic information classification module (120), an electrode current amount control module (130), and a stirring control module (140).

[0049] The acoustic information receiving module (110) can detect sounds inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors placed inside the electric furnace.

[0050] For example, the acoustic information receiving module (110) can detect charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise inside the electric furnace.

[0051] Charging noise occurs during the process of feeding scrap into the electric furnace. Arcing noise occurs while an arc is generated at the electrode rod to heat and melt the scrap. Scrap collapse noise occurs during the process where the scrap structurally collapses as it melts due to the heat from the electrode.

[0052] The acoustic information classification module (120) can classify the type of acoustic information for the detected sound using the first artificial intelligence model.

[0053] The acoustic information classification module (120) can distinguish acoustic information as any one of charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise.

[0054] The artificial intelligence classification model of the acoustic information classification module (120) may be a multilayer neural network model and is not particularly limited.

[0055] The acoustic information classification module (120) provides the received acoustic information to a classification model and can distinguish the received acoustic information as any one of charging noise, arcing noise, and / or scrap collapse noise from the output of the classification model.

[0056] The electrode rod current amount control module (130) can control the current amount of the electrode rod based on acoustic information classified by type.

[0057] The electrode rod current amount control module (130) can apply acoustic information to any one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on a type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model.

[0058] The electrode rod current amount control module (130) can control the current amount of the electrode rod based on acoustic information using any one of the second artificial intelligence models. The second artificial intelligence model may include an anomaly detection model.

[0059] An anomaly detection model refers to a model that determines received acoustic information as at least one of normal, anomaly, and / or unclear.

[0060] Acoustic information received from an acoustic sensor may be applied to a classification model and an anomaly model, respectively, or primarily applied to a classification model, and then selectively applied to one of a plurality of anomaly models (e.g., a charging noise anomaly model, an arcing noise anomaly model, and / or a scrap collapse noise anomaly model) based on the output of the classification model.

[0061] For example, the electrode current control module (130) can control the current of the electrode causing the anomaly when an anomaly is detected in the arcing noise.

[0062] Anomalies detected in arcing noise can be a method of detecting abnormal conditions through abnormal noise during arc discharge occurring between the electrode and the molten metal in an electric furnace (EAF).

[0063] Additionally, the electrode current control module (130) can control the current of the electrode causing the anomaly when an anomaly is detected in the scrap collapse noise.

[0064] The stirring control module (140) can control the intensity of stirring of the electric furnace based on the type of acoustic information.

[0065] The stirring control module (140) may be implemented as a separate processor from the electrode rod current amount control module (130), or the electrode rod current amount control module (130) and the stirring control module (140) may be implemented as a single processor.

[0066] If the stirring control module (140) and the electrode rod current amount control module (130) are implemented as separate processors, the two processors can be electrically connected to each other.

[0067] The stirring control module (140) can adjust the stirring intensity based on deep learning inference. For example, the stirring control module (140) can perform electromagnetic stirring at different intensities or directions based on a classification model when charging noise is detected, when arcing noise is detected, and / or when scrap collapse noise is detected.

[0068] FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4 are flowcharts of an acoustic-based electrode current control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] The acoustic-based electrode current control methods of FIGS. 3 and 4 can be performed through an acoustic-based electrode current control device (100, see FIG. 1).

[0070] Figure 3 may be a case where the stirring control module (140, see Figure 2) and the electrode rod current amount control module (130, see Figure 2) are an integrated module.

[0071] In FIG. 3, the acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can detect sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors placed inside the electric furnace (step S310).

[0072] Acoustic sensors may be positioned between the lance and the hearth so as to be adjacent to the lance inside the electric furnace. The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) detects charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise inside the electric furnace.

[0073] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can classify the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model (step S320).

[0074] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can distinguish acoustic information as any one of charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise.

[0075] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can control the current amount of the electrode based on the acoustic information classified by type (step S330).

[0076] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can apply acoustic information to any one of a plurality of different artificial intelligence models based on the type classified according to the output of the classification model.

[0077] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can control the current amount of the electrode based on applied acoustic information by using any one of the artificial intelligence models.

[0078] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can control the intensity of stirring of the electric furnace based on the type of acoustic information (step S340).

[0079] Figure 4 may be a case where the stirring control module (140, see Figure 2) and the electrode rod current amount control module (130, see Figure 2) are separate modules.

[0080] In FIG. 4, the acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can detect sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors placed inside the electric furnace (step S410).

[0081] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can classify the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model (step S420).

[0082] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can apply acoustic information to any one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on a type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model (step S430).

[0083] The acoustic-based electrode current control device (100) can selectively control the current amount of the electrode in the electric furnace or the intensity of stirring using any one of the second artificial intelligence models (step S440).

[0084] FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a computing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 5, the acoustic-based electrode current amount control device and method according to the embodiments can be implemented using a computing device (900).

[0086] The computing device (900) may include at least one of a processor (910), memory (930), user interface input device (940), user interface output device (950), and storage device (560) that communicate via a bus (920). The computing device (900) may also include a network interface (970) that is electrically connected to a network (90). The network interface (970) may transmit or receive signals to or from other entities via the network (90).

[0087] The processor (910) can be implemented in various types such as an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), AP (Application Processor), CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), NPU (Neural Processing Unit), etc., and may be any semiconductor device that executes instructions stored in memory (930) or storage device (960). The processor (910) may be configured to implement the functions and methods described above in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0088] The memory (930) and storage device (960) may include various forms of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory may include ROM (read-only memory) (931) and RAM (random access memory) (932). In this embodiment, the memory (930) may be located inside or outside the processor (910), and the memory (930) may be connected to the processor (910) through various known means.

[0089] In some embodiments, at least some of the configurations or functions of the acoustic-based electrode current amount control device and method according to the embodiments may be implemented as a program or software executed on a computing device (900), and the program or software may be stored on a computer-readable medium.

[0090] In some embodiments, at least some configurations or functions of the acoustic-based electrode current amount control device and method according to the embodiments may be implemented using hardware or circuits of the computing device (900), or may be implemented using separate hardware or circuits that can be electrically connected to the computing device (900).

[0091] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs, utilizing the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims, also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0092] Acoustic-based electrode current control device and method are industrially applicable by installing an acoustic sensor inside and / or outside an electric furnace and controlling the amount of current applied to the electrode based on the sensed acoustic information.

Claims

1. An acoustic-based electrode current control device that controls the amount of current applied to an electrode based on acoustic information by executing program code loaded into one or more memory devices through one or more processors, The above processor is, Detecting sounds inside the electric furnace from multiple acoustic sensors placed inside the electric furnace, and Classify the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model, and Acoustic-based electrode current control device that controls the current amount of the electrode rod based on the acoustic information classified by type.

2. In Paragraph 1, Further comprising controlling the stirring intensity of the electric furnace based on the above type of acoustic information. Acoustic-based electrode current control device.

3. In Paragraph 1, The plurality of acoustic sensors are positioned between the lance and the road line so as to be adjacent to the lance. Acoustic-based electrode current control device.

4. In Paragraph 1, Detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace is, Includes detecting charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise inside the electric furnace. Acoustic-based electrode current control device.

5. In Paragraph 1, Classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the above-mentioned detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model is, Includes distinguishing the above acoustic information as any one of charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise, Acoustic-based electrode current control device.

6. In Paragraph 1, Adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the acoustic information classified by the above types is, Based on the type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model, the acoustic information is applied to one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models, and Controlling the current amount of the electrode rod based on the authorized acoustic information using any one of the second artificial intelligence models above. Acoustic-based electrode current control device.

7. A step of detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace; A step of classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model; and Acoustic-based electrode current control method comprising the step of controlling the current amount of the electrode rod based on acoustic information classified by type.

8. In Paragraph 7, A step further comprising controlling the intensity of stirring of the electric furnace based on the type of the above acoustic information, Acoustic-based electrode current control method.

9. In Paragraph 7, The step of detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace is, A method comprising the step of detecting the sound through a plurality of acoustic sensors positioned between the lance and the hearth so as to be adjacent to the lance inside the electric furnace. Acoustic-based electrode current control method.

10. In Paragraph 7, The step of detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace is, A step comprising detecting charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise inside the electric furnace, Acoustic-based electrode current control method.

11. In Paragraph 7, The step of classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the above-mentioned detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model is, A step comprising distinguishing the above acoustic information as any one of charging noise, arcing noise, or scrap collapse noise, Acoustic-based electrode current control method.

12. In Paragraph 7, The step of adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the classified acoustic information classified by the above types is: A step of applying the acoustic information to any one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on a type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model; and A step comprising adjusting the current amount of the electrode rod based on the authorized acoustic information using any one of the second artificial intelligence models, Acoustic-based electrode current control method.

13. A step of detecting sound inside the electric furnace from a plurality of acoustic sensors disposed inside the electric furnace; A step of classifying the type of acoustic information regarding the detected sound using a first artificial intelligence model; and A step of applying the acoustic information to any one of a plurality of different second artificial intelligence models based on the type classified according to the output of the first artificial intelligence model; and An acoustic-based electrode current control method comprising the step of selectively controlling the current amount of an electrode rod in an electric furnace or the intensity of stirring using any one of the second artificial intelligence models above.

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