Immersion Nozzle Straightening for Optical Cored Wire Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for temperature measurement in molten metal baths, particularly in electric arc furnaces, suffer from precision errors due to bending of optical cored wires caused by buoyancy forces, fluid currents, and residual casting, leading to immersion depth deviations and inaccurate readings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a feeding and straightening device with motor-driven rollers and non-motor-driven nozzle straighteners within an immersion nozzle, which reduces bending by providing a second straightening stage before immersion, utilizing purge gas to cool and align the optical cored wire, ensuring precise alignment and minimal immersion depth deviation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single feeding and straightening device is used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of wire alignment is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The straightening system is divided into two independent stages: a feeding and straightening device positioned outside the furnace, and additional straighteners integrated into the immersion nozzle. This segmentation allows each stage to contribute to overall alignment precision without requiring one complex device to handle all functions
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding and straightening device performs preliminary straightening of the optical cored wire before it enters the molten metal bath. This preliminary action reduces the bending load on the immersion nozzle straighteners, enabling better final alignment precision without excessive complexity in the nozzle assembly
2Measurement precision
If the optical cored wire is fed directly into the molten metal bath without additional straightening, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is compromised due to wire bending
Solution Approach 1:
Straightening capability is concentrated at the critical location where the wire enters the molten metal bath through the immersion nozzle. This local quality enhancement ensures proper alignment at the measurement point without requiring complex straightening mechanisms throughout the entire wire path
Solution Approach 2:
The immersion nozzle acts as an intermediary device that provides final straightening adjustment to the optical cored wire immediately before immersion. This intermediary straightening stage corrects any residual bending from the feeding device, ensuring the wire enters the bath in proper alignment for accurate temperature measurement
3Productivity
If motor-driven rollers are used for feeding, then the productivity is high, but the wire alignment is disturbed due to motor vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding system separates motor-driven propulsion from the straightening function. Motor-driven rollers provide high-speed feeding, while subsequent straightening stages (both in the feeding device and immersion nozzle) correct any vibration-induced misalignment, maintaining both productivity and precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly enhances temperature measurement precision by minimizing immersion depth deviations and maintaining the optical cored wire's alignment, resulting in more accurate temperature readings.
Implementation Method 1
an immersed optical fiber can be used to receive and carry thermal radiation from the molten metal
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for feeding an optical cored wire into a molten metal bath and an immersion system and an immersion nozzle to carry out the method. The optical cored wire (6) is decoiled, a feeding and straightening device (4) with a plurality of rollers (20, 21) conducts feeding of the optical cored wire (6) in a feeding direction towards the metal bath (11) as well as a first straightening of the optical cored wire (6), and subsequently a separated further plurality of non-motor driven nozzle straighteners (13) arranged between the feeding and straightening device (4) and the metal bath (11) conducts a second straightening of the optical cored wire (6). Very high precision of temperature measurement can thereby be achieved.