Pyrometer Lance for Molten Bath Temperature Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for temperature measurement in molten bath pyro-metallurgical processes, particularly those using top submerged lancing technology, face challenges such as high fixed and operating costs, reliability issues, inaccuracy, and interference from opaque off-gases and fumes, with existing infrared and pyrometry techniques not being suitable for accurately measuring temperatures in these high-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A temperature measuring apparatus that includes a top submerged injecting lance with a pyrometer device mounted to receive infrared energy from the molten bath, allowing for accurate temperature determination of the slag phase during pyro-metallurgical operations. The lance is designed to maintain a protective slag coating through gas injection or coolant circulation, and the pyrometer device generates an output signal indicative of the bath temperature from the infrared energy received.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional thermocouples or optical pyrometers are used for temperature measurement in molten bath pyro-metallurgical processes, then temperature data can be obtained, but the measurements suffer from inaccuracy, reliability issues, and interference from opaque off-gases and fumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the lance structure itself as an intermediary medium to transmit infrared energy from the molten bath to the pyrometer receiver. The lance acts as a protective barrier that shields the measurement system from direct exposure to harsh bath conditions, opaque off-gases, and fumes, while still allowing infrared radiation to pass through to enable accurate temperature measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical contact measurement methods (thermocouples) with non-contact infrared pyrometry. This substitution eliminates the reliability issues associated with thermocouple degradation in harsh environments and removes interference from opaque off-gases and fumes that affect optical pyrometers, achieving both improved accuracy and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If a pyrometer device is mounted in relation to the top submerged injecting lance to receive infrared energy from the molten bath, then accurate temperature measurement is achieved, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pyrometer device with the existing top submerged injecting lance structure, making the lance serve dual functions: both injection and temperature measurement. The receiver unit is mounted on the lance, and the lance's cooling system serves both its protective function and the pyrometer's cooling requirements, reducing overall system complexity despite adding measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the temperature measurement system with the injecting lance by mounting the pyrometer receiver unit on the lance structure. This integration combines two separate functions (injection and measurement) into a single unified apparatus, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining measurement accuracy.
3Temperature
If the lance is cooled by circulation of coolant fluid to maintain a protective slag coating, then the lance can operate in high-temperature environment, but the device complexity and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system serves dual purposes: it cools the lance to maintain the protective slag coating and simultaneously cools the pyrometer device mounted on the lance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate cooling systems, thereby decreasing overall device complexity and operating costs while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the lance cooling system with the pyrometer cooling requirement into a single coolant circulation system. The coolant flows through both the lance and the pyrometer device, merging two cooling functions into one system, which simplifies the apparatus and reduces operating costs.
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
Enables precise and reliable temperature measurement of the molten bath in top submerged lancing operations, critical for process control and efficiency, overcoming previous limitations of inaccuracy and interference, and providing a cost-effective solution for maintaining optimal operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrometer device that receives infrared energy from the molten bath and generates a signal indicative of the temperature
Implementation Method 2
the lance is much longer and extends down through the roof of a top submerged lancing reactor... so that the lower end of the outer pipe is immersed to a depth of up to about 300 mm or more in a molten slag phase of the bath, but protected by a coating of solidified slag formed and maintained on the outer surface of the outer pipe by the cooling action of the injected gas flow within
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature measuring apparatus for a top submerged lancing installation, for use in measuring the temperature of a molten bath that includes a slag phase, during a pyro-metallurgical operation conducted in a reactor of the installation, includes a top submerged injecting top submerged injecting lance having at least an outer pipe and an inner pipe. A bore is defined by the inner pipe and an annular passage is defined in part by an inner surface of the outer pipe. The apparatus further includes a pyrometer device of which at least a sensor head part is mounted in relation to the top submerged injecting lance and operable both to receive infrared energy passing longitudinally within the lance from an outlet end of the lance. The sensor head part also is operable to focus the received infrared energy to enable generation of an output signal or display indicative of the temperature of a molten bath in which an outlet end portion of the lance is submerged and from which the infrared energy is received.