Spectral Composition Analysis of Liquid Metallurgical Products

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the chemical composition of liquid metallurgical products at high temperatures are limited to known products and require excitation by a light source, making them unsuitable for unknown products and unable to utilize electromagnetic radiation emitted by the products.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilizes electromagnetic radiation emitted by liquid metallurgical products, employing a spectral system with multiple spectrometers and processing means to estimate temperature and emissivity, and a probabilistic model to determine chemical composition, including a multilayer perceptron for regression analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electromagnetic radiation emitted by the liquid metallurgical product is utilized, then measurement capability for unknown products is enabled, but measurement precision is challenged by atmospheric interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement capability for unknown productsVSAvoidaccuracy of chemical composition determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an atmospheric correction module that acts as an intermediary between the raw spectral signal and the chemical composition analysis. This module estimates atmospheric absorption and scattering effects based on environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, pressure) and subtracts these effects from the measured spectrum, thereby eliminating the harmful intermediary (atmosphere) that was distorting the measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts measurement parameters including wavelength selection, integration time, and correction factors based on real-time atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, pressure). By changing these parameters adaptively, the system maintains measurement precision across varying environmental conditions while preserving the ability to analyze unknown metallurgical products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple spectrometers are used to cover a broad wavelength range, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral coverage and composition accuracyVSAvoidnumber of spectrometers and calibration requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple spectrometers with different wavelength ranges (UV-Vis, NIR, MIR) into a unified measurement system with centralized control and data processing. The spectrometers work in parallel but are integrated through a common platform that performs coordinated calibration, simultaneous atmospheric correction, and unified spectral analysis, thereby managing complexity through systematic integration rather than isolated operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a universal calibration and processing platform that serves all spectrometers simultaneously. A single calibration framework handles multiple wavelength ranges, and one atmospheric correction module processes data from all sensors, making the complex multi-spectrometer system manageable through multi-functional integration rather than separate dedicated systems for each wavelength range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If real-time chemical composition determination is achieved, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to advanced processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time analysis capabilityVSAvoidprocessing means and computational requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calibration and atmospheric characterization before actual measurements. Reference spectra of known metallurgical compositions are pre-acquired and stored, and atmospheric parameters are continuously monitored and pre-corrected. This preliminary preparation enables real-time analysis during actual measurements by comparing against pre-established references rather than performing full analysis from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical analysis methods with optical spectroscopy and computational analysis. Instead of physical sampling and laboratory analysis, the system uses non-contact electromagnetic radiation measurement combined with algorithmic processing (including neural networks and multivariate analysis) to achieve real-time composition determination, substituting mechanical/chemical complexity with optical and computational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 accurate determination of the chemical composition of liquid metallurgical products by analyzing electromagnetic radiation, overcoming limitations of existing methods and providing precise characterization of unknown products.

Implementation Method 1

liquid metallurgical product emitting electromagnetic radiations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation emission: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

spectroscopic means configured to separate and measure spectral components of the focused beam and to generate a spectral signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 3

converting the spectral signal into an ideal black body radiance L BB (λ, T)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBlack body radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 4

a regression algorithm is thus implemented to estimate chemical composition of the slag portion based on intensity of reflected light and its wavelength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpectral analysis: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentEP4305407B1System and method for determining the chemical composition of liquid metallurgical products
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 ARCELORMITTAL SA
  • EP4305407B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4305407B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4305407B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A device for determining the chemical composition of a liquid metallurgical product emitting electromagnetic radiations. The device comprising a collection probe configured to acquire the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the metallurgical product in a predetermined wavelength range Δλ, spectroscopic means connected to the collection probe and configured to generate a spectral signal of the acquired electromagnetic radiations and processing means including a database of reference radiances. The invention is also related to a method using said device.