1. Continuous Caster - Strand Temperature Measurement

A very special thermometer is needed here to survive the hostile environment of the spray chamber without constant maintenance. Measurements using the Land Spray Chamber System allow cooling rates in the chamber to be optimised, directly influencing both product quality and process efficiency.

• Permits process/quality optimization
• Avoids break-outs

LAND recommends:

System 4 High Precision Thermometers

2. Continuous Caster - Withdrawal/Straightening and Exit

Measurement at the withdrawal/straightening section or exit monitors process uniformity over several strands. Measurements made here can provide vital information on final stage cooling in the spray chamber to ensure uniformity.

Installing an on-line thermometer systems or Landscan linescanners here would:

• Provide information on cooling in the Spray Chamber
• Check temperature profile of the hot strand

LAND recommends:

Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

3. Soaking Pit - Load Temperature

The heating of the soaking pit is controlled using temperature measurements made at the end wall. Knowledge of the pit temperature and necessary soaking times can ensure that ingots leave the soaking pit at the correct temperature.

A Cyclops 100 portable thermometer can be used to periodically check both pit and ingot temperatures.

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

4. Slabbing/Blooming Mill - Billet Temperature Measurement

Temperature measurement at the exit of the mill is important. If the billet is too cold it needs to be put through the reheat furnace before entering the rolling section, otherwise a product with poor surface condition and unacceptable metallurgical properties could result. Continuous monitoring with a short wavelength thermometer will:

• Provide ingot to billet temperature loss information
• Give early warning of possible roll damage

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

5. Reheat Furnace Charge

Temperature measurement of the furnace charge allows adjustment of the furnace firing conditions in the pre-heat zone. Utilising a longer wavelength thermometer will help maximise reheating efficiency by providing an accurate temperature measurement when either hot and cold charging.

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

6. Reheat Furnace - Load Temperature Measurement

Two sensors are used to determine true Reheat Furnace Load temperatures. A radiation thermometer, operating at 3.9µm measures apparent load temperature and a furnace thermocouple or second 3.9µm thermometer is used to measure furnace temperature. These two signals are fed into a Signal processing unit which computes true load temperature.

The Furnace Thermometer System (FTS):

• Gives true stock temperatures, permitting optimised heating trajectories
• Provides potential for substantial energy savings
• Can be installed with the minimum process disruption

LAND recommends:

Reheat Furnace
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

7. Reheat Furnace Exit

The exit of the furnace represents the final opportunity to check the stock temperature before entering the mill.

Positioning a Landscan linescanner at the exit will determine temperature distribution i.e. poor uniformity will result in the need for burner adjustment. Landscan improves quality, reduces wastage of product, fuel and time.

A short wavelength thermometer with a Landmark Graphic signal processor using peak picking will give an accurate output avoiding errors due to surface scale. Used in conjunction with the charge and load measurements, it saves both time and fuel.

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

8. Rolling Mill - Measurement at the Scalebreaker

his provides the first opportunity to measure the temperature of the scale-free metal. Once the scale has been removed, thermometers measure the true surface temperature to ensure it is within rolling limits and to set mill parameters.

Utilising a short wavelength thermometer with a peak picker signal processing option allows the true metal temperature to be passed to mill control equipment.

Using a Landscan linescanner at this point will provide a two dimensional thermal map of the product.

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

9. Rolling Mill - Measurement at the Roughing Stands

Measurements should be taken here at regular intervals to assist the operator in making the correct roll settings. This is essential if there are any stoppages so that roll parameters can be adjusted.

• Using a Landscan linescanner at this point will provide a two dimensional thermal map of the product

Installation of a short wavelength thermometer:

• Gives an operator information or a mill computer data on which to set roll parameters
• Can in addition be used as a hot metal detector

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

10. Rolling Mill - Coiler Temperature - Hot Coil Box

Measurement of the strip, using a short wavelength thermometer on a Landscan linescanner, as it is uncoiled ensures that consistent rolling and finishing temperatures are maintained.

 

LAND recommends:

Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers

11. Rolling Mill - Finishing Stands Temperature Measurement

It is essential to know the temperature of the finished product to ensure that the correct metallurgical properties have been obtained. Installation of an on-line system or Landscan provides vital information to be transferred to the cooling sections.

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers
Understrip Thermometer

12. Rolling Mill - Measurement at the Cooling Section

The thermal sensitivity of some metals means that monitoring must take place to avoid damage or stresses occurring.

It is therefore equally important to maintain high accuracy temperature measurements at the cooling section to benefit the overall quality of the finished product, and to realise the correct properties.

• Installing a Landscan linescanner at the cooling exit ensures maintenance of product quality throughout the cooling cycle
• An Understrip Thermometer System USTS can be used to provide a centerline measurement of the underside of the strip on the runout table

LAND recommends:

Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers
Understrip Thermometer

13. Understrip Measurement

Where there is a requirement for direct rolling of high performance 'dual phase' steels for crash energy-absorbing automotive components, use of an Under Strip Thermometer Systems (USTS) utilising a M3 non contact radiation thermometer thermometer provides a high degree of confidence that the required structure is consistently achieved throughout each coil.

LAND recommends:

Understrip Thermometer

14. Wire/Rod Mill - Measurement at the Water Box

Cooling here needs to be rapid but controlled to ensure metallurgical properties are retained. Insufficient cooling control would result in out of specification material, i.e. scrap or downgrade.

Installation of a Linescanning ratio or target-orbiting (T.O.) thermometer:

• Allows continuous measurement
• Provides control to the water spray coolers to retain metallurgical properties
• Permits a range of rod/bar diameters to be monitored

LAND recommends:

Rod and wire

15. Rolling Mill - Temperature Measurement at the Down Coiler

Measurement prior to the down coiler using either a Landscan linescanner or short wavelength thermometer provides feedback on product temperatures for quality control data.

• A Landscan linescanner provides analog zone outputs for controlled cooling of the trip.

LAND recommends:

Landscan
System 4 High Precision Thermometers
Understrip Thermometer

16. Wire/Rod Mill - Measurement at the Laying head and on the Air Cooling Conveyor

Temperature measurement using either Landscan linescanner, a ratio thermometer or a target-orbiting (T.O.) thermometer in the air cooling zones is vital to ensure both metallurgical structure and hence mechanical properties are retained in the finished product.

On-line measurement should be made in both the laying and cooling zones for effective control.

In addition Landscan linescanner provides:

• Complete two-dimensional thermal mapping of the laid products

A portable thermometer can be used to monitor laying head temperatures and cooling conveyor temperatures.

LAND recommends:

Cyclops 100(B) Portable Thermometers
Landscan
Rod and wire
System 4 High Precision Thermometers