AMETEK Land has released a new article in Process Heating magazine that focuses on SGD Pharma's latest challenges, and how they use infrared thermal imaging to optimize production in an oxy-gas borosilicate furnace.
"Following a rebuild, SGD Pharma installed a thermal imaging system on an oxy-gas furnace used exclusively for the production of borosilicate glass for pharmaceutical packaging at its facility in St Quentin Lamotte, France. The thermal imaging system replaced the existing closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.
In the past, the highly aggressive furnace atmosphere made it difficult to obtain clear images from the furnace using the CCTV system. Often, the results were blurry images and inconsistent, inaccurate measurements. Actual temperature measurements typically were performed only at critical locations using thermocouples embedded in the walls or intermittently using a handheld portable infrared (IR) pyrometer.
Part of the purpose behind SGD Pharma’s rebuild was to progress from monitoring visual images to monitoring thermal images. This would help ensure consistent temperatures and thermal profiles in the glass-melt tank. The goal was to improve the overall efficiency of the process, maintain high quality glass production and extend the furnace’s campaign life. Accurate and repeatable temperature measurements are essential for efficient control and optimization of glass manufacture and processing. This is even more important within an oxy-gas furnace because the flame’s temperature is significantly hotter."
Click here to read the article in Process Heating magazine
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