A method for detecting straightness deviations and/deformations in a rotary kiln (1), the rotary drum (4) of which includes bearing rings (6) spaced apart from one another in the axial direction and respectively supported on rollers (7), involves scanning the outer surface area (5) of the rotary drum (4), the bearing rings (6), the rollers (7) and/or the shafts (17) of the rollers (7) in a contactless fashion with the aid of at least one scanning device (12) such that three-dimensional position data regarding the scanned objects is obtained, and evaluating the three-dimensional position data with respect to the occurrence of a deviation of the rotary kiln axis (3) from a straight line, a deviation of the rotary drum (4) from a cylindrical shape and/or a deviation of the rotational axes (8) of the rollers from a line extending parallel to the rotary kiln axis (3). A device for detecting straightness deviations and/or deformations in a rotary kiln (1) is also provided.

A method for identifying, classifying, and sending notification of an electric arc furnace's (EAF) anomalies to improve the EAF efficiency. The method includes the steps of establishing baseline state measurements of the EAF, receiving new state measurements of the EAF and statistically testing the new state measurements against the baseline state measurements. The method further includes the steps of identifying as an anomaly a failed statistical test, classifying the identified anomaly and sending notification of the classified anomaly to a configurable list of recipients.

A method for identifying, classifying, and sending notification of an electric arc furnace's (EAF) anomalies to improve the EAF efficiency. The method includes the steps of establishing baseline state measurements of the EAF, receiving new state measurements of the EAF and statistically testing the new state measurements against the baseline state measurements. The method further includes the steps of identifying as an anomaly a failed statistical test, classifying the identified anomaly and sending notification of the classified anomaly to a configurable list of recipients.

According to the disclosed embodiments, an illustrative apparatus that is configured to attach to a viewport of a container comprises a first plate having a first aperture and an attached second plate having a second aperture substantially aligned to the first aperture. The first and second plates, when attached, define a cavity from an outer edge of the first and second plates to the substantially aligned apertures. A window containment arm is pivotally affixed to at least the first plate and configured to substantially fit and pivot into and out of the cavity, and a window contained within the window containment arm is positioned such that the window substantially aligns with the first and second apertures when the window containment arm is fully pivoted into the cavity, and such that the window is accessibly located outside of the cavity when the window containment arm is pivoted out of the cavity.

Sensors measure magnetic field components, and the measured fields are used to calculate and estimated transverse position of a longitudinal electric current flowing as an electric discharge across a discharge gap. Based on the estimated position, and according to a selected transverse trajectory or distribution of the estimated discharge position, magnetic fields are applied transversely across the discharge gap so as to control or alter the estimated discharge position. Inventive apparatus and methods can be employed, inter alia, during operation of a vacuum arc furnace.

The disclosure relates to apparatuses melting batch materials, the apparatuses comprising a vessel; an electrode assembly comprising an electrode and at least one detection component coupled to the electrode; and at least one device configured to measure an electrical or optical property of the electrode assembly. Also disclosed herein are electrode assemblies for the optical or electrical detection of electrode length, and apparatuses comprising such electrode assemblies.

A gas purging plug for blowing gas into a metallurgical vessel, having the form of an elongated body made of a first refractory material, contains a final visual wear indicator in the form of an elongated core extending from an inlet end to a distance, along a central longitudinal axis, less than the length of the elongated body. The final visual wear indicator is made of a second refractory material that differs in visual appearance from the first refractory material between 800 and 1500 degrees C. The plug also contains an intermediate visual wear indicator extending from the inlet end to a point between the end of the final visual wear indicator and the opposite end of the elongated body. The intermediate visual wear indicator is made of a third refractory material that differs in visual appearance from the first and second refractory materials between 800 and 1500 degrees C.

A gas purging plug for blowing gas into a metallurgical vessel, having the form of an elongated body made of a first refractory material, contains a final visual wear indicator in the form of an elongated core extending from an inlet end to a distance, along a central longitudinal axis, less than the length of the elongated body. The final visual wear indicator is made of a second refractory material that differs in visual appearance from the first refractory material between 800 and 1500 degrees C. The plug also contains an intermediate visual wear indicator extending from the inlet end to a point between the end of the final visual wear indicator and the opposite end of the elongated body. The intermediate visual wear indicator is made of a third refractory material that differs in visual appearance from the first and second refractory materials between 800 and 1500 degrees C.

A fault diagnosis method for an electrical fused magnesia furnace includes steps of: 1) arranging six cameras; 2) obtaining video information by the six cameras and sending the video information to a control center; then analyzing the video information by a chip of the control center; wherein a multi-view-based fault diagnosis method is used by the chip, comprising steps of: 2-1) comparing a difference between two consecutive frame histograms for shots segmentation; 2-2) computing a set of characteristic values for each shot obtained by the step 2-1), and then computing color, texture, and motion vector information; finally, evaluating shot importance via entropy; 2-3) clustering shots together by calculating similarity; 2-4) generating and optimizing a multi-view video summarization with a multi-objective optimization model; and 2-5) providing fault detection and diagnosis; and 3) displaying results of the fault detection and diagnosis on a host computer inter face of the control center.

There is provide an apparatus for manufacturing a copper alloy metal material, including: a tundish in which molten copper is stored; a pouring nozzle through which the molten copper passes, the molten copper being flowed out from the tundish; a pressure variation device that varies a pressure applied to the pouring nozzle by the molten copper; and a controller that controls the pressure variation device so as to remove inclusions adhered to the pouring nozzle, by increasing the pressure applied to the pouring nozzle by the molten copper.