A device for determining the topography of the burden surface in a shaft furnace (10), the device comprising a radar device (20) that scans the burden surface (18) and has an antenna device (22) arranged in the area of a furnace cover (13), the antenna device being arranged on an axis of rotation (24) that is inclined in relation to a vertical axis (15) of the shaft furnace at an angle of inclination and being rotatable about the axis of rotation by means of a drive device in such a manner that a radar fan beam (28) formed by the emitted radar radiation of the antenna device is incident upon the burden surface along a profile line p and sweeps across the burden surface as the antenna device rotates.

A measurement system is provided for predicting a future status of a refractory lining that is lined over an inner surface of an outer wall of a metallurgical vessel and exposed to a heat during which the refractory lining is exposed to molten metal. The system includes one or more laser scanners and a processor. The laser scanners are configured to conduct a plurality of laser scans of the refractory lining when the metallurgical vessel is empty. At least one of the laser scanners is configured to laser scan the refractory lining prior to the heat to collect data related to pre-heat structural conditions of the refractory lining. At least one of the laser scanners is configured to laser scan the refractory lining after the heat to collect data related to post-heat structural conditions of the refractory lining. The processor is configured to predict the future status of the lining.

A method detects a level of a melt contained by an oscillating mold. The method includes a) sensing radiation interacted with the melt and generating from the sensed radiation radiation signals, such that the generated radiation signals are varied by the mold oscillation, b) determining a radiation signal variation of the generated radiation signals, c) determining an oscillation deflection variation of the oscillating mold, and d) determining from the determined oscillation deflection variation and the determined radiation signal variation, the level of the melt.

A furnace as described in this invention comprises a temperature regulating portion to assist in melting a non-ferrous material, such as an aluminium, and to reserve said material for the subsequent casting or injection molding procedure. The furnace provides a mean to eliminate an oxide, such as iron oxide, which generally floats on the top layer of a molten material inside a melting portion and a heating portion by preventing the flow of said oxide into the temperature regulating portion. A sensor or any detector that can detect the level of the molten material is utilized to measure the surface level of said molten material. A temperature regulating burner, which is a flat flame type, is utilized on the ceiling of the temperature regulating portion in order to prevent any oxidation reaction to occur as well as to reduce the concentration of oxygen inside the portion.

The present invention preferably comprises a system and method for measuring and/or continuously monitoring the temperature and/or height of a molten metal bath in a vessel. Specifically, an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver are disposed about sides of the vessel and are used to send and receive an ultrasonic signal in order to detect the temperature of the bath. More specifically, the ultrasonic transmitter is configured to send an ultrasonic signal through the vessel, and the ultrasonic receiver is configured to receive that ultrasonic signal after it has traveled through the vessel (comprising the molten metal bath). The ultrasonic receiver provides at least one signal to a processing unit (i.e., control center), which processes the at least one signal to determine the temperature and/or level of the molten metal bath. The invention may further comprise chillers to protect the transmitter and receiver from the heat of the bath.

The present invention preferably comprises a system and method for measuring and/or continuously monitoring the temperature and/or height of a molten metal bath in a vessel. Specifically, an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver are disposed about sides of the vessel and are used to send and receive an ultrasonic signal in order to detect the temperature of the bath. More specifically, the ultrasonic transmitter is configured to send an ultrasonic signal through the vessel, and the ultrasonic receiver is configured to receive that ultrasonic signal after it has travelled through the vessel (comprising the molten metal bath). The ultrasonic receiver provides at least one signal to a processing unit (i.e., control center), which processes the at least one signal to determine the temperature and/or level of the molten metal bath. The invention may further comprise chillers to protect the transmitter and receiver from the heat of the bath.

A surface profile detection apparatus of a burden in a blast furnace includes a rotating plate mounted immediately above an opening part of the blast furnace and configured to rotate about an opening center of the opening part as a central axis, a rotating means for rotating the rotating plate, and a transmission and reception means for transmitting a detection wave such as a microwave or a millimeter wave in a linear shape along a diametrical direction of the rotating plate and receiving the detection wave. The surface profile detection apparatus performs transmission and reception in a direction orthogonal to a rotating direction of the rotating plate while rotating the rotating plate in synchronization with turning of the shooter so that transmission of the detection wave is not interrupted.

A system and method of controlling a metal melting process in a melting furnace, including determining at least one furnace parameter characterizing a melting furnace, adding a charge containing solid metal into the melting furnace, detecting at least one charge parameter characterizing the charge, firing a burner into the melting furnace to provide heat to melt the charge, and exhausting burner combustion products from the furnace, detecting at least one process parameter characterizing progress of melting the charge, calculating a furnace efficiency based on the at least one furnace parameter, calculating a predicted process pour readiness time based on the at least one charge parameter, the at least one process parameter, and the furnace efficiency, and controlling the metal melting process based on the predicted process pour readiness time.

A residual molten material amount detection method and detection apparatus that can detect a residual amount of molten material in a vertical furnace and a method for operating a vertical furnace by using the detection method. The residual molten material amount detection method detects a residual amount of molten material remaining in a bottom portion of a vertical furnace after end of discharge of the molten material. The method includes detecting the residual amount of the molten material by using a difference between a production speed of the molten material and a discharge speed of the molten material that is calculated by using a discharge acceleration, a discharge period, and an initial discharge speed of the discharge of the molten material through a taphole.

A molten material liquid level detection method that can detect a liquid level of molten material from a residual amount of the molten material with high accuracy and a method for operating a vertical furnace by using the detection method. The molten material liquid level detection method detects a liquid level of molten material remaining in a bottom portion of a vertical furnace after end of discharge of a molten material. The molten material liquid level detection method includes calculating a void fraction of the solid-filled structure, and detecting a liquid level of the molten material after the end of the discharge by using the calculated void fraction and a residual amount of the molten material after the end of the discharge.