IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
(OP)
We have a 7MVA electric arc furnace transformer that uses water cooled jacketed cables to feed our electrodes. Each phase has two paralled conductors connecting from the secondary bus 275v 17,000 amps to our electrode holders. At times we don't get enough water flow to one or both of the conductors and it doesen't take much time to do some damage. I was thinking about a IR sensor or combination to monitor the bus temperature at the secondary side connection. I would like a 4-20ma feedback to go to a PLC and then go from there. Has anyone out there tried this before? Any suggestions on a cost effective unit? Or maybe there is a more simple approach. As far as moniotring the water flow, it's well water and very high n minerals. We haven't had any success going that route. Aside from that it doesn't foretell a bad connection.






RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
http://www.qhigroup.com/infrared_monitoring.html
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
Each problem may dictate a different sensing approach (V drop,thermal sensing, water flow and/or temperature rise).
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
A water problem turns into a bad connection in a hurry. If the water stops flowing the buss and connected cabling expands considerably, then when not loaded cools. This causes the connections to come loose. So heat is the enemy, which is the first problem leading to a bad connection.
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
William Hammett
Synergetic Engineering Consultants
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
Perhaps you can enlist the aid of a mechanical engineer with experience in handling your water type. A thought about high mineral content water: It could react with, coat or otherwise plug up your cable cooling system. If the minerals are interfering with flow sensors, they could be plugging lots of stuff up. So filtering might be in order. Then, some sort of flow and or filter back pressure monitoring will be necessary.
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace
RE: IR Detection for Electric Arc Furnace