Real-time measurement method for powder ratio of coke using camera image

Abstract

A blast furnace produces pig iron from raw materials such as iron ore and coke. Particle size distribution of the raw materials transported by conveyors need to be obtatined in advance for stable operation of the blast furnace.We have proposed an on-line method to measure powder ratio of the coke on a conveyor, which would block a path of hot air between raw materials inside and deteriorates permeability required for acceleration of reduction reaction. In a previous report, we showed that brightness index of camera images of the coke has a high correlation with the powder ratio. The idea is based on the phenomenon that powder adheres to coke through moisture. Therefore, other several indices related to the moisture can also have correlation with the powder ratio. In this paper, we show the brightness index is best compared with other two indices measured in a factory: moisture content from a neutron moisture meter and discharge rate of the coke from a hopper.

Keywords

• Blast furnace
• Conveyor
• Coke
• Powder ratio
• Monitoring
• Real-time measurement