Project duration: 1 January 2018 – 31 March 2021
Objective
The precise control of metallurgical processes is critical to producing metallic materials with the correct properties. Sensing is currently performed non-continuously: temperature is measured by using one-shot disposable thermocouples in melts, while chemical analysis is done by sampling a small amount of the melt and measuring its composition off-line in a chemical analysis lab. Variations of temperature and/or chemical composition between two measurements may lead to variation in product properties and quality. However, the metallurgical industries have significant challenges to continuously measure temperature and chemical compositions due to lack of accurate measurement technologies that can operate under extreme conditions of high temperature, dust, and corrosive environments.
Some techniques, based on the spectral analysis (temperature) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (chemical composition), have been demonstrated in various environments (lab and industrial sites) with excellent results and now require long-term industrial trials and validation before going to market, as well as a feasibility study to select commercialisation routes and partners.
The solution (technology)
The objective of the proposed upscaling project is, therefore, to validate the two on-line sensing technologies in selected industrial case studies together with an instrument provider, to evaluate their impacts mainly in terms of resource efficiency (energy and material savings) and competitiveness for the end-users, and to prepare for their commercialization. The targeted output of the project is a clear route towards commercialization of the techniques within 2 years after the end of the project.
Partnership
- Swerea KIMAB AB, Sweden (Lead partner)
- Agellis Group AB, Sweden
- LTU Business AB, Sweden
- RISE Acreo AB, Sweden
- Sandvik Materials Technology AB, Sweden
- Zanardi Fonderie S.p.A, Italy