First trial in a broadface at

APERAM’s Châtelet slab caster

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FBG optical fibers in CC mould

Most of the time : Thermocouples installed ┴ to the copper plate, through the water jacket

Today situation :

Sticker detection Thermocouples

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Today situation :

TC mounting ...through the assembly bolts….

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Today situation :

TC mounting…. through specific mounting pieces...

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Thermocouple weakness #1 : their numbers

Sticker phenomena video principle

Thermocouple weakness #1 : their numbers

...the mould mechanical assembly does not allow more TC on HZT axis...

Only a 3rd row is proposed

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Thermocouple weakness #2 : the mounting

Installing thermocouples is quite a job

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Thermocouple weakness #2 : the mounting

Pre-cabling is sometimes used

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Thermocouple weakness #3 : the maintenance costs

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Thermocouple weakness #4: the connectors

Connectors on the mould are exposed, suffering of

dust/moisture →

Impact on signal quality

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Thermocouple weakness #5 : the water disturbances

Water at tip of TC – problem with water-tightness

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Alternative to Thermocouples: FBG temperature sensors

Fiber Bragg grating temperature measurement

principle

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Alternative to Thermocouples: FBG temperature sensors

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FBG temperature sensors

1mm Ø – sensors along the fiber (not at the end)→ installation // to copper plate surface

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Vertically … or ...Horizontally ?

Installation of FBG optical fiber

FBG temperature sensors

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• cabling issue on top of the mold• a lot of FBG optical fibers• big machining of the plate• investment and maintenance costs

Vertically:

FBG temperature sensors

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• a lot of measuring points on the horizontal axis

• a FEW of FBG optical fibers• NO cabling issue on top of the mold• ONLY a few holes machining • Investment much lower • and FEW maintenance costs

Very long deep drilling

FBG temperature sensors

Horizontally:

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FBG temperature sensors

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Very long deep drilling

Sensors….. 2m long and 70 measuring points…A few minutes to install them

FBG temperature sensors

FBG temperature sensors

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Simple installation….

FBG temperature sensors

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Simple installation….

FBG temperature sensors

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BO detection interest:

more T° involved → better perfs.

2 lines TC measurements

2 lines FBG temperature measurements

VS

FBG temperature sensors interest : Sticker BO detection

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Emerald BPS HD

FBG: 50 pairs…. Thermocouple: 8 pairs….

1 or 2fibers

FBG temperature sensors interest: Sticker BO detection

Emerald FLOW

4

fibers

FBG temperature sensors interest: Thermal monitoring

4 optical fibers … 280 points…. → Steel flow

• The most simple / rapid way to install• no un-necessary dismounting • no cabling on the water jacket• no more risks of water disturbances• higher performances of BO detection• mould flow possible

FBG Optical is the future in mould temperature measurement:

IF INSTALLED HORIZONTALLY :

EBDS Engineering has deposit a

patenton “crossing casting axis”

FBG installation

FBG temperature sensors

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• Conversion of a full mold to FBG temperature measurements

Next steps :

FBG temperature sensors

→ validate the replacement of thermocouple by FBG

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• Determine the relationship between thermal analysis and steel flow:

• Determine the relationship between the flow and the slab INTERNAL quality

Next R&D steps ( 1 ):

FBG temperature sensors

→ on-line characterization of the flow / casting dis-symmetry

→ on-line “additional” characterization of the slab internal quality

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• Determine the relationship between the thermal analysis and the slab SURFACE Quality

Next R&D steps ( 2 ):

FBG temperature sensors

→ on-line “additional” characterization of the slab surface

Thanks for your attention

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