Application of vibration and sound signals in monitoring iron and steelmaking processes

Automation of the iron and steelmaking operations is an inevitable task to improve quality and to minimise cost. Recent studies showed that vibroacoustic-based monitoring techniques can be used to continuously monitor steelmaking processes. Various signal processing techniques have been used, including filtering and FFT, to process these signals into useful inputs for process control. In ironmaking, the acoustic noise has been studied to assess working conditions. Vibration and acoustic signals have been measured in oxygen steelmaking to evaluate slopping. Lance vibration has been used to automate the blowing process at Kawasaki Steel Corporation. In ladle metallurgy, the focus has been on developing a vibroacoustic method to monitor liquid metal stirring. Recent water model studies have identified how sensor placement and the depth of the slag phase affects these signals. There has also been a work to monitor slag carry over in tundish metallurgy using vibration. These applications can be extended to other steel producing processes in the industry.