Phosphor Thermometry System Under Investigation to Improve Melting and Coating Processes

Phosphor thermometry technology is expected to bring remote, real-time, emissivity-independent temperature measurement in furnaces, hot or cold rolling lines, and processing vessels to better than 3 C (5 F) accuracy from 20 Kelvin to 3,000 Kelvin.

This new on-line tool is currently being utilized to monitor galvanneal surface temperatures in-process during the galvannealing operation. Project partners include ORNL, the American Iron and Steel Institute, Bailey Engineers, Inc., National Steel Corporation, the University of Tennessee, and Weirton Steel Corporation. Due to system robustness and its remote nature, it is appropriate for precise process control in hot, high electromagnetic interference (EMI) fields, or corrosive environments. It is also particularly well suited for abrasive and chemical reactive exhaust gas environments. Long term applications are thought to include monitoring refractory in furnaces, measuring melt temperatures, measuring roll temperatures on casters or in the hot mill, and monitoring various coating processes.