Abstract: A steel strip annealing furnace humidification system includes a furnace, a water-injecting system, and a control system. The furnace has a heating region and a soaking region. The water-injecting system is configured to directly feed a liquid into the furnace. The control system is in communication with the water-injecting system to control the feed of liquid into the furnace based on a measured dew point associated with an interior of the furnace.

Abstract: A monitoring system for determining a cross-sectional shape or profile of a steel strip. The monitoring system includes a scan unit that traverses back and forth across the width of the strip as the strip moves through a plating line. The scan unit includes a radiation source for directing a radiation beam toward a surface of the strip and a photodetector for monitoring radiation reflected from the surface of the strip. Using optical triangulation, the distance to the surface of the strip is obtained and collected by a computer. The computer co-ordinates the scan data with the position of the scan unit relative to the strip and displays data corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the strip.