Abstract: A control scheme for a furnace can use real-time and historical data to model performance and determine relationships between different data and performance parameters for use in correcting suboptimal performance of the furnace in real-time. Operational parameters can be logged throughout the cycle for all cycles for a period of time in order to establish a baseline. This data can then be used to calculate the performance of the process. A regression analysis can be carried out in order to determine which parameters affect different aspects of performance. These relationships can then be used to predict performance during a single cycle in real-time and provide closed or open loop feedback to control furnace operation to result in enhanced performance.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a metal melting process in a melting furnace, including determining at least one furnace parameter characterizing a melting furnace, adding a charge containing solid metal into the melting furnace, detecting at least one charge parameter characterizing the charge, firing a burner into the melting furnace to provide heat to melt the charge, and exhausting burner combustion products from the furnace, detecting at least one process parameter characterizing progress of melting the charge, calculating a furnace efficiency based on the at least one furnace parameter, calculating a predicted process pour readiness time based on the at least one charge parameter, the at least one process parameter, and the furnace efficiency, and controlling the metal melting process based on the predicted process pour readiness time.

Abstract: A processor of a sensor device receives a plurality of images capturing a scene that depicts at least a portion of a conveyer entering a treatment area of a food processing system. The processor processes one or more images, among the plurality of images, to detect one or more characteristics in the scene. Processing the one or more images includes detecting presence or absence of a product on the at least the portion of the conveyor depicted in the scene, and classifying the scene as having one or more characteristics among a predetermined set of characteristics. The sensor device provides characteristics information indicating the one or more characteristics detected in the scene to a controller. The characteristics information is to be used by the controller to control operation of one or both of the conveyor and the treatment area of the food processing system.

Abstract: A control scheme for a furnace can use real-time and historical data to model performance and determine relationships between different data and performance parameters for use in correcting suboptimal performance of the furnace in real-time. Operational parameters can be logged throughout the cycle for all cycles for a period of time in order to establish a baseline. This data can then be used to calculate the performance of the process. A regression analysis can be carried out in order to determine which parameters affect different aspects of performance. These relationships can then be used to predict performance during a single cycle in real-time and provide closed or open loop feedback to control furnace operation to result in enhanced performance.

Abstract: A processor of a sensor device receives a plurality of images capturing a scene that depicts at least a portion of a conveyer entering a treatment area of a food processing system. The processor processes one or more images, among the plurality of images, to detect one or more characteristics in the scene. Processing the one or more images includes detecting presence or absence of a product on the at least the portion of the conveyor depicted in the scene, and classifying the scene as having one or more characteristics among a predetermined set of characteristics. The sensor device provides characteristics information indicating the one or more characteristics detected in the scene to a controller. The characteristics information is to be used by the controller to control operation of one or both of the conveyor and the treatment area of the food processing system.

Abstract: A first camera captures a first image of a scene, and a second camera captures a second image capturing thermal distribution across the scene. The first image is processed to detect one or more objects of interest in the scene and to identify respective surface characteristics of the objects. The first image is overlaid with the second image to identify regions of interest in the second image corresponding to the objects of interest in the first image. Values of pixels that belong to respective regions of interest in the second image are converted to temperature values using respective conversion functions that reflect respective emissivity values determined by the identified respective surface characteristics of the corresponding objects of interest in the first image. The temperature values are analyzed to monitor thermal conditions of the one or more objects of interest in the scene.

Abstract: A first camera captures a first image of a scene, and a second camera captures a second image capturing thermal distribution across the scene. The first image is processed to detect one or more objects of interest in the scene and to identify respective surface characteristics of the objects. The first image is overlaid with the second image to identify regions of interest in the second image corresponding to the objects of interest in the first image. Values of pixels that belong to respective regions of interest in the second image are converted to temperature values using respective conversion functions that reflect respective emissivity values determined by the identified respective surface characteristics of the corresponding objects of interest in the first image. The temperature values are analyzed to monitor thermal conditions of the one or more objects of interest in the scene.

Abstract: A method of operating a BOF bottom stir tuyere having an inner nozzle surrounded by an annular nozzle, including during a hot metal pour phase and a blow phase, flowing an inert gas through both nozzles; during a tap phase, initiating a flow of a first reactant through the inner nozzle and a flow of a second reactant through the annular nozzle, and ceasing the flow of inert gas through the nozzles, wherein the first and second reactants includes fuel and oxidant, respectively, or vice-versa, such that a flame forms as the fuel and oxidant exit the tuyere; during a slag splash phase, continuing the flows of fuel and oxidant to maintain the flame; and after ending the slag splash phase and commencement of another hot metal pour phase, initiating a flow of inert gas through both nozzles and ceasing the flows of the first and second reactants.

Abstract: An oxy-gaseous fuel burner (400, 500) or a solid fuel burner (700) having an annular cavity (404, 504, 704) upstream from and proximate to an outlet plane (416, 516, 716) and a converging (434, 734) or converging-diverging nozzle (537) located upstream from and proximal to the cavity (404, 504, 704). The solid fuel burner (700) also is preferably operated so that the velocity of gas exiting a second annulus (730) is less than the velocity of gas exiting a central conduit (710).

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a metal melting process in a melting furnace, including determining at least one furnace parameter characterizing a melting furnace, adding a charge containing solid metal into the melting furnace, detecting at least one charge parameter characterizing the charge, firing a burner into the melting furnace to provide heat to melt the charge, and exhausting burner combustion products from the furnace, detecting at least one process parameter characterizing progress of melting the charge, calculating a furnace efficiency based on the at least one furnace parameter, calculating a predicted process pour readiness time based on the at least one charge parameter, the at least one process parameter, and the furnace efficiency, and controlling the metal melting process based on the predicted process pour readiness time.

Abstract: An oxy-gaseous fuel burner (400, 500) or a solid fuel burner (700) having an annular cavity (404, 504, 704) upstream from and proximate to an outlet plane (416, 516, 716) and a converging (434, 734) or converging-diverging nozzle (537) located upstream from and proximal to the cavity (404, 504, 704). The solid fuel burner (700) also is preferably operated so that the velocity of gas exiting a second annulus (730) is less than the velocity of gas exiting a central conduit (710).

Abstract: A method of operating a BOF bottom stir tuyere having an inner nozzle surrounded by an annular nozzle, including during a hot metal pour phase and a blow phase, flowing an inert gas through both nozzles; during a tap phase, initiating a flow of a first reactant through the inner nozzle and a flow of a second reactant through the annular nozzle, and ceasing the flow of inert gas through the nozzles, wherein the first and second reactants includes fuel and oxidant, respectively, or vice-versa, such that a flame forms as the fuel and oxidant exit the tuyere; during a slag splash phase, continuing the flows of fuel and oxidant to maintain the flame; and after ending the slag splash phase and commencement of another hot metal pour phase, initiating a flow of inert gas through both nozzles and ceasing the flows of the first and second reactants.

Abstract: An oxy-gaseous fuel burner (400, 500) or a solid fuel burner (700) having an annular cavity (404, 504, 704) upstream from and proximate to an outlet plane (416, 516, 716) and a converging (434, 734) or converging-diverging nozzle (537) located upstream from and proximal to the cavity (404, 504, 704). The solid fuel burner (700) also is preferably operated so that the velocity of gas exiting a second annulus (730) is less than the velocity of gas exiting a central conduit (710).

Abstract: An oxy-gaseous fuel burner (400, 500) or a solid fuel burner (700) having an annular cavity (404, 504, 704) upstream from and proximate to an outlet plane (416, 516, 716) and a converging (434, 734) or converging-diverging nozzle (537) located upstream from and proximal to the cavity (404, 504, 704). The solid fuel burner (700) also is preferably operated so that the velocity of gas exiting a second annulus (730) is less than the velocity of gas exiting a central conduit (710).