How to find out the "invisible killer" in the steel plant?

Leakage is a common challenge faced by steel plants, including leakage of molten steel and molten iron; leakage of flammable gas and toxic gas, etc. These leaks result in wasted energy, equipment failure, fire risks, health threats and environmental impacts.

The sooner a leak is caught the better, early symptoms will sound like an ultrasound. The traditional method of using soapy water to detect gas leaks is inefficient and easy to miss. Now, more and more companies are using acoustic imaging technology.

1. Gas pipeline leak detection

The noise at the site was very loud, so acoustic imaging technology was used to detect leaks in the gas pipes, and the leak point was accurately located and handed over to a specialized construction unit for repair. At the same time, the leakage volume, leakage cost, and leakage level can be assessed to quantify energy losses for the factory and provide a basis for decision-making.

The principle of acoustic imaging technology is to convert the ultrasonic sound emitted at the very early stage of the leak point into a visual image, allowing the inspector to see the location of the leak or partial discharge at a glance.

What is an "acoustothermal imager"?

An acoustic thermal imager combines acoustic imaging technology and thermal imaging technology at the same time, and has many basic capabilities such as leak detection, partial discharge diagnosis, infrared temperature measurement, infrared imaging and vibration positioning.

Performing one inspection can detect various types of defects, which is suitable for high and low voltage power equipment, pipeline systems, machinery and other equipment. It will undoubtedly greatly improve the efficiency of inspections.

2. Acoustic imaging + thermal imaging

In real work, the causes of many equipment failures are comprehensive, and single-dimensional analysis is not comprehensive and accurate enough. At this time, turn on the MiX mode of the acoustic and thermal imager, and compare and analyze whether there are hidden dangers in the equipment from the thermal image and acoustic image dimensions!

3. Discharge detection in power workshop

Acoustothermal imagers are also experts at detecting partial discharges in power equipment. They support automatic diagnosis of partial discharge types: partial along-surface discharge, suspension discharge, and tip (corona) discharge to assist personnel in making judgments.

4. Furnace breakout and air leakage detection

Without affecting the normal operation of production equipment, the acoustic and thermal imager performs non-contact scanning and inspection of ladles, molten iron ladles, tundishes, converters, hot blast furnaces, sintering conveyor belts and other equipment.

It can not only quickly and accurately detect the damaged location of refractory bricks, but also locate the location of air leakage to facilitate timely repair and ensure safe production.

It is clearly seen that the temperatures at Sp1 and Sp2 on the thermal image of the ladle exceed 380°C, indicating that the remaining thickness of the ladle wall at these two locations has become thinner, requiring minor repairs and replacement of the refractory brick lining at the slag line.