Patent ID: 8097063
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: C21C,F27B,F27D,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method of making steel in a vessel, the method comprising: a. providing a lance for blowing oxygen on the surface of the steel in the vessel, the lance joined to a lance carriage and in communication with an accelerometer, the accelerometer in signal communication with a data acquisition module and a computer; b. charging the vessel with materials for steel making; c. lowering the lance into the vessel and injecting oxygen into the materials; d. acquiring a signal from the accelerometer indicative of lance vibration; e. processing the vibration signal to determine component frequencies of lance vibration; f. comparing a long time average of the vibration signal to a short time average of the vibration signal; g. determining if the short time averaged vibration signal has exceeded a predetermined threshold indicative of oxygen level in the steel; and h. if the short time averaged vibration signal has exceeded the predetermined threshold, producing a first signal indicative of oxygen content in the steel.