Patent ID: 8142541

Claim:
A method of preheating a steelmaking ladle having an open upper portion and inner refractory surfaces, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a preheater having a radiant reflective surface and at least one burner adjacent the open upper portion of the steelmaking ladle where the radiant reflective surface comprises an emissive coating; (b) heating the inner refractory surfaces of the steelmaking ladle to a desired temperature by combustion through the burner of the preheater where the emissive coating of the radiant reflective surface facilitates preheating of the steelmaking ladle; (c) positioning a pyrometer to measure a representative temperature of the inner refractory surfaces of the steelmaking ladle during heating; (d) generating electrical signals indicative of the representative temperature of the inner refractory surfaces of the steelmaking ladle measured by the pyrometer; and (e) controlling the temperature of the heating by the preheater of the inner refractory surfaces of the steelmaking ladle using the electrical signals generated by the pyrometer.