Controlling operation and position of a lance and nozzle assembly in a molten metal bath in a vessel

Abstract

The present invention preferably comprises a system and method for operating and/or positioning a lance and nozzle assembly relative to a molten metal bath in a vessel. Specifically, at least one temperature sensor is provided proximate a tip of the lance and nozzle assembly and at least one temperature sensor is provided on or in the vessel. A processing unit is configured to receive at least one signal from each of the temperature sensors, process the signals to determine the active position of the lance and nozzle assembly relative to the metal bath, and move the lance and nozzle assembly to a preferred position the corresponds to a stage of operation in the vessel.

1 . A method for operating and/or positioning a lance and nozzle assembly relative to a molten metal bath in a vessel, the method comprising:
 providing a first temperature sensor proximate to a tip of the lance and nozzle assembly, wherein the first temperature sensor is housed by the lance and nozzle assembly, wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the tip of the lance and nozzle assembly, and wherein the temperature is converted to tip temperature data;   providing a second temperature sensor on or within the vessel, wherein the second temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the molten metal bath, and wherein the temperature is converted to bath temperature data;   transmitting the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data to a processing unit;   exchanging information between the processing unit and a process operations data module, wherein the information comprises the tip temperature data, the bath temperature data, and process operations data;   mapping the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data to a corresponding active elevation of the lance and nozzle assembly;   comparing the active elevation to a preferred elevation of the lance and nozzle assembly; and   moving the lance and nozzle assembly from the active elevation to the preferred elevation.   
     
     
         2 . A system for operating and/or positioning a lance and nozzle assembly relative to a molten metal bath in a vessel, the system comprising:
 a lance and nozzle assembly having a first elevation in a vessel comprising a molten metal bath;   a first temperature sensor proximate to a tip of the lance and nozzle assembly, wherein the first temperature sensor is housed by the lance and nozzle assembly, wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the tip of the lance and nozzle assembly, and wherein the temperature is converted to tip temperature data;   a second temperature sensor on or within the vessel, wherein the second temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the molten metal bath, and wherein the temperature is converted to bath temperature data;   a processing unit configured to receive and exchange data, wherein the data comprise the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data;   a process operations data module, wherein the module is configured to exchange data with the processing unit;   a lance elevation control, wherein the lance elevation control is configured to receive data from the processing unit, and wherein the lance elevation control is configured to move the lance and nozzle assembly from the first elevation to a second elevation.   
     
     
         3 . A method of operating and/or positioning a lance and nozzle assembly relative to a molten metal bath in a vessel, the method comprising:
 providing at least one temperature sensor proximate a tip of a lance and nozzle assembly;   using a processing unit to receive at least one signal from the at least one temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the molten metal bath in the vessel; and   using the processing unit to operate and/or position the lance and nozzle assembly based on the temperature which has been determined by the processing unit based on the at least one signal which has been received by the at least one temperature sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor is a thermocouple, an infrared camera, a pyrometer, or a resistance temperature detector. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature sensor comprises an ultrasonic transceiver. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data is wirelessly transmitted to the processing unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving the lance and nozzle assembly from the active elevation to the preferred elevation is automated to prevent dunking of the tip of the lance and nozzle assembly into the molten metal bath. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first temperature sensor is a thermocouple, an infrared camera, a pyrometer, or a resistance temperature detector. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second temperature sensor comprises an ultrasonic transceiver. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data is wirelessly transmitted to the processing unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the lance elevation control is automated to prevent dunking of the tip of the lance and nozzle assembly into the molten metal bath. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first temperature sensor is a thermocouple, an infrared camera, a pyrometer, or a resistance temperature detector. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data is wirelessly transmitted to the processing unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the operating and/or positioning of the lance and nozzle assembly further comprising moving the lance and nozzle assembly from an active elevation to a preferred elevation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the first temperature sensor is housed by the lance and nozzle assembly, wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the tip of the lance and nozzle assembly, and wherein the temperature is converted to tip temperature data comprising the at least one signal; and   further comprising the steps of:   providing a second temperature sensor on or within the vessel, wherein the second temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the molten metal bath, and wherein the temperature is converted to bath temperature data comprising a second signal;   transmitting the at least one signal and the second signal to the processing unit;   exchanging information between the processing unit and a process operations data module, wherein the information comprises the tip temperature data, the bath temperature data, and process operations data;   mapping the tip temperature data and the bath temperature data to a corresponding active elevation of the lance and nozzle assembly;   comparing the active elevation to a preferred elevation of the lance and nozzle assembly; and   moving the lance and nozzle assembly from the active elevation to the preferred elevation.