Systems and methods for graphite electrode identification and monitoring

A method of monitoring electrodes comprising:

• receiving signals, by a tag reader, from a plurality of identification tags, wherein each tag is attached to a graphite electrode;
• processing the received signals to identify electrode identifiers, wherein each electrode identifier is associated with a graphite electrode;
• transmitting the electrode identifiers to a monitor;
• receiving a plurality of electrode identifiers from the tag reader;
• associating the plurality of electrode identifiers with electric arc furnace (EAF) data corresponding to each of the plurality of electrode identifiers;
• storing the associations in memory;
• receiving information relating to past EAF operating parameters;
• associating the past EAF operating parameters with specific electrodes;
• receiving information relating to current EAF operating parameters;
• associating the current EAF operating parameters with specific electrodes;
• and
• displaying the associations on a viewer system.

A method of monitoring electrodes comprising:

• receiving signals, by a tag reader, from a plurality of identification tags, wherein each tag is attached to a graphite electrode;
• processing the received signals to identify electrode identifiers, wherein each electrode identifier is associated with a graphite electrode;
• transmitting the electrode identifiers to a monitor;
• receiving a plurality of electrode identifiers from the tag reader;
• associating the plurality of electrode identifiers with electric arc furnace (EAF) data corresponding to each of the plurality of electrode identifiers;
• storing the associations in memory;
• repeating the receiving the plurality of electrode identifiers, the associating the plurality of electrode identifiers with EAF data and the storing the associations in memory;
• determining a missing electrode identifier to be an electrode identifier that was previously received but is not in a currently received set of electrode identifiers;
• and
• identifying the missing electrode identifier as corresponding to an added electrode that has been added to an electrode column, the electrode column having a plurality of electrodes connected together.

A system for identifying graphite electrodes used in an electric arc furnace (EAF), the graphite electrodes each having an identification tag coupled thereto, the system comprising:

• at least one antenna disposed in a vicinity of the EAF;
• a tag reader operatively connected to the at least one antenna, the tag reader being configured for receiving signals from the at least one antenna and processing the received signals to identify a plurality of electrode identifiers, each electrode identifier being associated with a specific graphite electrode;
• and
• a monitor operatively connected to the tag reader, the monitor being configured for receiving the electrode identifiers from the tag reader and associating the electrode identifiers with EAF data corresponding to specific electrodes, wherein the monitor is configured to receive a set of electrode identifiers, determine a missing electrode identifier as being an electrode identifier that was previously received but is not in a currently received set of electrode identifiers, identify the missing electrode identifier as corresponding to an added electrode, and associate the added electrode with an electrode column, the electrode column having a plurality of electrodes.