Systems for detecting measuring inclusions
AssigneeWorcester Polytechnic Institute
InventorsReinhold Ludwig, Diran Apelian, Sergey Makarov
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Abstract
The present invention relates to systems of methods of detecting and measuring inclusions in liquid metals. More particularly, non-metallic inclusions having a conductivity level different from the liquid metal melt are forced to migrate and are collected on a measurement surface using electromagnetic Lorentz forces. The inclusions and their concentrations are detected at the measurement surface using either an electrostatic detection system or an optical detection system.
Claims35
A method for detecting and measuring inclusions in a fluid metal, comprising the steps:
- forcing the migration of contaminant particles in a fluid metal to a measurement region;
- separately conditioning a surface of the fluid metal within the measurement region to facilitate penetration of the surface by the contaminant particles;
- detecting the contaminant particles in the measurement region;
- and
- determining a concentration of the contaminant particles in the fluid.
A method for detecting and measuring inclusions in a fluid metal, comprising the steps:
- forcing the migration of contaminant particles in a fluid metal to a measurement region;
- conditioning the measurement region by applying a mechanical force to a surface of the fluid metal in the measurement region to facilitate penetration of the surface by the contaminant particles;
- detecting the contaminant particles in the measurement region;
- and
- determining a concentration of the contaminant particles in the fluid.
Apparatus for measuring inclusions in a liquid metal, comprising:
- a container filled with a liquid metal;
- a plurality of electrodes, positioned relative to the container that provides a current path in the liquid metal;
- an acoustical vibrator positioned relative to the container to vibrate a surface of the liquid metal;
- a current generator connected to said electrodes;
- and
- a detection device that detects a size and concentration of inclusions in the liquid metal, the detection device positioned to examine a portion of the surface of the liquid metal to detect inclusions that flow through the portion of the surface.
Apparatus for measuring inclusions in a liquid metal, comprising:
- a container filled with a liquid metal;
- a plurality of electrodes, positioned relative to the container that provides a current path in the liquid metal;
- a mechanical device positioned relative to the container that provides a mechanical force to a surface of the liquid metal;
- a current generator connected to said electrodes;
- a detection device that detects a size and concentration of inclusions in the liquid metal, the detection device having a plurality of electrodes positioned on a portion of the surface of the liquid metal to detect changes in voltage as the inclusions flow through the portion of the surface between said electrodes.
Apparatus for measuring inclusions in a liquid metal comprising:
- a container filled with a liquid metal having inclusions;
- an electrode system positioned relative to the container to provide a current path in the liquid metal;
- a conditioning device positioned relative to the container to at least one of apply a mechanical force and acoustical vibrations to a surface of the liquid metal;
- a current source connected to said electrodes;
- and
- an imaging device to sense inclusions in the liquid metal, the imaging device positioned to view a portion of the surface of the liquid metal to detect changes in the portion of the surface as the inclusions flow through the portion of the surface.
A method for measuring inclusions in a liquid metal, comprising:
- providing a container filled with a liquid metal and a plurality of electrodes;
- positioning the electrodes relative to the container to provide a current path in the liquid metal;
- attaching a current generator to the electrodes;
- separately conditioning a surface of a portion of the liquid metal to facilitate penetration of the surface by inclusions in the liquid metal;
- providing a detection device to measure a size and concentration of inclusions in the portion of the liquid metal;
- and
- measuring inclusions in the liquid metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.