The aim of this project was to develop an integrated measurement system for the temperature and the chemical components enabling on-line monitoring the combustion processes in industrial-scale furnaces of metallurgical and mineral processing industry. It consists of two components: Modern, non-intrusive, laser-based sensing methods (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy, CARS, and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, LIBS) and advanced mathematical modelling techniques (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD). This system has been adapted in the frame of this two-years project in lab-scale furnaces of different size, simulating very closely hot metal production conditions in iron and steel plant. The overall target was to prove the feasibility of the measuring system. It is intended to transfer and adapt it to the full-industrial scale furnaces in-situ, in the frame of a follow-up industrial project.
The main objectives of the project OSIRIS, have been (after mid-term-assessment): To adapt CARS and LIBS in two steps, a small lab-scale and a large lab-scale for monitoring on-line the temperature and the molecules CO, CO2, H2, O2 and the elements C (and if successfull S) for the blast furnace operation and to adapt and to develop suitable CFD models on the basis of the PHOENICS code for modelling the turbulent combustion in the lab-scale furnaces. Further, to integrate these parts, sensing and modelling, and the results into a measurement system to support combustion control.
The feasibility of the sensing system for on-line detection the combustion under realistic conditions has been tested in the large lab-scale Blast Furnace Simulator at Thyssen for the combustion of gas (methane), pulverised coal and oil.