Wear detector for glass furnace

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11712818-B2
Application number	US-201917263792-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	Aug 1, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A method for producing a glass furnace, including a refractory portion, a waveguide with a measurement portion extending into the refractory portion and an interrogator connected to an input of the waveguide to inject an interrogation signal. The measurement portion incorporating a sensor to send a response signal to the interrogator in response to the injection. The interrogator analyzing the response signal and sending a message. Arranging, inside a mold, a temporary part configured to leave space for a compartment for the measurement portion. Preparing a starting feedstock and introducing the starting feedstock into the mold such that the part is embedded therein to obtain a preform. Hardening the preform to form the refractory portion. Removing the temporary part to make the compartment. Assembling the refractory portion with other constituent elements and introducing the measurement portion into the compartment and connecting the interrogator to the input of the waveguide.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for producing a glass furnace, comprising:
a refractory portion;
a waveguide comprising a measurement portion extending into the refractory portion;
an interrogator connected to an input of the waveguide and configured to inject an interrogation signal into said input;
the measurement portion of the waveguide incorporating at least one sensor configured to send a response signal to the interrogator in response to the injection of said interrogation signal,
the interrogator being configured to analyze the response signal and to send a message according to said analysis,
said method comprising the following steps:
A) arranging, inside a mold, a temporary part configured to, after production of the refractory portion and removal of the temporary part, leave space for a compartment for accommodating said measurement portion of the waveguide;
B) preparing a starting feedstock and introducing said starting feedstock into the mold such that said temporary part is embedded therein, respectively, so as to obtain a preform;
C) hardening said preform so as to form the refractory portion;
D) removing the temporary part so as to make said compartment;
E) assembling the refractory portion with other constituent elements of the furnace and, before or after said assembly, introducing the measurement portion into the compartment and connecting the interrogator to the input of the waveguide.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in step C),
the preform is sintered at a temperature of between 400° C. and 1200° C., or wherein
the starting feedstock is a bath of molten material, the hardening in step C) resulting from the cooling of said starting feedstock.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temporary part comprises a wire made of molybdenum.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compartment is configured not to pass through the refractory portion in the direction of its thickness.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is an optical fiber, the sensor is a Bragg grating and the measurement portion of the waveguide comprises a plurality of said sensors.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the sensors are arranged at regular intervals along the waveguide.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the refractory portion is a refractory block or a floor.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distal end ( 12 d ) of the waveguide is inside the refractory portion, preferably less than 10 cm, less than 5 cm, less than 2 cm, less than 1 cm from the hot face of the refractory portion.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interrogator is configured to determine, according to the analysis of the one or more response signals, a level of wear and/or a rate of wear of the refractory portion.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the measurement portion of the waveguide is oriented toward a face of the refractory portion that is exposed to a space of the furnace containing molten glass, called the “hot face”.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the measurement portion of the waveguide is oriented perpendicular to the hot face.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the measurement portion of the waveguide is oriented parallel to a face of the refractory portion that is exposed to a space of the furnace containing molten glass, called the “hot face”.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 , comprising a sheet consisting of a set of measurement portions of said waveguides extending along a curved or planar surface, preferably along a plane parallel to the hot face.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said measurement portions of the sheet extend parallel to one another or intersect.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 , comprising at least first and second sheets and wherein the sensors of the first sheet are distributed in a first pattern, the sensors of the second sheet are distributed in a second pattern and the first pattern and the second pattern are identical.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13 , comprising more than five groups of sensors per m 2 of the hot face, each group comprising at least three sensors superposed in a direction of superposition which is not parallel to the hot face of the refractory portion, a sensor belonging only to one group, the directions of superposition being preferably parallel to one another.

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Ct Recherches

Inventors

• Cabodi Isabelle
• Citti Olivier
• Vuillermet Jean-Gaël

Classifications

• B28B7/162 Primary

  for building blocks or similar block-shaped articles · CPC title

• C03B5/42 Primary

  Details of construction of furnace walls, e.g. to prevent corrosion; Use of materials for furnace walls · CPC title

• F27D21/0021

  Devices for monitoring linings for wear · CPC title

• G01D5/35316

  using a Bragg gratings · CPC title

• F27D21/00

  Arrangement of monitoring devices; Arrangement of safety devices · CPC title