Smarter Melt part II
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - Enheten för Fiberoptik, fotonik och nano |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 000 000 |
| Project duration | September 2020 - June 2023 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme Electronic Components and Systems: |
| Call | Electronic components and systems: Research and innovation projects 2020 |
Important results from the project
The goal was to develop innovative sensors for monitoring steel production. The purpose was to obtain valuable process parameters directly from a steel melt continuously, automatically, and with robust and safe handling for higher quality and reduced raw material and energy consumption. Three out of four performance targets were met. The last result target could not be met as the work could not be carried out within the framework of the project.
Expected long term effects
Measurement performance has been obtained for a system that measures chemical composition and temperature in molten steel. 3D printing of demonstrators has been carried out in a high temperature material. Further development of the system so it meets the industry´s eligibility requirements will enable process optimization in the form of shortened production time, lower energy consumption, and greater opportunities for quality follow-up. In the long run, this provides increased competitiveness for Swedish steel producers together with a reduced climate footprint.
Approach and implementation
Project meetings were held every 3rd week, which resulted in good cooperation between the parties. MST was responsible for the material development, Swerim for the LIBS technology, and RISE for the BST technology. The instrument company contributed with mechanical design and fabrication of parts for the system. The system was developed and verified through field trials at the end-users. The project has been extended due to delays mainly caused by the pandemic.