enhancing process efficency through improved temperature measurement Projects uri icon

researchers

  • LOPEZ MARTINEZ, FERNANDO   Principal Researcher  
  • CASTRO GONZALEZ, ANTONIO JESUS DE   Researcher  
  • MELENDEZ SANCHEZ, JUAN   Researcher  
  • BRIZ PACHECO, SUSANA   Researcher  
  • GUARNIZO HERREÑO, GUILLERMO ANDRES   Researcher  
  • SANCHEZ CARBALLIDO, SERGIO   Researcher  
  • RODRIGUEZ CONEJO, MIGUEL ANGEL   Researcher  
  • GIL GONZALEZ, VICTOR   Researcher  
  • SALAS GARCIA, MARIO   Researcher  

type

  • European Research Project

reference

  • 14IN0D14; 14IND04

date/time interval

  • May 1, 2015 - April 30, 2018

abstract

  • The overall objective of the project is to significantly enhance the efficiency of high value manufacturing processes by improving temperature measurement capability. Enhanced efficiency of processes may take several forms including: reduced product rejection/waste, improved energy efficiency (and therefore reduced emissions), increased intervals between sensor checks/maintenance and increased sensor reliability (i.e. reduced amount of operator intervention). Traceability of temperature measurements to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) is a critical factor in establishing low measurement uncertainty and reproducible, consistent process control. Introducing such traceability in-situ (i.e. within the industrial process) is a theme running through this project.
    High value manufacturing is heavily reliant on accurate, traceable temperature measurement. For applications above 1300 °C (e.g. casting, forging and sintering), there is a need for more stable sensors and standardisation of at least one new thermocouple type to fill the gap between 1500 °C and 1800 °C. Above 1800 °C, only tungsten-rhenium (W-Re) thermocouples are widely available, but their erratic performance renders them very unsatisfactory for long-term measurement. At lower temperatures below 500 °C, reliable welding of high strength steel requires specific heat treatment processes pre- and post-weld. This is subject to a range of standards, but manufacturers often experience extreme difficulty with compliance in obtaining sufficiently low uncertainties due to the limitations of surface temperature measurement (by contact sensors). Forming of metal and composites to 500 °C is also subject to these issues, which is holding back uptake of new, more efficient furnace technology. Measurement of combustion temperature is extremely difficult and prone to large errors, e.g. thermocouple measurements of flame temperatures can be in error by hundreds of degrees. What is needed is a portable ̵

keywords

  • temperature measurement; manufacturing processes;calibration techniques;combustion thermometry