Application Note: Mill Ladle Refractory Monitoring

Steel mill ladles have limited lives. As their refractory linings wear or develop breaks due to shock, the outer part of a ladle can be exposed to excessive temperatures. If not caught in time, the result can be ladle disintegration and a molten metal breakout, threatening the lives of workers and destroying equipment. FLIR infrared camera systems are used to monitor ladles in real time and warn of a breakout before it happens. This application flyer describes how these systems can be designed and used to save mills hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing injuries, equipment damage, and production downtime.