SHEFFIELD, UK, 24 FEBRUARY 2021 — AMETEK Land, one of the world’s leading glass industry temperature measurement specialists, has added further innovative features to its IMAGEPro software for use with its NIR-Borescope-2K Glass thermal imaging solution in glass melt tank applications.
The NIR-B-2K provides a cutting-edge thermal image with an outstanding definition of nearly 3 megapixels (1968 x 1472). It is not affected by the hot atmosphere or gases of the furnace and allows operators to measure from any of its three million fully radiometric-calibrated pixels, providing data to optimise furnace temperature.
Latest innovations to the IMAGEPro advanced thermal image processing software mean that the thermal imager can now measure batch coverage near the throat end as well as crown temperatures inside glass melt tanks, bringing further quality and operational efficiencies to glass producers.
Phillippe Kerbois, Glass Industry Manager for AMETEK Land, explains: “Now it is possible to monitor the batch coverage near the throat end of the melt tank, this helps to avoid large amounts of batch entering this area and potentially causing glass defects. This latest IMAGEPro-Glass software is an integral part of NIR-B-2K-Glass and is invaluable for any business wishing to optimise quality in their glass melt tanks. Importantly, it supports glass producers on their path to Industry 4.0, enabling increased automation and complex data exchange in glass manufacturing processes.”
Temperatures drop when batch moves to the front of the furnace. Within the IMAGEPro-Glass software, regions of interest can be used to set alarms for the furnace’s Distributed Control System (DCS) and facilitate better control of the batch coverage by adjusting the batch charging direction and length.
With the updates to IMAGEPro, key batch monitoring features include the ability to gain a top 2D view of the melter, set a Region of Interest (ROI) in front of the throat, configure a batch ROI in the coverage melting grid, and adjust the batch length manually. As variation in batch coverage directly impacts furnace temperatures, it must be carefully monitored.
The software has been designed for use with AMETEK Land’s innovative NIR-B-2K thermal imaging solution. This is a short wavelength radiometric infrared borescope imaging camera designed to produce high-definition thermal images and provide accurate temperature measurements from any of the 3 million temperature points in the image.
The camera measures temperatures in the range 1000 °C to 1800 °C and is suitable for float glass, container glass, borosilicate glass, and fibre glass melt furnaces.
With the IMAGEPro software, analysis areas within the NIR-B-2K image can be defined by the user and trended, showing maximum, minimum, and average temperatures. Operators can use the “Playback” view to replay events and stop at any frame to measure multiple temperatures at the same point in time. This is particularly useful if measuring port arch temperatures at the moment of reversal.
AMETEK Land has recently introduced dedicated in-furnace thermal glass surveys to complement its range of equipment, which allow glass producers to gain insight into the thermal processes with accurate real-time temperature measurements.
The service comprises a site induction, pre-meeting, set-up, and thermal survey from a specific number of furnace locations with equipment rental and a final report included. In partnership with Simpson Combustion and Energy Consultancy, combustion analysis can also be undertaken to offer additional advanced surveys.
There are many benefits of an AMETEK Land survey, which can help a glass producer identify how to improve productivity with optimised pull rates and how to increase thermal and combustion efficiency. The survey can also help extend campaign life, protect refractory, and assist with emissions compliance and energy reduction through the optimisation of flame patterns.
About AMETEK Land
AMETEK Land is a business unit of AMETEK, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annual sales of approximately $5 billion. AMETEK Land designs and manufactures a wide range of instruments for industrial non-contact temperature measurement, combustion efficiency and environmental monitoring.
For Additional Information, Contact:
AMETEK Land Stubley Lane, Dronfield, UK, S18 1DJ,
Tel +44 (0)1246 417691
Fax +44 (0)1246 410585
Email land.enquiry@ametek.com
Website www.ametek-land.com
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Marina Wood or Rebecca HartTel +44 (0) 114 349 5345
Email marina@dragonflypr.co.uk or rebecca@dragonflypr.co.uk
