RATIONALIZATION OF METALLURGICAL PROCESS ANALYSIS BY AUTOMATION AND DECENTRALIZATION

Spectrometrical analysis methods play an outstanding roll in metallurg y for process control and product inspection and testing. The automati on of such methods offers an important precondition for the optimisati on of metallurgical processes and for the rationalisation of analytica l work procedures. Steadily shorter process times and the increase in metallurgical process steps necessitate ne vv ways of process analysis . Within the context of the diverse trends of development, the possibi lity of using automated analysis systems in central laboratories inclu ding the nitrogen determination, is first of all described. This is fo llowed by an evaluation of unattended, decentralised at-line analysis techniques. Krupp Hoesch Stahl AG has, with great success, installed t wo containerized laboratories to analyse the first blown steel samples in a basic oxygen steel plant and to monitor the secondary metallurgy processes.