US 11,959,811 B2
Temperature sensors
Meng Lu, Ames, IA (US); Jingjing Qian, Ames, IA (US); Sunday O. Abraham, Bettendorf, IA (US); Randy Petty, West Liberty, IA (US); and Matthew J. Werner, Muscatine, IA (US)
Assigned to SSAB Enterprises, LLC, Mobile, AL (US); and Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (US)
Filed by SSAB Enterprises, LLC, Mobile, AL (US); and Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/723,445.
Prior Publication US 2021/0190603 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. G01K 11/32 (2021.01); C21C 5/52 (2006.01); F27D 21/00 (2006.01); G01K 11/12 (2021.01); G02B 6/02 (2006.01); H01L 31/0216 (2014.01); H05B 7/148 (2006.01)
CPC G01K 11/32 (2013.01) [C21C 5/52 (2013.01); F27D 21/0014 (2013.01); G01K 11/12 (2013.01); G02B 6/02395 (2013.01); H01L 31/0216 (2013.01); H05B 7/148 (2013.01); C21C 2005/5288 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A temperature sensor comprising:
a sapphire optical fiber structured to produce a thermal emission representative of a molten steel into which the temperature sensor is inserted;
a nanoporous cladding layer covering at least a portion of the sapphire optical fiber;
a refractory housing covering at least a portion of the nanoporous cladding layer;
an air gap fully-circumferentially around the sapphire optical fiber, the air gap separating the sapphire optical fiber from the refractory housing; and
a spectrometer coupled to the sapphire optical fiber and configured to receive the thermal emission and to generate, in response, a radiation spectrum indicative of a temperature of the molten steel.