US 12,320,764 B2
System and methods of charged particle detectors for blast furnace imaging
Anthony Crego, Chantilly, CA (US); and Sean Simon, Vista, CA (US)
Assigned to DECISION SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, Poway, CA (US)
Filed by Decision Sciences International Corporation, Poway, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/834,496.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/208,899, filed on Jun. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397539 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 23/225 (2018.01); G01N 23/2202 (2018.01)
CPC G01N 23/225 (2013.01) [G01N 23/2202 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A particle measurement system, comprising:
a blast furnace;
a first particle tracking detector located adjacent to the blast furnace to receive incoming charged particles, the first particle tracking detector configured to measure position and direction of the incoming charged particles received thereon; and
a second particle tracking detector located adjacent to the blast furnace to receive outgoing charged particles after transiting through the blast furnace and to measure position and direction of the outgoing charged particles received thereon;
wherein the first particle tracking detector and the second particle tracking detector are movably coupled to a mechanical support structure,
wherein the first particle tracking detector and the second particle tracking detector are movable up or down along a height of the blast furnace,
wherein the first particle tracking detector and the second particle tracking detector are movable clockwise or counterclockwise around the blast furnace,
wherein a location of the first particle tracking detector next to a side of the blast furnace is higher than that of the second particle tracking detector,
wherein the first particle tracking detector and the second particle tracking detector are respectively configured to produce electrical signals corresponding to the received incoming and outgoing charged particles, and wherein the electrical signals, when received by and processed by a processor, enable construction of an image of a volume of interest located in between the first particle tracking detector and the second particle tracking detector,
wherein the particle measurement system includes the processor and a memory with instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
produce the image based on processing information associated with the received electrical signals, and
produce a three-dimensional image of contents inside the blast furnace that includes a cohesion zone where metallic objects melt in the blast furnace or a deadman zone where coke is stagnant in the blast furnace,
wherein a first mobile assembly comprising the first particle tracking detector and a third particle tracking detector are located adjacent to the blast furnace,
wherein a gap separates the first particle tracking detector and the third particle tracking detector in a vertical direction along the height of the blast furnace, and
wherein the first particle tracking detector is movable relative to the third particle tracking detector such that the gap between the first particle tracking detector and the third particle tracking detector is adjustable.