Wireless temperature sensing and control system for metal kiln and method of using the same

摘要

A rotary aluminum kiln temperature regulation system comprising a temperature sensing device in the kiln that is configured to take temperature readings in an area of the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device. The system including a wireless transmitter operatively associated with the temperature sensing device and a receiver wirelessly associated with the transmitter, such that the transmitter and receiver wirelessly transmit the temperature readings taken by the temperature sensing device from the transmitter to the receiver. The system also including a control unit operatively connected to the receiver that is configured to receive the transmitted temperature readings and determine when the transmitted temperature readings exceed a predefined temperature setpoint. The control unit is operatively connected to a heat flow control device that can adjust heat flow inside the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device, such that the control unit regulates the heat flow control device to maintain a desired level of heat flow in the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device in response to the temperature readings transmitted from the temperature sensing device.

主权项

1. A method for controlling a material processing apparatus comprising a rotary kiln, the kiln having an inlet for supplying material to the kiln at a feed rate for processing of the material in the kiln, an outlet for removal of the material from the kiln after processing, and a process zone positioned between the inlet and outlet through which the material moves for processing; the apparatus having a heat source external to the kiln, said heat source supplying heat into the kiln through one of said inlet and said outlet; the process zone having a plurality of temperatures therein positioned at intervals between said inlet and said outlet; the processing apparatus further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, each of said sensors adapted to measure a temperature at a different location within the process zone positioned at differing distances between said inlet and said outlet and to generate a signal indicative of the temperature so measured; the apparatus further comprising one or more process control loops external to the process zone, each of said process control loops indirectly regulating at least in part one or more of the plurality of temperatures within the process zone; the apparatus further comprising a programmable microprocessor control unit operatively associated with and controlling at least in part each of said process control loops; the method comprising:
a. storing a temperature control profile in the control unit; b. receiving at the control unit the signals from the plurality of temperature sensors; c. the control unit determining the temperature at each of the locations in the process zone and creating a process temperature profile of the process zone there from; d. the control unit comparing the process temperature profile with the temperature control profile to create a temperature profile comparison; and e. the control unit operating one or more of the operation control loops in response to the temperature profile comparison in order to adjust the temperature at one or more of the locations in the process zone in order to substantially match the process temperature profile to the temperature control profile.