Method and system for determining mass temperature in a hostile environment

[54] METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR

DETERMINING MASS TEMPERATURE IN A
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT

[75] Inventors: Richard H. Krause, Lansdale;

Thomas J. Pfeiffer; Vincent V.
Horvath, both of Bethlehem, all of
Pa.

[73] Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation,

Bethlehem, Pa.

[21] Appl. No.: 616,520
[22] Filed: Jun. 1,1984

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 328,775, Dec. 8, 1981, abandoned.

[51] Int. Q.4 H03K 13/02; G01K 7/12

[52] U.S. a 364/557; 364/477;

201/1; 356/43; 202/151

[58] Field of Search 364/557, 477, 501, 472,

364/473; 358/100, 101, 107, 113; 201/1; 202/151; 250/330, 334; 356/446, 43, 46; 73/1

F; 374/121, 126

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,392,623 7/1968 Walker et al 356/434

3,463,595 8/1969 Blanc et al 356/432

3,556,947 9/1968 Kumper 187/9 R

3,600,149 8/1971 Chen et al 364/477 X

3,607,660 9/1971 Kumper 201/1

3,693,025 9/1972 Brunton 250/340

3,982,110 9/1976 Kawai 364/139

4,003,803 1/1977 Schmidt-Balve 364/477 X

4,131,914 12/1978 Bricmont 358/100

4,144,758 3/1979 Roney 374/126

4,246,641 1/1981 Babil et al 364/477 X

4,280,050 7/1981 Callender et al 250/330

4,344,819 8/1982 Gerdes, Jr 201/1

4,403,251 9/1983 Domarenok et al 358/107

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0053227 6/1982 European Pat. Off. 201/1

2073408 10/1981 United Kingdom 201/1

Primary Examiner—Edward J. Wise

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—John J. Seiko; William B.

Noll

[57] ABSTRACT

Production-worthy method and system comprising two computer-based subsystems for determining temperature of an irradiant mass movable through process means in a hostile environment exemplified as coke guide and coke oven in a battery of ovens. System is usable in other industries such as at cement kilns and the like. First subsystem which is carried by a movable coke guide/door machine, includes one or more coke guide pyrometers arranged vertically, each with a sighting window monitor to detect optical errors, an onboard computerized and cooled electronics package for acquiring and processing temperature data and automatically detecting same for pyrometer drift and optical errors, and automatically correcting for these errors, and further including a plug-in portable terminal with a printer. The second subsystem stationed in a central office having a base computer package with various computation and storage capabilities including a CRT control terminal for operator interaction with the entire system, a line printer and a printer/plotter. Two-way data communication between the two subsystems is exemplified by a two-way radio link. Each subsystem logs both coke level data and coke vertical and horizontal temperature profile data and alarm messages. Tabular printouts of temperature and diagnostic data are provided by both the portable terminal printer in the onboard subsystem and the base computer printers. Graphical displays are also provided by the base computer system of coke level, temperature and summary data, oven push schedules and/or self-diagnostic messages of various process and measurement operations.

10 Claims, 44 Drawing Figures