Radio-frequency sensor for liquid steel level and flux powder thickness measurement in continuous casting mould

An innovative sensor for both liquid steel level control and flux powder thickness measurement in continuous casting mould has been developed. The sensor technology is based on radio-frequency wave resonating in a semi-closed cavity (RF sensor). The sensor was preliminary tested in laboratory equipment simulating liquid steel with a low melting temperature metallic alloy. Industrial tests were carried out on billet continuous casting machine in which the repeatability of the measurement and the reliability of the measurement and the reliability of the equipment was shown. The system is based on relatively cheap components with respect with the current ones, and it is able to measure with adequate precision and quickly the powder layer at meniscus also in presence of level variations.