Abstract Scope |
Meltables such as Remelt Secondary Ingot (RSI), primary aluminum sow, and other shapes must be dry before charging into a furnace containing a molten heel. Any moisture on a meltable, including condensation, may cause an explosion. Once a meltable has been dried, it may become wet again from condensation due to environmental changes in the indoor storage area. Condensation will occur when a meltable reaches or drops below the dew point temperature, thus detecting and monitoring real-time changes in the storage environment is vital to prevent molten metal explosions. The Dew Point Monitoring and Alarm System (DPMAS) concept was developed and finalized in early 2017 and shared within the aluminum industry. The design, operation, and periodic testing of a portable wireless DPMAS that monitors, alarms, and reports environmental conditions to plant employees in real-time is described in this paper. |