高炉コークス水分計測技術の開発

抄録

Conventional neutron moisture gauges for blast furnaces have poor accuracy caused by a measuring principle itself, that is ±2wt% when measuring moisture content of 5wt%. In order to solve the problem of accuracy, a new method of moisture measurement for blast furnace coke has been developed, using transmission of fast neutrons and γ-rays from ²⁵²Cf. In this method, an organic scintillator and pulse counter system which has pulse shape discrimination properties are used to detect fast neutrons and γ-rays simultaneously, and it enables the measurement of moisture and bulk density at the same time.
A moisture gauge using this method shows good linearity over a wide moisture range permitting measurements with a very high accuracy of ±0.5wt%. Further, it can measure the moisture of coke accurately even if wet coke and dry coke are present in a mixed state in the coke hopper. Therefore this moisture gauge is suitable for blast furnace operations which aim at precise heat level control.