Case 12319

Integrated milliwave melter monitoring system

Keywords:

Glass chemistry, vitrification process, manufacturing, Milliwave Melter Monitor system

Applications:

The technology is applicable to high-temperature melt processes as well as manufacture of glass, ceramics and refining of ores.

Problem:

Conventional sensors do not have clear views for visible or infrared monitoring during waste vitrification operations.

Technology:

The invention uses the millimeterwave (MMW) electromagnetic spectrum that is ideally suited for remote measurements in harsh, optically unclean, and unstable processing environments. The sensitive MMW heterodyne receivers detect thermal emission to sense temperature and emissivity, and emit a coherent single frequency signal to detect position and movement, which could be used for sensing viscosity. A low loss MMW waveguide and optics transmission line system is also used to interface the receiver(s) with the melter and to manipulate the signals for achieving the desired measurements.

Advantages:
  • Non-contact remote measurements
  • Access visibly inaccessible environments
  • Monitor temperature, emissivity, viscosity and other parameters
  • Control remotely

Inventors:
  • Dr. Paul P. Woskov(Plasma Science and Fusion Center, MIT)
  • S.K. Sundaram (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)
  • Gene Daniel (Savannah River National Laboratory)

Intellectual Property:

U.S. Patent Number: 7,997,121, issued August 16, 2011

Publications:

Woskov, P.P., Hadidi, K., Sundaram, S.K., Daniel, G., Miller, D., (2005) “Millmeter-Wave High Level and Low Activity Waste Glass Research”, EMSP HLW Workshop, Aiken, SC, January 18-21, 2005

MITNews, October 29, 2001 “MIT instrument monitors molten materials”

Last revised: November 1, 2012

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