NOUFERROUS METALLURGICAL EQUIPMENT

To address the bottleneck issues of delayed information exchange and low collaborative efficiency in the multi-process collaborative operations of PS converter copper smelting, which traditionally rely on paper-based records and manual communication, this paper proposes and designs a monitoring and management system for logistics and handling equipment in copper smelting workshops. The system employs Gray-coded bus and rotary encoders for the continuous positioning of overhead cranes in their long-travel and cross-travel directions, respectively. Load cells are installed on both the main and auxiliary hooks to achieve crane load weighing. Laser ranging is utilized for the precise positioning of electric transfer carts, and an image recognition method is implemented for the automatic identification of slag ladle numbers. Based on a workshop-wide, full-coverage wireless communication network, the automatic acquisition and transmission of various intelligent sensing data are achieved. Consequently, the system enables effective monitoring of the production processes of key equipment, such as smelting furnaces, overhead cranes, and slag ladles, presenting a comprehensive overview of the workshop’s production through 3D visualization technology. Furthermore, it facilitates the continuous and automatic tracking of the flow of primary metallic materials, including matte, blister copper, and cold charge, with tracking data being fed back to each smelting furnace in real-time. The automated acquisition and transmission of production information significantly enhance the collaborative efficiency between processes, serving as a valuable reference for the intelligent transformation of copper smelting workshops.