Ultrasonic determination of the residual wall thickness of glass furnace refractories

Abstract

The determination of the corrosion progress of refractory blocks on operating glass furnaces is of great interest to the glass industry. Several European glass research Institutes collaborated within the European SPRINT programme to develop an ultrasonic method of measuring the residual thickness of refractory blocks. The experience of the Hüttentechnische Vereinigung der Deutschen Glasindustrie and the TNO Institute of Applied Physics in the field of ultrasonic testing of materials as well as high-temperature applications of ultrasound were used to develop a device that was tested under laboratory conditions and in first industrial tests. After scaling up the equipment a number of industrial measurements were carried out on different furnace types in Europe. These tests showed that reliable results can be obtained with this device.