Prediction of Refractory Lining Thickness in an Electric Furnace Using Thermography as a Non-destructive Testing Technique

Structural health monitoring of electric furnaces is a feasible way to achieve maintenance goals without momentary stoppages and unnecessary repairs. Monitoring of refractory lining erosion via brick thickness is implemented within a furnace. However, other techniques are necessary in case of damage of the original system. NDT techniques, especially thermography, are tested in this work. Several thermograms were taken in different panels around the furnace. A basic heat transfer model is used to calculate brick thickness using composed images of each of the considered panels. Results show that this technique can predict brick thickness, considering possible error measurements in one of the auxiliary variables.