P1.5 - Cross-Sectional Area Estimation of hot rolled round steel bars using eddy currents

The cross-sectional area is an important quality parameter of hot rolled round steel bars which at best is determined during the production process. Therefore, robust non-contact measurement systems are necessary which are applicable even in difficult environmental conditions as occurring in steel plants. Currently, measurement systems based on optical sensors are used in this measuring task. Integrating such optical systems into places under harsh conditions, such as steam, moistening of the rod with drilling or cutting fluid and high temperatures above the Curie point, cause a lot of effort and the measurement inaccuracy increases rapidly. This paper presents a measurement system with a novel transducer arrangement based on high frequency eddy currents which are less effected by those interferences.