Control and track of melting process by QVI
This paper is occupied by track and control of single component raw materials melting process. Experiments were performed in an electric-resistance furnace with a horizontally placed movable graphite electrode (heater). Used raw material was floated quartz sand, while obtained material was electrofused SiO2, also called quartz glass. Height of the electrode elevation and total melting time were varied. The process is considered as non-stationary process due to existence of captured gas bubbles in the viscous melt and many accompanying effects, as well. Tracking of processing parameters was enabled by thermovision as the source of information. In that regard, infrared camera was used. On the basis of these measurements, temperature profiles in the system during the melting process were obtained. Working models of the process were defined by correlation of the temperature changes with time at distances of 1, 3 and 5 cm from the heater. The “black box” method that correlates temperature and time in a model was applied. Powered functions are obtained as models of proposed system. These models were the base for processing control. Namely, based on virtual process defined by different models, sets of parameters for the process control are determined.