Laser Contouring System

What is ANTERIS 360 for BOF?

The primary steelmaking process demands uncompromising precision, operational efficiency, and safety. Meet ANTERIS 360 - the most advanced laser contouring system engineered explicitly for Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) metallurgical applications.

Main Benefits for BOF Operations

Basic Oxygen Furnaces operate under extreme conditions with unique safety challenges that require specialised maintenance strategies to optimise availability and campaign life. Thanks to ANTERIS 360, BOF operators can detect critical refractory damage, prevent catastrophic failures, and maximise refractory campaign duration in the demanding BOF environment.

Fast, Accurate, Reliable BOF Refractory Profiling

ANTERIS 360 is specifically calibrated for Basic Oxygen Furnace vessels, addressing the unique operational challenges that include thermal shock from oxygen lancing, slag attack, and the demanding tilt-and-pour cycle requirements.

The system integrates seamlessly with your BOF through a simple single-axis manipulator, reducing operational costs while accommodating the BOF's tilt mechanism and production schedule constraints.

The BOF-Optimised Scanning Solution

ANTERIS 360 combines high-speed, 300 kHz laser scanning technology with a robust mechanical platform and intuitive Hyperion* 3-D output software on an insertable platform. Using Vesuvius' advanced laser contouring system, millions of contour points comprise each BOF measurement, providing incredibly detailed surface and feature resolution of your converter interior in seconds, even accounting for vessel tilt angles.

The Insertable Platform for BOF Applications

When BOF measurements require an insertable solution, Vesuvius' unique 360-degree ANTERIS 360 laser contouring system offers dedicated, always-on measurement capability specifically designed for the challenging BOF environment. The system captures the complete BOF vessel interior in a single scan, including critical areas such as:

• Trunnion ring and barrel refractory condition
• Impact zones beneath oxygen lance positions
• Tap hole and slag notch regions
• Bottom and sidewall wear pattern analysis
• Tuyere port areas (if applicable)

System Components for BOF Integration

• Vesuvius ANTERIS 3-D laser scanner with BOF-specific tilt compensation
• Water-cooled housing engineered for BOF's extreme thermal cycling
• Custom-designed robotic arm optimised for BOF geometry and tilt operations
• Process Metrix electronic control unit with BOF-specific measurement protocols
• Precision inclinometer for accurate vessel tilt measurement and compensation
• An advanced cooling system designed for BOF's intense heat exposure
• Remote PC with BOF production integration and tilt-angle processing capabilities

BOF-Specific Measurements and Automation

Measurements can be performed manually, semi-automatically, or in fully automatic mode, seamlessly integrating with your BOF's blow-to-blow production cycle. The system accommodates BOF tilt positions and can measure during maintenance windows between heats.

Automation is implemented through MODBUS/TCP or OPC UA interface, with custom protocols available to match your BOF control systems.

The interface automatically captures critical BOF operational data, including:

• Heat number and sequence tracking
• Vessel tilt angle during measurement
• Blow time and oxygen consumption correlation
• Campaign number and refractory age
• Lance height and positioning data
• Tap-to-tap cycle optimisation metrics

In fully automatic mode, ANTERIS 360 integrates with your BOF's automation system, performing measurements during scheduled maintenance windows without operator intervention.

BOF-Focused Features

Specialised BOF Analysis Capabilities:

• Lance Impact Zone Monitoring: Track wear patterns directly beneath oxygen lance positions
• Trunnion Ring Assessment: Monitor critical structural refractory in high-stress areas
• Tap Hole Integrity Analysis: Assess tap hole wear and predict maintenance requirements
• Slag Notch Condition Monitoring: Track wear in the critical slag removal area
• Tilt-Compensated Measurements: Accurate profiling regardless of vessel position
• Campaign Lifecycle Management: Complete BOF campaign tracking with predictive analytics

The system displays BOF profiles automatically within three seconds after scan completion, with automatic tilt compensation applied. Overlay functions allow comparison of multiple measurements throughout the campaign to track wear progression and optimise blow parameters.

BOF-Specific Customisation Options

Tailored Output for BOF Operations:

• BOF-specific dimensional analysis templates accounting for vessel geometry
• Automated lance impact zone wear calculations
• Trunnion ring thickness mapping with structural safety thresholds
• Tap hole wear progression, trending, and maintenance scheduling
• Integration with BOF process optimisation systems
• Tilt-angle corrected volume calculations for accurate refractory assessment

Pre-defined zoom views focus on critical BOF areas such as tap holes, lance impact zones, and trunnion rings. Historical wear rate analysis correlates with blow parameters to optimise both steel quality and refractory life.

BOF Process Integration

Seamless Production Integration:

• Measurement scheduling between BOF heats
• Integration with BOF maintenance planning systems
• Correlation with process parameters (oxygen flow, lance height, blow time)
• Automatic alerts for critical wear thresholds
• Export capabilities for BOF gunning and repair equipment
• Real-time wear rate calculations for campaign optimisation

Uncompromising BOF Support

Vesuvius provides specialised preventive maintenance plans designed to keep your ANTERIS 360 system operating at peak performance in the demanding BOF environment. Our BOF-experienced technicians understand the unique challenges of basic oxygen steelmaking and provide:

• 24/7 dedicated BOF support hotline with steelmaking expertise
• BOF-specific troubleshooting and calibration services
• Emergency on-site support within 48 hours
• Remote BOF system diagnostics and tilt compensation verification
• BOF-optimised software updates and measurement algorithms

ANTERIS 360 BOF Specifications

Optimised for BOF Environments:

• 300,000 Hz laser rep rate, 120,000 Hz scan rate for rapid BOF measurements
• 3.6 mm diameter laser beam with superior performance in BOF atmospheric conditions
• Outstanding detection of BOF-specific wear patterns and thermal damage
• IR laser beam unaffected by BOF process dust and emissions - 100% eye safe
• BOF-specific calibration with automatic tilt compensation algorithms

BOF-Unique Technical Capabilities:

• A full hemispherical scan captures the complete BOF interior, including trunnion areas.
• Industry's most compact scanner for integration with BOF tilt mechanisms
• Shortest total scanning time (BOF availability loss < 1 minute between heats)
• Single scan captures 100% of BOF interior in a 110°×360° window with tilt compensation
• Advanced tilt-angle processing for accurate measurements at any vessel position
• Specialised BOF wear analysis and campaign optimisation algorithms

Built for BOF Excellence: ANTERIS 360 delivers the precision, speed, and reliability that BOF operations demand, helping you maximise campaign life, optimise lance positioning, ensure tap hole integrity, and maintain safe, efficient primary steelmaking operations.