JP2013257181A - Method and system for measuring tapping hole diameter of blast furnace, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely measure a tapping hole diameter from thermal images of a molten iron tapping flow having a waving surface.SOLUTION: A method for measuring a tapping hole diameter of a blast furnace includes: binarizing a plurality of thermal images Org of a molten iron tapping flow, which have been imaged at a constant imaging interval, to generate binarized images Bin; obtaining absolute value differences between the temporally consecutive two images among the generated binarized images Bin to generate difference binarized images Dif; and using the difference binarized images Dif to derive a diameter D of the molten iron tapping flow as the taping hole diameter.

Description

  The present invention relates to a blast furnace outlet diameter measuring method, a blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system, and a computer program, and is particularly suitable for use in measuring the diameter (diameter) of a blast furnace outlet diameter.

  Inside the blast furnace, as raw materials (iron ore and coke) charged from the top of the furnace descend in the blast furnace, hot metal and molten slag are generated by a high temperature reduction reaction. The generated hot metal and molten slag are dropped on the bottom of the furnace and accumulated at the bottom of the furnace to form an oil reservoir. When a through hole is opened from the outside of the furnace toward the hot water pool, a mixture of molten iron / molten slag (hereinafter referred to as “steaming flow” in the following description) flows out through the through hole. The outside opening portion of the through hole is referred to as a tap hole. The area that becomes the spout is filled with a refractory mud material. When performing the tapping, a tapping opening is formed by mechanically opening the mud material with a drill or the like.

  The diameter of the spout immediately after opening is equal to the diameter of the drill, but the refractory erodes and gradually expands with the progress of the spout (in the following explanation, the caliber of the spout opening is This is referred to as “the caliber”). At the start of brewing, the outflow amount of the slag flow (hot metal / molten slag) is less than the amount of production in the furnace. Therefore, the amount of hot metal / molten slag in the furnace increases. If the brewing is continued, the mud material will be eroded by the brewing flow, the diameter of the brewing will increase, the flow rate of the brewing flow (hot metal / molten slag) will increase, and those in the furnace will turn down. Usually, in about 2 to 4 hours, the hot water level in the furnace decreases to the vicinity of the tap hole. At this time, the mud material is filled in the tap port and the tap port is closed. The level of molten metal in the furnace is estimated from the difference between the value obtained by weighing and integrating the outflow amounts of hot metal and molten slag and the amount of hot metal / molten slag generated from the raw material charged into the blast furnace. Pig iron is produced while repeating such operations.

The speed at which the spout is eroded, that is, the speed at which the spout expands, depends in a complex manner on the material of the mud material, the component ratio of the hot metal / molten slag, the temperature of the spout, the flow speed of the spout And it is not constant. If the diameter of the tap opening is slow and the amount of molten iron / molten slag in the furnace continues to increase, the air permeability in the furnace may deteriorate. If it does so, there exists a possibility of causing the trouble which leads to the quality deterioration of pig iron, and the fall of productivity, such as the fall of the filling in a furnace becoming unstable, or a blow-through arises.
Therefore, it is important to constantly monitor the condition of the tap diameter during the taping operation in order to maintain stable operation of the blast furnace.

  As a technique for monitoring the diameter of the tap hole, there are a method in which an operator visually observes an image near the tap hole captured by a surveillance camera, and a method of measuring (automatically measuring) an image in the vicinity of the tap hole. The former is a method that is widely used in blast furnace operation, and is a method in which an operator in an operation room visually observes an image of an industrial surveillance camera that captures a tap. With this method, the operator merely monitors the state of expansion of the taphole, and quantitative management is difficult. On the other hand, there are techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 as conventional techniques for the latter.

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique in which a thermal image (thermal radiation light of molten iron / molten slag) in a region including a spout is imaged with a camera and the spout diameter is measured by image processing. A line that cuts the center of the spout entrance vertically is set in the thermal image of the area including the spout entrance imaged by the camera, and the brightness on the set line (the brightness above the set value on the line is continuous) The output diameter is obtained based on the length of the straight portion.

The technique described in Patent Document 2 is similar to the technique described in Patent Document 1, in which a thermal image of a tidal stream is captured by a camera, but it is not necessary to look directly at the tapping outlet, The thermal image of the output flow at a position slightly advanced in the horizontal direction is subjected to image processing, and the output flow diameter is obtained as the output aperture.
Specifically, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, a difference absolute value image of two thermal images of the outgoing flow captured at different times is generated, and the generated difference absolute value image is binarized to be binarized. Generate an image. A plurality of such binarized images are generated at different time combinations, and the obtained plurality of binarized images are added. That is, a logical sum of pixel values (“1” or “0”) of pixels corresponding to each other in a plurality of binarized images is calculated (pixel values of pixels corresponding to each other in a plurality of binarized images). If at least one is “1”, the pixel value of the pixel is “1”; otherwise, the pixel value of the pixel is “0”). Then, a hole filling process is performed to set the pixel value of the pixel value “0” where the surrounding pixel value is “1” to “1”. Pixels having a pixel value of “1” on a straight line passing through a predetermined position in the image thus obtained and extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction assumed in advance as the moving direction of the outgoing flow The number of counted pixels is converted into a length in real space, and the length is obtained as the diameter of the output flow. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, the diameter of the output flow is regarded as the output diameter, and the obtained diameter of the output flow is adopted as the output diameter.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-209033 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-2307

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a line for vertically cutting the center of the tap hole is determined in advance. However, due to reasons such as using a long drill in the opening operation of the tap opening, the position at which the tap opening opens is somewhat different for each tap. Therefore, there is a concern that the set line may be disengaged from the tap opening, which may prevent the tap diameter from being accurately measured. Moreover, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the spout must be placed in the field of view of the camera. However, depending on the mechanical structure near the tap, the tap may not be able to enter the camera's field of view. For this reason, when it is unavoidable to observe the output flow that moves in the air ahead of the output port due to the mechanical structure in the vicinity of the output port, the output described in Patent Document 1 is used. The caliber cannot be measured.

Moreover, the technique described in Patent Document 2 is for measuring the diameter of the slag flow by separating the slag that hangs down from the slag and stays in the lower part of the slag flow from the slag flow. In order to achieve such an object, the technique described in Patent Document 2 uses a difference in brightness between hot metal and molten slag to obtain a difference image between two thermal images of the molten iron flow taken at different times. By generating, after capturing the temporal change of the mottled pattern (due to the luminance difference between the molten iron and the molten slag) on the surface of the molten iron flow, the difference image is binarized to generate a difference absolute value image.
However, since the tidal stream is ejected as turbulent flow from the tidal outlet, its surface is always undulating (in the following explanation, this “undulating part of the tidal stream surface” is required). (Referred to as “surface wave”). The state such as the size and shape of the surface wave changes with the passage of time since the start of the extraction (the output time is 2 [hour] to 3 [hour]). Therefore, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, when an image of the tidal current in a state where surface waves are present is captured, the diameter of the tidal current obtained is obtained by adding a swelling due to the surface wave to the diameter of the tidal outlet It becomes a quantity and is affected by a non-constant surface wave. Therefore, there is a possibility that the tapping diameter cannot be measured accurately.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable accurate measurement of an output diameter from a thermal image of an output flow whose surface is wavy. To do.

  The method for measuring the diameter of a blast furnace outlet according to the present invention is a method for measuring the diameter of a blast furnace outlet, wherein the diameter of the outlet flow, which is a jet of a melt flowing out from the outlet formed in the blast furnace, is measured as the diameter of the outlet. An imaging step of capturing a two-dimensional distribution of thermal radiance of the region including the outflow as a thermal image composed of pixels having pixel values for each pixel corresponding to the thermal radiance, A binarized image generating step of binarizing each pixel value of the plurality of thermal images continuously captured by the imaging step to generate a plurality of binarized images; and the binarized image generation Based on the two binarized images generated based on the two thermal images captured at different times among the plurality of binarized images generated by the process, the two binarized images The absolute value of the difference between the pixel values of pixels corresponding to each other in the digitized image The difference binarized image generation step for generating the difference binarized image and the difference binarized image generated by the difference binarized image generation step are used to generate the output flow in the difference binarized image. And a deduction port diameter deriving step of deriving the diameter of the depot from the diameter of the depot flow in the difference binarized image.

  The blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system according to the present invention measures the diameter of the outlet flow, which is a jet of the melt flowing out from the outlet formed in the blast furnace, as the diameter of the outlet. An imaging means for imaging a two-dimensional distribution of thermal radiance of the region including the outflow as a thermal image composed of pixels having pixel values for each pixel corresponding to the thermal radiance, A binarized image generating unit that binarizes each pixel value of the plurality of thermal images continuously captured by the imaging unit to generate a plurality of binarized images; and the binarized image generation Based on the two binarized images generated based on the two thermal images captured at different times among the plurality of binarized images generated by the means, the two binarized images The absolute value of the difference between the pixel values of the corresponding pixels in the digitized image The difference binary image generated by the difference binary image generated by the difference binary image generated by the difference binary image generation unit is generated using the difference binary image generated by the difference binary image generation unit. It has deriving port diameter deriving means for deriving the diameter of the dredging flow and deriving the diameter of the dredging port from the diameter of the dredging flow in the difference binarized image.

  The computer program according to the present invention is a computer program for causing a computer to measure the diameter of an unloading flow that is a jet of a melt flowing out from an unloading port formed in a blast furnace as the diameter of the unloading port. The two-dimensional distribution of the thermal radiance of the region including the outgoing flow is continuously captured by an imaging unit that captures a thermal image including each pixel having a pixel value for each pixel corresponding to the thermal radiance. Generated by the binarized image generating means for binarizing the respective pixel values of the plurality of thermal images captured in an automatic manner to generate a plurality of binarized images, and the binarized image generating means Based on two binarized images generated based on the two thermal images captured at different times from among a plurality of binarized images, the two binarized images are mutually connected. Difference in pixel values of corresponding pixels Using the difference binarized image generating means for generating a difference binarized image having an absolute value as a pixel value and the difference binarized image generated by the difference binarized image generating means, the difference binarization is performed. Deriving the diameter of the tidal flow in the image, and causing the computer to function as tapping diameter derivation means for deriving the diameter of the tapping outlet from the diameter of the tidal flow in the binarized difference image It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of output thermal images captured at different times are binarized to generate a plurality of binarized images, and among the generated binarized images, The difference binary image is generated by taking the absolute value difference between the two binarized images at different times, and the diameter of the output flow is derived as the output diameter using the generated difference binary image. . Therefore, the diameter of the output flow can be derived as the output diameter in a state where the wavy portion of the surface of the output flow is removed. Therefore, it is possible to accurately measure the output diameter from the thermal image of the output flow with the surface being wavy.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system. It is a figure which shows an example of the thermal image of the output flow in which the remarkable surface wave has not arisen. It is a figure which shows the example of the thermal image of the tidal stream 2 accompanied with an intense surface wave. It is a figure which shows an example of a functional structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure explaining the 1st example of the concept of the process performed with an image processing apparatus. It is a figure explaining the 2nd example of the concept of the process performed with an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the density | concentration histogram obtained from the thermal image of a tidal stream. It is a figure explaining an example of the concept of the method of deriving the diameter of a tidal stream. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the elapsed time after starting the tapping and the tapping diameter. It is a figure explaining an example of the concept of the method of deriving the diameter of a tidal stream with the technique of patent document 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the density profile of the difference absolute value image obtained with the technique of patent document 2. FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Blast furnace tapping diameter measurement system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a blast furnace tapping diameter measuring system. FIG. 1 shows only a part of the entire blast furnace 1 near the tap outlet 1a.
In FIG. 1, the blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system according to the present embodiment includes a CCD camera 6 that captures a thermal image (two-dimensional distribution of thermal radiance) of the outlet flow 2 flowing out from the outlet 1a, and a CCD camera 6 And an image processing device 7 for processing the thermal image picked up in (1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a mixture (melt) of hot metal and molten slag flows out as an outgoing stream 2 from an outlet 1 a formed in a side wall portion beside the furnace bottom of the blast furnace 1. Although the diameter of the tidal stream 2 is different for each blast furnace, for example, it changes in the range of 70 [mm] to 120 [mm]. In addition to the tap flow 2, a small part of the molten iron and molten slag mixture (melt) may sag directly below the tap hole 1 a. There is a starting end portion of the brewing bar 3 immediately below the brewing port 1a, and the dripping melt stays at the starting end portion of the brewing bar 3 to form a staying slag 4. On the other hand, the outgoing stream 2 flowing out from the outgoing outlet 1a reaches the outgoing output 3 after moving in the air, and flows along the outgoing output 3 after reaching the outgoing output 3. The speed at which the outgoing stream 2 moves in the air is about 5 [m / sec] to 10 [m / sec]. In addition, a cocoon cover 5 is formed so as to surround the brewing bar 3 with a gap from the brewing port 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tap stream 2 immediately after flowing out of the tap port 1 a is not shielded by the paddle cover 5. In the present embodiment, the thermal radiance distribution of the tap stream 2 immediately after flowing out from the tap hole 1a is imaged using a monochrome CCD camera 6 from obliquely above.

In the present embodiment, the exposure time (shutter speed) is extremely shortened, and a thermal image (two-dimensional distribution of thermal radiance) flowing out from the tap outlet 1a is captured, so that in the thermal image, The image flow of the output stream 2 was not generated (the mottled pattern and outline were not obscured). Here, if the exposure time is set to 1 [msec] or less, the “mottled pattern or outline” in the output stream 2 can be captured, and if the exposure time is set to 0.2 [msec] or less, it is preferable. It is more preferable because “mottled pattern and outline” can be captured more clearly. If the exposure time is too short, the amount of light incident on the solid-state image sensor is insufficient and the image becomes unclear. The minimum value of the exposure time is determined by the sensitivity of the solid-state image sensor.
Further, in order to capture the output stream 2 clearly, it is preferable to set the resolution of the captured image to 2 [mm] or less.

In the present embodiment, the exposure time of the CCD camera 6 is set to 1/10000 [sec], and the thermal image (thermal radiance distribution) of the output stream 2 flowing out from the output port 1a is stationary indicating a two-dimensional density distribution. Capture as an image. The CCD camera 6 captures an image of the outgoing stream 2 with a resolution of about 0.4 [mm].
By the way, the CCD camera has a light receiving sensitivity only for light in a wavelength band of about 0.4 [μm] to 0.8 [μm], and the light receiving sensitivity in this wavelength band is not constant, and has a specific spectral sensitivity. It has characteristics. Therefore, it is preferable that a wavelength selection filter that transmits only light having a certain narrow wavelength is attached to the CCD camera 6. Specifically, in this embodiment, an optical bandpass filter having a center transmission wavelength of 0.65 [μm] is attached to the CCD camera 6 as a wavelength selection filter.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a thermal image of the outgoing stream 2 in which no significant surface wave is generated.
In the thermal image 200 shown in FIG. 2, a surface wave 210 (waved portion) is projected on the surface of the tidal stream, and a staying slag 220 is projected below the tidal stream 2. . In addition, the diameter D of the output stream in the thermal image 200 is the length of the output stream projected in the thermal image 200 in a direction perpendicular to the ejection direction of the output stream.

The CCD camera 6 captures a thermal image of the outgoing stream 2 at a constant time interval (imaging interval). For example, the imaging interval can be set in the range of 5 [msec] to 10 [sec]. If imaging is performed at an imaging interval of less than 5 [msec], a change in the surface wave 210 may not be captured in two temporally continuous thermal images, and imaging is performed at an imaging interval of greater than 10 [sec]. This is because the measurement interval of the tap diameter becomes long and the result of the measurement of the tap diameter cannot be presented to the operator at an appropriate timing.
In the present embodiment, the CCD camera 6 captures four or five thermal images of the outgoing stream 2 flowing out from the outlet 1a at an imaging interval of 1 [sec] at a period of 30 [sec]. It shall be done periodically.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a thermal image of the outgoing flow 2 accompanied by intense surface waves. The thermal images 310, 320, and 330 shown in FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), and 3 (c) show the output stream 2 in a time zone in which intense surface waves are generated in a certain output. It is a thermal image. In addition, the thermal images 310, 320, and 330 shown in FIG. 3 are obtained by imaging the outgoing stream 2 near the outlet 1a. The shed 1a is not projected (the dark area indicated as “near the shed” in the thermal images 310, 320, 330 is due to the structure, and the shed 1a is located behind the structure. There).

  In the thermal image 200 shown in FIG. 2, the surface wave 210 of the output flow is not so large, but during the output of a long time, a strong surface wave may be accompanied as shown in FIG. 3. When the thermal images 310 and 320 shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are used, if the diameter D of the output flow is measured in the vicinity of the output port, the diameter D of the output flow becomes the output port diameter. However, when the diameter D of the tidal stream is measured immediately before the ejection direction, the diameter D of the tidal stream becomes larger than the diameter of the tidal outlet due to the influence of surface waves. In the thermal image 330 shown in FIG. 3 (c), the diameter D of the output flow has already expanded in the vicinity of the output port, and the diameter D of the output flow has decreased beyond that. In such a situation, there is a large variation in the measured value of the diameter D of the tap flow, and a measured value that can be regarded as being equal to the tap diameter cannot be obtained.

As described above, the technique described in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that the diameter of the output flow expanded by the surface wave is measured. And since the magnitude | size of a surface wave becomes various aspects during the output of 2 [hour]-3 [hour], and changes every moment, it is simple of the measured value obtained by the technique of patent document 2. It is not possible to accurately determine the output diameter with a proper averaging process.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, by processing the thermal image of the outgoing stream 2 captured by the CCD camera 6 configured as described above, the thermal image of the outgoing stream 2 is processed as follows. The diameter D of the tidal stream from which the influence of the surface wave was removed was derived so that the diameter D of the tidal stream that was close to the diameter of the tidal outlet could be derived. Hereinafter, the image processing apparatus 7 that performs such processing will be described.

<Image processing device>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 7. The hardware of the image processing device 7 can be realized by using, for example, a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and various interfaces. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining an example of a concept of processing performed by the image processing apparatus 7.

(Thermal image input unit 401)
The thermal image input unit 401 inputs and stores thermal image data of the outgoing stream 2 captured by the CCD camera 6 as described above. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the spout 1a is not projected in the thermal image of the spout 2 captured by the CCD camera 6.
In the present embodiment, whenever a thermal image of the output stream 2 is obtained by the CCD camera 6, the thermal image data of the output stream 2 is transferred from the CCD camera 6 to the image processing device 7 (thermal image input unit 401). Shall be sent. However, the thermal image input unit 401 does not necessarily need to input the thermal image data of the outgoing stream 2 in this way. For example, the thermal image input unit 401 requests the CCD camera 6 to acquire the thermal image data of the output stream 2, and the CCD camera 6 receives the thermal image data of the output stream 2 in response to this request. Alternatively, the image data may be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 7 (thermal image input unit 401).

In this way, the thermal image input unit 401 inputs data of a plurality of (three or more) thermal images of the outgoing stream 2 necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the outgoing stream 2. As described above, in this embodiment, the CCD camera 6 periodically captures four or five thermal images of the outgoing stream 2 at an imaging interval of 1 [sec] with a period of 30 [sec]. To do. Therefore, the thermal image input unit 401 repeatedly inputs four or five thermal image data of the outgoing stream 2 captured at an imaging interval of 1 [sec] at a cycle of 30 [sec]. For example, the thermal image Org.1 to Org.4 shown in FIG. 5 or the thermal image Org.1 shown in FIG. 6 is used as data of a plurality of thermal images necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the output stream 2. ~ Org.5 is input to the thermal image input unit 401. The number of thermal image data necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the output stream 2 is set in the image processing apparatus 7 in advance based on the operation of the image processing apparatus 7 by the operator, for example. . The thermal image shown in FIG. 5 is taken in the order of thermal images Org.1, Org.2, Org.3, Org.4, and the thermal image shown in FIG. , Org.2, Org.3, Org.4, and Org.5.
The thermal image input unit 401 is realized, for example, when the CPU inputs thermal image data from the CCD camera 6 via a communication interface and stores the data in an HDD or the like.

(Binarized image generation unit 402)
When the thermal image input unit 401 receives data of a plurality of thermal images necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the outgoing flow 2, the binarized image generation unit 402 receives the plurality of thermal images. A binarization process is performed on each of the data. Here, by the binarization processing, in the thermal image, a dark area that is the background of the outgoing stream 2 to be imaged and an area of the outgoing stream 2 that emits light due to a high temperature are obtained. To separate. Therefore, binarization is performed so that these areas are separated (that is, the pixel value of the output stream 2 area is “1” and the pixel value of the background area is “0”). It is necessary to define a threshold for processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a density histogram obtained from the thermal image of the outgoing stream 2. In FIG. 7, the image density refers to light and dark (that is, luminance on the image) of an image having 256 gradations. The relationship between the image density and the thermal radiance in the outgoing stream 2 is a linear relationship. The value of this image density becomes the pixel value of each pixel of the thermal image.
In FIG. 7, the concentration distribution (background concentration distribution 701) corresponding to the background region of the molten iron flow 2 and the concentration distribution corresponding to the region of the molten iron flow 2 (concentration distribution corresponding to the molten iron region (hot metal) In order to separate the concentration distribution 702) and the concentration distribution corresponding to the molten slag region (slag concentration distribution 703)), a valley (pixel) generated between the background concentration distribution 701 and the hot metal concentration distribution 702 The threshold value may be set within a pixel density range of a region where the number shows a value close to 0 (zero). In the example shown in FIG. 7, the maximum density of the thermal image of the output stream 2 is 0.21 times or more and 0.40 times or less (the maximum density of the thermal image of the output stream 2 × 0.21 to the output stream 2 If the range of the maximum density of the thermal image × 0.40) (the binarization threshold range shown in FIG. 7), the region that is the background of the outgoing flow 2 and the region of the outgoing flow 2 in the thermal image And can be separated. The inventors create such a density histogram of the thermal image of the output stream 2 for a plurality of thermal images of the output stream 2 when the output stream 2 is in various states. The appropriate binarization threshold range was examined from the obtained density histogram. As a result, 0.27 times or more and 0.38 times or less of the maximum density of the thermal image of the output stream 2 (maximum density of the thermal image of the output stream 2 × 0.27 to the maximum of the thermal image of the output stream 2 If the threshold value for binarization processing is set in the range of density × 0.38), the background area of the outgoing stream 2 and the outgoing stream 2 area are always stably separated in the thermal image. It was found that the binarization process can be performed.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the threshold value selected by the operator from such a range is set in the image processing device 7 in advance based on, for example, the operation of the image processing device 7 by the operator.
The binarized image generation unit 402 uses the thermal image input unit 401 to set the pixel value of a pixel having a pixel value equal to or greater than the threshold to “1” and the pixel value of a pixel having a pixel value less than the threshold to “0”. A binarized image is generated by performing each of the input thermal image data. For example, binarized images Bin.1 to Bin.4 are generated from the thermal images Org.1 to Org.4 shown in FIG. 5, and binarized from the thermal images Org.1 to Org.5 shown in FIG. Images Bin.1 to Bin.5 are generated.
The binarized image generation unit 402 is realized, for example, when the CPU reads out thermal image data from an HDD or the like to create a binarized image and stores the data in a RAM or the like.

(Difference binary image generation unit 403)
The difference binarized image generation unit 403 is a binarized image generated by the binarized image generation unit 402, and the pixel values of pixels corresponding to each other in two temporally continuous binarized images Are taken for all the pixels of the binarized images to generate a difference binarized image. That is, the difference binarized image generation unit 403 sets the pixel value of the pixel to “1” if the pixel values of the corresponding pixels of two binarized images that are temporally different from each other are different. If the pixel values of the pixels corresponding to each other in two consecutive binarized images are the same, a difference binarized image that is an image in which the pixel value of the pixel value is “0” is generated.

The difference binarized image generation unit 403 generates such a difference binarized image for all the binarized images generated by the binarized image generation unit 402. For example, the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.3 are generated from the binarized images Bin.1 to Bin.4 shown in FIG. 5, and the binarized images Bin.1 to Bin.5 shown in FIG. From the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.4. More specifically, for example, the difference binarized image Dif.1 is generated from the binarized images Bin.1 and Bin.2 shown in FIG. In this way, a surface wave portion whose shape and size change at high speed is extracted (difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.3 shown in FIG. 5 and difference binarization shown in FIG. 6). (See the white area in images Dif.1-Dif.4).
The difference binarized image generation unit 403 is realized, for example, when the CPU reads the data of the binarized image from the RAM or the like, creates a difference binarized image, and stores the data in the RAM or the like. .

(Synthetic Difference Binary Image Generation Unit 404)
The combined difference binarized image generation unit 404 calculates the logical sum of the pixel values of the corresponding pixels of the plurality of difference binarized images generated by the difference binarized image generation unit 403. The process is performed for all the pixels of the difference binary image to generate a composite difference binary image. That is, the composite difference binarized image generation unit 404 has “1” for at least one of the pixel values of the corresponding pixels of the plurality of difference binarized images generated by the difference binarized image generation unit 403. If there is, the pixel value of the pixel is set to “1”, and if not, the pixel value of the pixel is set to “0” to generate a difference binary image.
For example, a combined difference binarized image Add is generated from the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.3 shown in FIG. 5, and a combined difference 2 is generated from the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.4 shown in FIG. A valued image Add is generated.
In the composite difference binarized image generation unit 404, for example, the CPU reads out the data of the difference binarized image from the RAM or the like, creates a composite difference binarized image, and stores the data in the RAM or the like. Realized.

(Spot diameter derivation section 405)
The spout diameter derivation unit 405 obtains the actual diameter D of the spout flow 2 from the composite difference binarized image generated by the composite difference binarized image generation unit 404, and calculates the spout diameter (the diameter of the spout opening 1a). ).
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a concept of a method for deriving the diameter D of the outgoing stream 2. Details of an example of the processing of the tap diameter derivation unit 405 will be described with reference to FIG.

  More specifically, first, the tap diameter derivation unit 405 sets the start point 801 for the composite difference binarized image Add generated by the composite difference binarized image generation unit 404. The size of the composite difference binarized image Add is determined in advance, and the region serving as the field of view of the CCD camera 6 and the path along which the outgoing stream 2 moves in the air do not vary greatly. Therefore, in the composite difference binarized image Add, an area in which the outgoing stream 2 is surely included can be assumed in advance. A start point 801 is determined from an area where the outgoing flow 2 is surely included in the area of the composite difference binarized image Add.

In the present embodiment, the position of the start point 801 is set in advance in the image processing device 7 based on, for example, the operation of the image processing device 7 by the operator.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the position of the start point 801 is represented by the x-axis coordinates and the y-axis coordinates when the lower left position of the composite difference binary image Add is the origin. Shall. Here, the x-axis coordinate is the horizontal coordinate of the composite difference binarized image Add, and the y-axis coordinate is the vertical coordinate of the composite difference binarized image Add.

Next, the tap diameter derivation unit 405 reads pixel values pixel by pixel in the positive y-axis direction from the pixel that is the starting point 801, and determines the position (coordinates) of the pixel at which the pixel value is “1” for the first time. read out. Then, the tap diameter derivation unit 405 obtains the distance (number of pixels) from the pixel that is the starting point 801 to the pixel immediately before the read pixel. In the following description, the distance (number of pixels) obtained in this way is referred to as “upward distance L _up between the start surface waves” as necessary. The upward distance L _up between the start point surface waves indicates the distance in the vertical direction of the composite difference binarized image Add from the start point 801 to the region indicating the surface wave.

Next, the tap diameter derivation unit 405 reads out the pixel value pixel by pixel in the negative direction of the y-axis from the pixel at the start point 801, and determines the position (coordinate) of the pixel at which the pixel value is “1” for the first time. read out. Then, the tap diameter derivation unit 405 obtains the distance (number of pixels) from the pixel that is the starting point 801 to the pixel immediately before the read pixel. In the following description, the distance (number of pixels) obtained in this way is referred to as “downward distance L _down between starting surface waves” as necessary. The downward distance L _down between the starting point surface waves indicates the distance in the vertically downward direction of the composite difference binarized image Add from the starting point 801 to the region indicating the surface wave.

Next, the tap diameter derivation unit 405 adds the upward distance L _up between the starting point surface waves and the downward distance L _down between the starting point surface waves. Thereby, the distance (number of pixels) between the regions indicating the surface waves in the direction along the straight line that passes through the start point 801 and extends in the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the composite difference binary image Add is obtained. it can. In the following description, the distance (number of pixels) thus obtained is referred to as “surface wave longitudinal distance L” as necessary. The longitudinal distance L between the surface waves is expressed by the following equation (1).
L = L _up + L _down (1)

Next, the outlet diameter deriving unit 405 uses the following equation (2) as an angle between the moving direction of the outlet stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) and the x axis, and the combined difference 2 The diameter D of the outgoing stream 2 in the valued image Add is derived.
D = L × cos θ (2)
As shown in FIG. 8, the moving direction of the tidal stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) is not parallel to the x-axis (horizontal direction). Therefore, the surface wave in the direction along the straight line that passes through the start point 801 and is orthogonal to the moving direction of the outgoing stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) is obtained by calculating the expression (2). Can be obtained as the diameter D of the outgoing flow 2 in the composite difference binarized image Add.

As described above, the path along which the outgoing stream 2 moves in the air does not vary greatly, so the moving direction of the outgoing stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) does not vary greatly. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the angle θ formed by the moving direction of the output stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) and the x axis is determined in advance based on, for example, the operation of the image processing device 7 by the operator. It is assumed that the processing apparatus 7 is set.
Next, the tapper diameter derivation unit 405 derives the actual diameter D of the tap stream 2 by converting the diameter D of the tap stream 2 in the composite difference binarized image Add into a length in real space. . Based on the subject distance and angle of view of the CCD camera 6, the length of one pixel of the composite difference binarized image Add in real space is obtained in advance, and the length is calculated by the operator of the image processing device 7, for example. The conversion described above can be performed by setting the image processing device 7 in advance based on the operation.
The spout diameter derivation unit 405 is realized, for example, when the CPU reads the composite difference binarized image from the HDD or the like, derives the diameter D of the actual spout 2 and stores the data in the HDD or the like. Is done.

(Output diameter output section 406)
The output port diameter output unit 406 outputs the actual diameter D of the output flow 2 derived by the output port diameter deriving unit 405 as the output port diameter (the diameter of the output port 1a). Examples of the output form of the output diameter include at least one of display on a display device, storage in a portable storage medium, and transmission to an external device.
The output diameter output unit 406 is realized, for example, when the CPU reads out data of the actual output flow 2 diameter D from an HDD or the like and performs output processing such as creating display data.

<Operation flowchart>
Next, an example of the processing operation of the image processing apparatus 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, in step S901, the thermal image input unit 401 inputs thermal image data of the outgoing stream 2 captured by the CCD camera 6 (thermal images Org.1 to Org.4 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). Infrared images shown in Org.1-Org.5).
Next, in step S <b> 902, the binarized image generation unit 402 has received, from the thermal image input unit 401, data of a plurality of thermal images necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the outgoing stream 2. Determine whether. As a result of the determination, if the data of a plurality of thermal images necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the output stream 2 is not input, the process returns to step S901, and the diameter D of the output stream 2 is set to 1. Steps S901 and S902 are repeated until data of a plurality of thermal images necessary for obtaining the image are input.

Then, when data of a plurality of thermal images necessary for obtaining one diameter D of the outgoing stream 2 is input, the process proceeds to step S903. In step S903, the binarized image generation unit 402 performs binarization processing on each of the plurality of thermal image data input in step S901 to generate a binarized image (FIG. 5) (refer to the binarized images Bin.1 to Bin.4 shown in FIG. 5 and the binarized images Bin.1 to Bin.5 shown in FIG. 6).
Next, in step S904, the difference binarized image generation unit 403 calculates the difference 2 from the two binarized images generated in step S903 and that is temporally continuous. A binarized image is generated (see the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.3 shown in FIG. 5 and the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.4 shown in FIG. 6).

Next, in step S905, the composite difference binarized image generation unit 404 generates a composite difference binarized image from the difference binarized image generated in step S904 (the composite difference binarization shown in FIG. 5). Image Add, see composite difference binarized image Add shown in FIG. 6).
Next, in step S905, the spout diameter derivation unit 405 derives the actual diameter D of the spout flow 2 from the composite difference binarized image generated in step S905. As described above, in the present embodiment, when the diameter D of the actual outgoing flow 2 is derived, the setting of the starting point 801, the upward distance L _up between the starting point surface waves, the downward distance L _down between the starting point surface waves, and the surface wave interval Derivation of the longitudinal distance L, derivation of the diameter D of the outgoing stream 2 in the composite difference binary image Add, and conversion to the actual diameter D of the outgoing stream 2 are performed.

Next, in step S907, the spout diameter output unit 406 outputs the actual diameter D of the spout flow 2 derived in step S906 as the spout diameter.
Next, in step S908, the image processing device 7 determines whether or not to finish measuring the tap diameter. This determination is made based on, for example, the contents of the operation of the image processing apparatus 7 by the operator.
As a result of the determination, if the measurement of the tapping diameter is not completed, the process returns to step S901. As described above, in this embodiment, the CCD camera 6 periodically captures four or five thermal images of the output stream 2 at an imaging interval of 1 [sec] with a period of 30 [sec]. Do. Therefore, when returning to step S901, the thermal image input unit 401, when 30 [sec] has elapsed from the previous input time of the thermal image data of the outgoing flow 2, the next thermal image of the outgoing flow 2 Data will be input.
On the other hand, when the measurement of the tapping diameter is finished, the processing according to the flowchart of FIG.

<Example>
Next, examples of the present invention will be described.
In this case, an optical bandpass filter having a center transmission wavelength of 650 [nm] is provided as a wavelength selective filter for the outgoing stream 2 (mixed liquid of molten iron and molten slag of about 1550 [° C.]) ejected from the outlet 1a. Images were taken with a monochrome CCD camera. The exposure time of the monochrome CCD camera was set to 1/10000 [sec]. With such a monochrome CCD camera, taking five thermal images of the output stream 2 at an imaging interval of 1 [sec] is repeated periodically with 30 [sec] as one cycle, and about 2 [hour] An image of the tidal stream 2 spouted from the tidal outlet 1a was taken.

  A personal computer equipped with an image input board was used as the image processing apparatus. The digital image handled in the image processing apparatus was a gray scale digital image of 8 [bits] (256 gradations). Further, it was experimentally determined in advance that the length of one pixel of the image corresponds to 0.4 [mm] in the real space.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the elapsed time since the start of tapping and the tapping diameter. Specifically, FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a relationship derived by the method described in the present embodiment, and FIG. 10B illustrates a relationship derived by the method described in Patent Document 2. FIG. In addition, the result shown to Fig.10 (a) and the result shown to FIG.10 (b) are the results obtained from the same image.

The drill diameter of the drilling machine for opening the mud material filled in the region that becomes the tap hole 1a was 65 [mm]. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), when using the method of the present embodiment, the diameter of the tap at the origin of the elapsed time (that is, the start of the tap immediately after opening) is a value close to the drill diameter of the hole punching machine. You can see that Moreover, it turns out that the value of a tap opening diameter becomes large gradually with progress of time.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), when the method described in Patent Document 2 is used, the diameter of the tap at the origin of the elapsed time is clearly larger than the diameter of the drill of the hole punching machine, and the diameter of the tap The variation in the value of is generally large. This is because the technique described in Patent Document 2 directly measures the diameter of the outgoing stream 2 that has irregularly expanded due to the influence of surface waves.

Here, the technique described in Patent Document 2 explains that the surface wave portion whose shape changes at high speed cannot be extracted as in the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a concept of a method for deriving the diameter of the outgoing stream 2 by the technique described in Patent Document 2.
11 (a) and 11 (b) are diagrams showing thermal images of the outgoing stream 2 captured by the CCD camera 6, and are thermal images Org.4 and Org.5 shown in FIG. 6, respectively. . As described above, the technique described in Patent Document 2 takes the absolute value difference between the thermal images Org.4 and Org.5. That is, a difference absolute value image is generated in which the absolute value of the difference between the pixel values of the corresponding pixels of the thermal images Org.4 and Org.5 is the pixel value of the pixel. FIG. 11C is a diagram showing the difference absolute value image generated in this way. As shown in FIG. 11C, in the difference absolute value image, not only the change of the surface wave portion but also the mottled pattern change of the outflow 2 caused by the luminance difference between the hot metal and the molten slag is extracted. The

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a density profile (relationship between position and image density) of a difference absolute value image obtained by the technique described in Patent Document 2. In FIG. Specifically, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the image density on the line segment AA ′ of the difference absolute value image shown in FIG.
In FIG. 12, areas 1201 and 1203 are areas corresponding to the change of the surface wave portion, and the area 1202 corresponds to the mottled pattern change of the outflow 2 caused by the luminance difference between the hot metal and the molten slag. It is an area to do.
As shown in FIG. 12, since the density corresponding to the change in the surface wave portion and the density corresponding to the mottled pattern change in the outgoing flow 2 are approximately the same, the difference absolute value image is binarized. Thus, only the surface wave portion cannot be extracted. As described above, in the technique described in Patent Literature 2, since the difference absolute value image is obtained and the difference absolute value image is binarized, it is not possible to extract only the surface wave portion. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, only the portion of the surface wave whose shape changes at high speed can be extracted from the difference binarized image (difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.3 shown in FIG. 5). And the white area of the difference binarized images Dif.1 to Dif.4 shown in FIG. 6).

<Summary>
As described above, in the present embodiment, each of the plurality of thermal images Org of the outgoing stream 2 imaged at a constant imaging interval is binarized to generate the binarized image Bin, and the generated binarized image Of the bins, the difference binary image Dif is generated by taking the absolute value difference between two binarized images Bin that are continuous in time, and using the generated difference binary image Dif, the output stream 2 The diameter D was derived as the tap diameter. Therefore, a portion of the surface wave (the undulating portion of the surface of the outgoing flow 2) can be extracted, and the diameter D of the outgoing flow 2 can be derived as the outgoing opening diameter without this portion. it can. Therefore, it is possible to accurately measure the output diameter from the thermal image of the output flow 2 with the surface of the output being wavy. Then, by continuously measuring such an opening diameter in real time, it becomes possible to quickly and accurately grasp the change (enlargement) of the opening diameter. Thereby, it is possible to accurately determine the timing at which the output is finished based on the appearance of the output diameter (the size of the output diameter, the expansion rate (increase of the output diameter that increases per unit time)). It becomes possible to operate the blast furnace more stably.

  In the present embodiment, each of the three or more thermal images Org of the outgoing flow 2 imaged at a fixed imaging interval is binarized to generate three or more binarized images Bin, and the generated 2 Among the binarized images Bin, an absolute value difference between two binarized images Bin that are continuous in time is taken to generate two or more difference binarized images Dif, and the generated difference binarized image Dif The combined difference binary image Add is generated by taking the logical sum of the pixel values of the mutually corresponding pixels, and the diameter D of the output stream 2 is set as the output diameter using the generated combined difference binary image Add. Derived. As described above, since the change of the surface wave is extracted from the two thermal images Org of the outgoing flow 2 taken at a constant imaging interval at a plurality of timings, the two images captured at a constant imaging interval. Even if the surface wave change cannot be extracted only from the thermal image Org of the outgoing stream 2 (even if two thermal images Org of the outgoing stream 2 are captured at the timing when the surface wave change is not noticeable) The change of the surface wave can be extracted more reliably.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when generating the binarized image Bin, 0.27 times or more of the highest density of the thermal image of the outgoing stream 2 and 0.38 times of the highest density of the thermal image of the outgoing stream 2 A threshold set from the following range was adopted. Therefore, in the thermal image, the region that is the background of the outgoing stream 2 and the region of the outgoing stream 2 can be more reliably separated.

<Modification>
In the present embodiment, the case where the difference binarized image Dif is generated by taking the absolute value difference between two binarized images Bin that are temporally continuous has been described as an example. However, it is not always necessary to generate the difference binarized image Dif using two binarized images Bin that are temporally continuous. If it is a combination using a plurality of binarized images Bin that are continuously captured, that is, generated using a plurality of thermal images Org that are captured within a time period in which the state of surface waves does not change significantly, The combination of the two binarized images Bin for generating the difference binarized image Dif is not limited. At this time, it is good also as a combination which uses all the several binarized images Bin produced | generated using the several thermal image Org imaged continuously at least once, or the said several binarized image A combination using a part of Bin may be used. For example, in FIG. 5, two binarized images Bin.1 and Bin.3, Bin.2 and Bin.3, Bin.2 and Bin.4, etc. The difference binarized image Dif may be obtained with different combinations.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the number of thermal images Org of the outgoing stream 2 continuously obtained at a constant imaging interval is 4 or 5 has been described as an example, but this number is 4 or 5 It is not limited. As described above, it is preferable to generate the composite difference binarized image Add. However, when the composite difference binary image Add is not generated, the heat of the outgoing stream 2 obtained continuously at a fixed imaging interval. The number of images Org may be two.

In the case where the composite difference binarized image Add is not generated, only one difference binarized image Dif is obtained. Then, when the longitudinal distance L between the surface waves is not obtained from the difference binarized image Dif as described above (the surface wave image is interrupted, it passes through the start point 801 and the vertical axis of the composite difference binarized image Add. A pixel having a pixel value “1” does not exist on a straight line extending in the direction).
In such a case, for example, when the difference binarized image Dif capable of obtaining the longitudinal distance L between the surface waves is obtained without measuring the diameter D of the outgoing flow 2, the outgoing flow 2 is obtained. The diameter D can be measured. It is only necessary to measure the output diameter at an interval that can be monitored by the operator, and it is not necessary to perform it at such a short time interval. Therefore, if the measurement period of the output diameter is shortened (that is, the measurement period of the output diameter is Even if it is made shorter than the time interval at which the operator needs information on the output diameter, this does not cause a large problem in practice.

  Further, by setting a plurality of start points 801 and trying to derive the longitudinal distance L between the surface waves for each of the set start points 801, the longitudinal distance L between the surface waves may not be derived. . In this case, a plurality of longitudinal distances L between the surface waves may be derived. Therefore, for example, priorities are assigned in advance to the plurality of starting points 801, and the surface wave longitudinal distance L derived to the starting point 801 having a higher priority is derived, or the plurality of surface wave longitudinal distances L are derived. Can be adopted as the longitudinal distance L between the surface waves.

  On the other hand, when generating the composite difference binary image Add, the thermal image Org of the output stream 2 obtained continuously at a fixed imaging interval so that the surface wave image above and below the output stream is not interrupted. However, in most cases, there will be no interruption in the surface wave image if the number of thermal images Org is 3 or more. However, if the number of thermal images Org of the output stream 2 obtained continuously at a constant imaging interval increases, the processing load on the image processing device 7 increases, so that the processing load does not increase. It is preferable to determine the upper limit value of the number of thermal images Org of the outgoing stream 2 obtained continuously at the imaging interval.

  In this embodiment, after obtaining the longitudinal distance L between the surface waves by the equation (1), the diameter D of the outgoing flow 2 in the composite difference binary image Add is obtained by the equation (2). It is not always necessary to obtain the diameter D of the outgoing flow 2 in the composite difference binary image Add in this way. For example, it may be as follows. First, a straight line extending through the start point 801 and extending in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the outgoing stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) is set for the composite difference binary image Add. Next, the pixel values of the pixels constituting the set straight line are read out. Next, based on the pixel value of the pixel that has been read out, a region composed of a plurality of pixels having pixel values “0” successively from the set straight line, and pixels adjacent to both ends of the region are pixels A region where the value is “1” is extracted. Next, the length (number of pixels) of the extracted region is obtained, and the length (number of pixels) is set as the diameter D of the outgoing flow 2 in the composite difference binary image Add.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the angle θ formed by the moving direction of the tidal stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) and the x axis is determined in advance based on the operation of the image processing apparatus 7 by the operator. The case of setting to 7 has been described as an example. However, it is not always necessary to do this. For example, an angle θ between the moving direction of the outgoing stream 2 in the air (the ejection direction in FIG. 8) and the x axis is obtained from the composite difference binary image Add. It may be. In this case, for example, the following can be performed. First, the pixel values of one row of pixels (all pixels in the vertical direction) are read out. Next, based on the pixel value of the pixel that has been read out, an area composed of a plurality of pixels having a pixel value “0” continuously from the column, and pixels adjacent to both ends of the area Is identified as a pixel of “1”, and a pixel position (coordinate) set in advance on one end side among pixels adjacent to both ends of the region is read out. Such pixel positions (coordinates) are read out for each column (within a preset region) of the composite difference binary image Add. A function indicating the position (coordinates) of the pixel of each read column is expressed by a linear function (approximate), and the moving direction of the outgoing stream 2 in the air (FIG. 8) based on the slope of the linear function. The angle θ formed by the x-axis is derived.

The embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by a computer executing a program. Further, a computer-readable recording medium in which the program is recorded and a computer program product such as the program can also be applied as an embodiment of the present invention. As the recording medium, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
In addition, the embodiments of the present invention described above are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. Is. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Blast furnace 1a Outlet 2 Outlet flow 3 Outlet 4 Stay slag 5 Reed cover 6 CCD camera 7 Image processing device 401 Thermal image input part 402 Binary image generation part 403 Difference Binary image generation part 404 Composite difference Binary image generation unit 405 brewing aperture derivation unit 406 brewing aperture output unit

Claims (9)

A blast furnace outlet diameter measuring method for measuring the diameter of the outlet flow, which is a jet of the melt flowing out from the outlet formed in the blast furnace, as the diameter of the outlet,
An imaging step of capturing a two-dimensional distribution of thermal radiance of the region including the outflow as a thermal image composed of pixels having pixel values for each pixel corresponding to the thermal radiance;
A binarized image generating step of binarizing each pixel value of the plurality of thermal images captured continuously by the imaging step to generate a plurality of binarized images;
Based on the two binarized images generated based on the two thermal images captured at different times among the plurality of binarized images generated by the binarized image generating step, A difference binarized image generating step of generating a difference binarized image having an absolute value of a difference between pixel values of corresponding pixels of the two binarized images as a pixel value;
The difference binarized image generated by the difference binarized image generation step is used to derive the diameter of the outflow in the difference binarized image, and the outflow in the difference binarized image. A blast furnace outlet diameter measuring method, comprising: an outlet diameter derivation step for deriving the diameter of the outlet from the diameter. A combined difference for generating a combined difference binarized image having, as a pixel value, a logical sum of pixel values of pixels corresponding to each other of the plurality of difference binarized images derived by the difference binarized image generating step. A binary image generation process;
The imaging step continuously captures three or more thermal images,
The binarized image generating step generates three or more binarized images based on the three or more thermal images.
The difference binary image generation step generates two or more difference binary images based on the three or more binary images,
The output diameter derivation step derives the diameter of the output flow in the composite difference binarized image based on the composite difference binarized image derived by the composite difference binarized image generation step. The blast furnace outlet diameter measuring method according to claim 1, wherein the blast furnace outlet diameter is measured.   In the binarized image generation step, images are continuously captured by the imaging step based on a threshold value set in a range of 0.27 times or more and 0.38 times or less of the maximum density of the thermal image. The method of measuring a blast furnace outlet diameter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each pixel value of a plurality of thermal images is binarized.   The blast furnace tapping diameter measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the imaging step captures the thermal image with an exposure time of 1 [msec] or less. A blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system that measures the diameter of the outlet flow, which is a jet of the melt flowing out from the outlet formed in the blast furnace, as the diameter of the outlet,
Imaging means for capturing a two-dimensional distribution of thermal radiance of the region including the outflow as a thermal image composed of pixels having pixel values for each pixel corresponding to the thermal radiance;
Binarized image generating means for binarizing each pixel value of the plurality of thermal images continuously captured by the imaging means to generate a plurality of binary images;
Based on the two binarized images generated based on the two thermal images captured at different times among the plurality of binarized images generated by the binarized image generating means, A difference binarized image generating means for generating a difference binarized image having an absolute value of a difference between pixel values of corresponding pixels of the two binarized images as a pixel value;
Using the difference binarized image generated by the difference binarized image generation means, the diameter of the output stream in the difference binarized image is derived, and the output stream in the difference binarized image is derived. A blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system comprising: an outlet diameter deriving means for deriving the diameter of the outlet from the diameter. A combined difference for generating a combined difference binarized image having, as a pixel value, a logical sum of pixel values of pixels corresponding to each other of the plurality of difference binarized images derived by the difference binarized image generating unit. A binarized image generating means;
The imaging means continuously captures three or more thermal images,
The binarized image generating means generates three or more binarized images based on the three or more thermal images,
The difference binarized image generation means generates two or more difference binarized images based on the three or more binarized images,
The output diameter derivation means derives the diameter of the output flow in the composite difference binary image based on the composite difference binary image derived by the composite difference binary image generation means. The blast furnace exit diameter measuring system according to claim 5, characterized in that   The binarized image generating means is continuously imaged by the imaging means based on a threshold value set in a range of 0.27 times or more and 0.38 times or less of the maximum density of the thermal image. The blast furnace outlet diameter measuring system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each pixel value of a plurality of thermal images is binarized.   The blast furnace tapping diameter measuring system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the imaging means captures the thermal image with an exposure time of 1 [msec] or less. A computer program for causing a computer to measure the diameter of a tidal stream that is a jet of a melt flowing out from a tapping hole formed in a blast furnace as the diameter of the tapping hole,
The two-dimensional distribution of the thermal radiance of the region including the outgoing flow is continuously captured by an imaging unit that captures a thermal image composed of pixels having pixel values for each pixel corresponding to the thermal radiance. Binarized image generating means for binarizing each pixel value of the plurality of thermal images to generate a plurality of binarized images;
Based on the two binarized images generated based on the two thermal images captured at different times among the plurality of binarized images generated by the binarized image generating means, A difference binarized image generating means for generating a difference binarized image having an absolute value of a difference between pixel values of corresponding pixels of the two binarized images as a pixel value;
Using the difference binarized image generated by the difference binarized image generation means, the diameter of the output stream in the difference binarized image is derived, and the output stream in the difference binarized image is derived. A computer program for causing a computer to function as a spout diameter derivation means for deriving a diameter of the spout from a diameter.