JP7361003B2 - Tap slag flow width measurement device and tap slag flow width measurement method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tap slag flow width measuring device and a tap slag flow width measuring method for measuring the width of a tap slag flow exiting from a tap hole.

For example, in a blast furnace that extracts iron by heat-treating iron ore, an increase in the amount of slag has undesirable effects on the furnace condition, such as an increase in blowing pressure and a deterioration in gas flow. For this reason, control of the pig iron slag level is important for operation. The pig iron slag level is the position in the height direction of the area above the hot metal stored in the blast furnace and where slag exists. However, in a vertical furnace such as a blast furnace, it is generally not easy to measure the level of slag because the slag is at a high temperature. Techniques for measuring such a pig iron slag level are proposed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

The blast furnace bottom potential difference measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of potential measurement points provided at intervals in the height direction on a blast furnace bottom brick, and a conductive wire extending from the potential measurement points to the outside of the blast furnace body. This is a device that measures the potential difference between the potential measurement points using the conductive wire. The molten material level measuring device in a vertical furnace disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a plurality of electrodes lined up along the height direction of the vertical furnace, and a plurality of electrodes arranged at the top and bottom of the plurality of electrodes. A current is applied using the two provided electrodes as current applying electrodes, a voltage is measured using multiple electrodes other than the current applying electrodes as voltage detecting electrodes, and the above applied current value and the above measured voltage value are measured. This is a device that measures the level of molten material in a vertical furnace.

The technologies proposed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 deal with changes over time in the wear and tear of bricks and their infiltration state, the presence or absence of deposits in the furnace and changes in their adhesion, and changes in the temperature of hot metal slag and its composition. It is assumed that the system will be affected by such factors, and it is considered difficult to ensure long-term reliability. These techniques require openings in the blast furnace body for installing electrodes, expensive signal generation sources (devices), high-voltage power supplies, etc., so these techniques are not simple methods. I can't say that.

On the other hand, if the amount of tapped slag can be measured, the level of iron slag can be estimated based on the difference between the amount of iron slag calculated from the input raw materials, but the flow velocity of the tapped slag flow can be measured to measure the amount of tapped slag. Regarding this, it is difficult to measure the flow velocity of hot metal slag, which is a high-temperature molten material, with a mechanical flowmeter, an ultrasonic flowmeter, or the like. For this reason, techniques for measuring the amount of tapped iron slag based on images have been proposed, for example, in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4.

The slag amount measuring device disclosed in Patent Document 3 captures an image of a tap slag flow that is discharged from a tap hole provided in a vertical furnace and is a flow in which hot metal and slag are mixed. an imaging means, a tap slag flow calculation unit that uses the captured image to calculate a radius r of a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the tap slag flow, the calculated radius r, and the tap slag flow. and a slag amount calculation unit that calculates the slag amount Ms discharged from the vertical furnace based on the speed v of the slag. The apparatus for measuring the blast furnace tap diameter disclosed in Patent Document 4 includes a solid-state imaging device that images a two-dimensional thermal radiance distribution image of the hot metal/molten slag jet flowing out from the blast furnace tap hole, and a plurality of an image processing device that calculates a difference in brightness between images to generate an absolute difference image, and calculates a diameter of the hot metal/molten slag jet based on the absolute difference image, the solid-state imaging device Capture images using a high-speed shutter with short exposure time.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-155508 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-266669 JP2016-006221A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-002307

The tap slag is discharged into a channel called a gutter and flows. At this time, the hot metal slag accumulates in the gutter, forming a molten metal surface at a certain level (hereinafter referred to as a "pool"), which may be reflected in the image. In such a case, depending on the height of the hot water level, a pool of hot water may appear on the image so as to overlap the tap iron slag flow. Depending on the location and angle where the camera is installed, pools of hot water often appear in the images. If only the tap slag flow is visible in the image, the tap slag is at a high temperature of about 1500°C, so the difference in brightness between the background image and the image of the tap slag is clear, so the tap slag is Measuring flow width is relatively easy. However, when a hot water pool is also visible in the image, the temperature of the hot water pool is close to that of the tap slag flow, so the difference in brightness between the image of the hot water pool and the image of the tap slag flow is small, and the width of the tap iron slag flow is small. This makes measurement difficult.

In Patent Document 3, the tap slag flow is determined based on the brightness difference between the background image and the image of the tap slag flow, so if a pool of hot water is also visible in the image, as described above, the tap slag flow is determined. Difficult to measure width.

In Patent Document 4, the tapping slag flow is determined based on absolute difference images in a plurality of images. Therefore, when hot metal slag is scattered from the outer periphery of the tap slag flow, the absolute value of the difference in the scattered part becomes large, so it is determined that the flow including the scattered part is a tap slag flow. Errors are included in the width of the tailings flow.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to distinguish between a pool of hot water and a tap slag flow based on an image, and to determine the width of the tap slag flow with higher accuracy. An object of the present invention is to provide a tap slag flow width measuring device and a tap slag flow width measuring method.

As a result of various studies, the present inventors have found that the above object can be achieved by the following present invention. That is, the tap slag flow width measuring device according to one aspect of the present invention is capable of measuring a plurality of tap slag widths arranged in time series generated by imaging the tap slag flow flowing out from the tap hole and containing a mixture of hot metal and hot slag. an image acquisition unit that acquires an image, an edge image generation unit that generates a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each of the plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition unit, and a plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit. a target image generation unit that generates a width calculation target image to generate a difference between a first brightness in a first image of the tap slag flow and a second brightness in a second image of the hot water pool based on the edge image; , a width calculation unit that calculates the width of the tap slag flow based on the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit. Preferably, in the above-described tap slag flow width measurement device, the image acquisition unit is an imaging device that generates a plurality of images arranged in time series by imaging the tap slag flow. Preferably, in the above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measuring device, the image acquisition unit is an interface circuit that inputs and outputs data with an external device, and the external device is configured to image the tap iron slag flow. This is a storage medium that stores a plurality of images arranged in chronological order that are generated by Preferably, in the above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measuring device, the image acquisition unit is an interface circuit that inputs and outputs data with an external device, and the external device is configured to image the tap iron slag flow. This is a drive device that reads data from a recording medium on which a plurality of images arranged in chronological order are recorded. Preferably, in the above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measuring device, the image acquisition unit is a communication interface circuit that transmits and receives communication signals to and from an external device, and the external device communicates with the communication interface circuit via a network. This is a server device that is connected to and manages a plurality of images arranged in time series that are generated by imaging the tap iron slag flow.

Since the tap slag flow contains a mixture of hot metal and molten slag, a so-called marble pattern appears in an image in which the tap slag flow is reflected. Since the tap slag flow width measuring device extracts edges from an image of the tap slag flow, the marble pattern can be extracted as edge information. The tap slag flow width measuring device then adjusts the width calculation target image to generate a difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the pool. Therefore, the width of the tap slag flow can be determined with higher accuracy by distinguishing between the pool and the tap slag flow.

In another aspect, in the above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measuring device, the target image generation section sums up pixel values for each pixel of the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation section. or one average edge image is generated as the width calculation target image by calculating the average value of pixel values for each pixel. Preferably, in the above-mentioned tap slag flow width measurement device, the width calculation section calculates a width calculation target image generated by the target image generation section in a predetermined direction according to a flowing direction of the tap iron slag flow. By summing each pixel value of each pixel along the direction, each total pixel value of each position along the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction is obtained, and the said iron tapping is Find the width of the tailings flow. Preferably, the width calculation section calculates the length of a region where a total pixel value greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold exists as the width of the tap slag flow. Preferably, in the above-mentioned tap slag flow width measurement device, the width calculation section calculates the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation section in one predetermined direction according to the flowing direction of the tap iron slag flow. In orthogonal directions, the length of a region where pixel values greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold exist is determined as the width of the tap slag flow.

The above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measuring device generates a summation edge image or an average edge image as the width calculation target image, so it is possible to cumulatively add (integrate) edge information to emphasize the edge information, and this edge information can be emphasized. Since the width of the tap slag flow is determined based on the width calculation target image, the width of the tap slag flow can be determined with higher accuracy. In particular, even in an image in which a pool of water is reflected, the tap slag flow width measurement device can distinguish between the pool and the tap slag flow and determine the width of the tap slag flow.

In another aspect, in the above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measurement device, the width calculation unit generates a binarized image from the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit, and converts the binarized image into On the other hand, by summing each pixel value of each pixel along a predetermined direction corresponding to the flowing direction of the tapped iron slag flow, each total pixel value of each position along the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction is calculated. , the width of the tap iron slag flow is determined based on each of the calculated total pixel values at each position; Preferably, the width calculation section calculates the length of a region where a total pixel value greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold exists as the width of the tap slag flow.

Deposits (hereinafter referred to as "slag") may appear in the image due to scattering of tap slag or flooding. The bright part of the binarized image caused by slag has a spatially narrower connected shape than the bright part of the binarized image caused by the tap slag flow. The spatially thin connection means that when a region in which bright parts are connected in a binarized image is referred to as one connected region, the shape of the connected region is elongated. The tap slag flow width measurement device generates a binarized image from the width calculation target image, and measures the tap slag flow based on each total pixel value of each position along the orthogonal direction obtained from the binarized image. Since the width is determined, even if the image includes slag, it is possible to distinguish between the slag and the tap slag flow and determine the width of the tap slag flow.

In another aspect, in these above-mentioned tap iron slag flow width measurement devices, an acquisition process for acquiring the plurality of images, an edge image generation process for generating the plurality of edge images, and an object for generating the width calculation target image. Repetition of causing the image acquisition unit, the edge image generation unit, the target image generation unit, and the width calculation unit to repeatedly execute image generation processing and width calculation processing for determining the width of the tap slag flow, respectively. The width calculation unit further includes an execution unit, and in the repeated execution, the width of the tapped iron slag flow is determined by determining the length of a region in which a total pixel value that is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value is continuously equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times. Find it as.

Such a tap slag flow width measurement device calculates the width of the tap slag flow by determining the length of a region where a total pixel value that exceeds a predetermined threshold value or more consecutively exceeds a predetermined number of times in the repeated execution. Since it is obtained as follows, it is possible to obtain the width of the tap slag flow, which removes the positional fluctuations (dispersions) at both ends of the tap slag flow in the width direction.

A tap slag flow width measurement method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a tap slag flow width measurement method in which a plurality of tap slag flow widths arranged in time series are generated by imaging a tap slag flow flowing out from a tap hole and containing a mixture of hot metal and molten slag. an image acquisition step of acquiring an image; an edge image generation step of generating a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each of the plurality of images acquired in the image acquisition step; and a plurality of edge images generated in the edge image generation step. a target image generation step of generating a width calculation target image so as to generate a difference between a first brightness in a first image of the tap slag flow and a second brightness in a second image of the hot water pool based on the edge image; and a width calculation step of determining the width of the tap slag flow based on the width calculation target image generated in the target image generation step.

Such a tap slag flow width measuring method extracts edges from an image of the tap slag flow, so the marble pattern can be extracted as edge information. The tap slag flow width measuring method described above sets the width calculation target image to generate a difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the pool. Therefore, the width of the tap slag flow can be determined with higher accuracy by distinguishing between the pool and the tap slag flow.

The tap slag flow width measuring device and the tap slag flow width measuring method according to the present invention can distinguish between a pool of hot water and a tap slag flow based on an image, and determine the width of the tap slag flow with higher accuracy. .

It is a block diagram showing the composition of the tap iron slag flow width measuring device in an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining how the tap slag flow determined by the tap slag flow width measuring device flows out. It is a figure which shows the image of a hot water pool and a tap iron slag flow as an example. 4 is a diagram showing an edge image of the image shown in FIG. 3 as an example. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a width calculation target image and its brightness profile. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the tap iron slag flow width measuring device in an embodiment. 4 is a diagram showing a brightness profile of the image shown in FIG. 3 as an example. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the processing results by the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 as a comparative example. As an example, it is a diagram showing a binarized image based on the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 5 and its brightness profile in a modified form. As an example, it is a diagram showing images of a pool of water, slag, and a tap slag flow. As a comparative example, it is a diagram for explaining the processing result by the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 in a case where slag is included. As an example, it is a diagram showing a plurality of edge images, a width calculation target image, and their brightness profiles in a case where a slag is included. As an example, it is a diagram showing a binarized image based on the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 12 and its brightness profile in a modified form.

Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. It should be noted that structures with the same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same structure, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In this specification, when referring to a general term, a reference numeral without a subscript is used, and when referring to an individual configuration, a reference numeral with a suffix is used.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a tapping slag flow width measuring device in an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how the tap slag flow determined by the tap slag flow width measuring device flows out. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image of a hot water pool and a tap iron slag flow, as an example. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an edge image of the image shown in FIG. 3 as an example. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a width calculation target image and its brightness profile. FIG. 5A shows a width calculation target image of a plurality of edge images and their average edge image, and FIG. 5B shows a brightness profile of the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 5A. The vertical axis in FIG. 5B is each position in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) in the width calculation target image, and the horizontal axis is the brightness (total brightness).

The tap iron slag flow width measuring device D in the embodiment includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, an image acquisition section 1, a control processing section 2, an input section 3, an output section 4, and an interface section (IF section). 5 and a storage section 6.

The image acquisition unit 1 is connected to the control processing unit 2, and under the control of the control processing unit 2, the image acquisition unit 1 generates a time series generated by imaging the tap slag flow, which is a mixture of hot metal and molten slag, flowing out from the tap hole. This is a device that acquires multiple images lined up. The generation interval of the plurality of images arranged in time series (image sampling interval, video frame interval) may be arbitrary, and is appropriately set, for example, in consideration of the flow velocity of the tap slag flow, etc. The image acquisition section 1 outputs the plurality of acquired images to the control processing section 2.

Such an image acquisition unit 1 is, for example, an imaging device that generates an image of a subject. The imaging device includes, for example, an imaging optical system that forms an optical image of a subject on a predetermined imaging plane, a light-receiving surface that is arranged to match the imaging plane, and an electrical system that forms an optical image of the subject. A digital camera or the like includes an area image sensor that converts into a signal, and an image processing circuit that performs image processing on the output of the area image sensor to generate image data representing an image of the subject. The imaging device may be a still camera that generates still images, or a video camera (movie camera) that generates moving images.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the imaging device is configured to be able to image the tap slag PS flowing out from the tap hole PH formed in the blast furnace SF to the tap slag SG provided with the tap sluice cover. Arranged appropriately. For example, the imaging device is arranged so as to be able to capture an image from diagonally above the tap slag flow PS. Since the tap slag flow PS flows out from the tap hole PH at a relatively high speed, the imaging device is configured to be able to image at a speed corresponding to the flow speed of the tap slag flow PS. For example, an image of the tap slag flow shown in FIG. 3 is generated and acquired by such an imaging device. In the image shown in FIG. 3, a tap iron slag flow is reflected in the upper part of the paper within the frame WK1, and a pool of hot water is reflected in the lower part of the paper within the frame WK1. Since the tap slag flow contains a mixture of hot metal and molten slag, a so-called marble pattern appears in an image in which the tap slag flow is reflected. The imaging device is housed in a housing (not shown) together with the other parts 2 to 6 in the tap iron slag flow width measuring device D, and may be configured integrally with the other parts 2 to 6, but in this embodiment, , the imaging device is configured separately from the other sections 2 to 6, and the imaging device is located remotely from the other sections 2 to 6 so as to be able to image the tap slag flow PS. and is communicably connected to the control processing unit 2 by wire or wirelessly. When the image acquisition unit 1 is an imaging device, the width of the tap slag flow PS flowing out from the tap hole PH can be obtained substantially in real time.

Alternatively, the image acquisition unit 1 is, for example, an interface circuit that inputs and outputs data to and from external equipment. The external device is a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and an SD card (registered trademark), which stores a plurality of images arranged in time series generated by imaging the tap iron slag flow. be. Alternatively, the external device may be a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) or a CD-R (Compact Disc) that records a plurality of images arranged in time series generated by imaging the tap iron slag flow. This is a drive device that reads data from recording media such as DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), and DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc Recordable). The interface circuit as the image acquisition unit 1 may be connected to the external device by wire or wirelessly. Alternatively, the image acquisition unit 1 is, for example, a communication interface circuit that transmits and receives communication signals to and from an external device, and the external device is connected to a network (WAN (Wide Area Network, including public communication network)) or LAN ( The server device is connected to the communication interface circuit via a local area network (Local Area Network) and manages a plurality of images arranged in time series that are generated by imaging the tap slag flow. When the image acquisition unit 1 is an interface circuit or a communication interface circuit, it is possible to analyze the width of the tap slag flow PS flowing out from the tap hole PH in past cases. Note that in the case where the image acquisition section 1 is an interface circuit or a communication interface circuit, the image acquisition section 1 may also be used as the IF section 5 (that is, the IF section 5 may be used as the image acquisition section 1. ).

The input unit 3 is connected to the control processing unit 2, and inputs various commands such as a command to start measurement, and various data necessary for measuring the width of the tap slag flow. This is a device for inputting data to the device D, and includes, for example, a plurality of input switches, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. to which predetermined functions are assigned. The output section 4 is connected to the control processing section 2, and according to the control of the control processing section 2, outputs commands and data input from the input section 3, as well as tap iron slag flow determined by the tap iron slag flow width measurement device D. It is a device that outputs the width, etc. of a screen, and is, for example, a display section (display device) such as a CRT display, an LCD (liquid crystal display device), or an organic EL display, or a printing device such as a printer.

The IF 5 is a circuit that is connected to the control processing unit 2 and inputs and outputs data with, for example, an external device under the control of the control processing unit 2, and is, for example, an interface circuit for RS-232C, which is a serial communication method. , an interface circuit using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, and an interface circuit using the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard. Furthermore, the IF unit 5 may be a communication interface circuit that transmits and receives communication signals to and from external equipment, such as a data communication card or a communication interface circuit that complies with the IEEE802.11 standard.

The storage section 6 is a circuit that is connected to the control processing section 2 and stores various predetermined programs and various predetermined data under the control of the control processing section 2. The various predetermined programs include, for example, a control program that controls each section 1, 3 to 6 of the tap iron slag flow width measuring device D according to the function of each section, and a plurality of programs that are acquired by the image acquisition section 1. An edge image generation program that generates a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each image, and a first brightness in a first image of the tap iron slag flow based on the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation program. A target image generation program that generates a width calculation target image so as to generate a difference between the second brightness in a second image of a hot water pool, and a target image generation program that generates a width calculation target image based on the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation program. It includes control processing programs such as a width calculation program for determining the width of the pigtail flow. The various predetermined data include data necessary for executing each program, such as a threshold value (first width determination threshold value) for determining the width of the tap slag flow. The storage unit 6 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a nonvolatile storage element, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that is a rewritable nonvolatile storage element, and the like. The storage unit 6 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), which serves as a so-called working memory of the control processing unit 2, which stores data generated during execution of the predetermined program. Note that the storage unit 6 may include a hard disk device with a relatively large storage capacity.

The control processing unit 2 controls each part 1, 3 to 6 of the tap slag flow width measurement device D according to the function of each part, and measures the tap slag flow based on a plurality of images consecutively arranged in time series. This is a circuit to find the width. The control processing unit 2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and its peripheral circuits. The control processing section 2 functionally includes a control section 21, an edge image generation section 22, a target image generation section 23, and a width calculation section 24 by executing the control processing program.

The control section 21 controls each section 1, 3 to 6 of the tap slag flow width measuring device D, respectively, according to the function of each section, and controls the entire tapping slag flow width measuring device D.

The edge image generation unit 22 generates a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each of the plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition unit 1 using a so-called edge filter. The edge filter is, for example, a Laplacian filter or a Sobel filter. For example, when edges are extracted from the image shown in FIG. 3 using a Laplacian filter, an edge image shown in FIG. 4 is generated. Thereby, the marble pattern of the tap slag flow in the image shown in FIG. 3 can be extracted as edge information. On the other hand, in a pool of water, there is almost no marble pattern, so almost no edge information appears.

The target image generation unit 23 calculates a difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the hot water pool based on the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit 22. The width calculation target image is generated so as to generate . As a result, the width calculation target image is generated so as to generate a difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the hot water pool. Be able to differentiate between the flow and the flow. More specifically, the target image generation unit 23 calculates the average value of pixel values for each pixel of the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit 22, and calculates one average edge image by width calculation. This is generated as a target image. For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, an average edge image is generated as a width calculation target image from 60 edge images generated from 60 images. As a result, the edge information is cumulatively added, and the edge information can be emphasized. Alternatively, the target image generation unit 23 generates one summed edge image as the width calculation target image by summing pixel values for each pixel of the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit 22. Good too.

The width calculation unit 24 calculates the width of the tap slag flow based on the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit 23. More specifically, the width calculation unit 24 calculates each pixel along a predetermined direction corresponding to the direction in which the tap slag flows, for example, with respect to the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit 23. By summing the pixel values, each total pixel value at each position along the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction is determined, and the width of the tapped iron slag flow is determined based on each of the determined total pixel values at each position. More specifically, the width calculation unit 24 determines the length of the region where the total pixel value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (first width determination threshold) as the width of the tapped iron slag flow. The first width determination threshold is appropriately set, for example, to 60% of the maximum value of the brightness profile. For example, when the imaging device is arranged so that the tap slag flows horizontally from left to right in the field of view, in the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 5A, the one direction is the horizontal direction (horizontal direction ), and the orthogonal direction is a direction perpendicular to the plane of paper (vertical direction), each of these directions is set and stored in advance, and the width calculation unit 24 calculates the horizontal direction for the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 5A. By summing each pixel value (each brightness value in FIG. 5A) of each pixel along the vertical direction, the total pixel value at each position along the vertical direction is determined as a brightness profile, as shown in FIG. 5B, and the first width determination threshold is The length of the region where the total pixel value of Th1 or more exists is determined as the width of the tap slag flow. Here, as shown in FIG. 5B, there are cases where the total pixel value once becomes less than the first width determination threshold Th1 and then becomes equal to or greater than the first width determination threshold Th1 again (the total pixel value is extracted as the width of the tap iron slag flow). In such a case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the maximum length that appears when the total pixel value exceeds the first width determination threshold Th1 is the width of the tapped slag flow. It can be asked as .

In the above description, the brightness profile is determined from the width calculation target image, and the width of the tap slag flow is determined, but the width of the tap iron slag flow may be determined directly from the width calculation target image. That is, the width calculation unit 24 calculates a predetermined threshold value (third width The width of the tap slag flow may be determined by the length of the region where the pixel value is equal to or higher than the determination threshold (determination threshold value). The third width determination threshold is appropriately set in advance from a plurality of samples.

These control processing section 2, input section 3, output section 4, IF section 5, and storage section 6 can be configured by, for example, a desktop type computer, a node type computer, or the like.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the tap slag flow width measuring device in the embodiment.

When the tap iron slag flow width measuring device D having such a configuration is turned on, necessary parts are initialized and the device starts operating. By executing the control processing program, the control processing section 2 functionally includes a control section 21, an edge image generation section 22, a target image generation section 23, and a width calculation section 24.

In order to obtain the width of the tap slag flow, the tap slag flow width measuring device D in FIG. A plurality of images arranged in time series are acquired (S1). In addition, when the image acquisition part 1 is an imaging device, each image is continuously taken into the control processing part 2 in chronological order from the said imaging device at a predetermined time interval, and is memorize|stored in the memory|storage part 6.

Next, the tap slag flow width measurement device D generates a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each of the plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition unit 1 by the edge image generation unit 22 of the control processing unit 2. (S2).

Next, in the tap slag flow width measurement device D, the target image generation unit 23 of the control processing unit 2 generates a width calculation target image based on the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit 22 (S3). . For example, the target image generation unit 23 generates one average edge image as the width calculation target image by calculating the average value of pixel values for each pixel of the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit 22. do.

Next, the tap slag flow width measurement device D uses the width calculation unit 24 of the control processing unit 2 to determine the width of the tap slag flow based on the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit 23 (S4). . For example, the width calculation unit 24 obtains a brightness profile from the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit 23, and determines the length of the region where the total pixel value is equal to or greater than a predetermined first width determination threshold. Find it as the width of the flow.

Then, the tap slag flow width measurement device D outputs the width of the tap slag flow calculated by the width calculation unit 24 to the output unit 4 by the control unit 21 of the control processing unit 2, and ends this process (S5 ). Note that, if necessary, the control section 21 may output the width of the tap slag flow from the IF section 5 to an external device.

As explained above, the tap slag flow width measuring device D in the embodiment and the tap slag flow width measuring method implemented therein extract the edges from the image of the tap slag flow, so the marble pattern can be extracted as edge information. The tap slag flow width measurement device D and the tap slag flow width measurement method detect the difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the pool. Since the width calculation target image is generated as shown in FIG.

The tap slag flow width measurement device D and the tap slag flow width measurement method generate a summation edge image or an average edge image as the width calculation target image, so the edge information is cumulatively added (integrated). Since the width of the tap slag flow is determined based on the width calculation target image in which the edge information is emphasized, the width of the tap slag flow can be determined with higher accuracy.

In particular, even in an image in which a pool of hot water is reflected, the tap slag flow width measuring device D and the method of measuring the width of the tap iron slag can distinguish between the pool and the tap slag flow to determine the width of the tap iron slag flow. I can do it.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a brightness profile of the image shown in FIG. 3 as an example. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the processing results by the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 as a comparative example. 8A and 8B each show an example. The left side of the paper shows an image in which a pool of hot water is reflected, and the right side of the paper shows the processing results of the image on the left side of the paper using the method disclosed in Patent Document 3. be.

For example, the image shown in FIG. 3 is an image in which a tap iron slag flow and a pool of hot water are reflected, and is generated by calculating the average pixel value in the horizontal direction at each pixel position in the vertical direction within the frame WK1 of this image. The resulting brightness profile is shown in FIG. Since the difference between the brightness of the tap slag flow and the brightness of the hot water pool is small, in the brightness profile shown in FIG. Since it is continuous and gentle, it is difficult to set a threshold value for determining the width of the tap slag flow, and it is difficult to distinguish between the tap slag flow and the pool of hot water and determine the width of the tap slag flow from the brightness profile shown in Fig. 7. . On the other hand, even in the method disclosed in Patent Document 3, since the difference between the brightness of the tap slag flow and the brightness of the hot water pool is small, if the threshold value for determining the width of the tap iron slag flow is set small, FIG. As shown in FIG. 8B, if the width of the tap slag flow is calculated to be larger than the actual width, and the threshold value for determining the width of the tap iron slag flow is set large, as shown in FIG. The width of the flow is calculated to be smaller than the actual width, and it is difficult to distinguish between the tap slag flow and the pool and determine the width of the tap slag flow.

On the other hand, as described above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the tap slag flow width measurement device D and the tap slag flow width measuring method in this embodiment distinguish between the pool and the tap slag flow. The width of the tap slag flow can be determined.

In the above-described embodiment, a summation edge image or an average edge image is generated as the width calculation target image, but a median edge image may be generated as the width calculation target image. The median edge image is generated by extracting a median value for each pixel from a plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the width of the tap slag flow is determined from the width calculation target image, but the width of the tap iron slag flow may be determined after binarizing the width calculation target image.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing, as an example, a binarized image based on the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 5 and its brightness profile in a modified form. 9A shows a binarized image of the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 9B shows a brightness profile of the binarized image shown in FIG. 9A. The vertical axis in FIG. 9B is each position in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) in the binarized image, and the horizontal axis is the luminance (total luminance of the binarized luminance).

In this case, the width calculation unit 24 generates a binarized image from the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit 23, and applies a predetermined value to the binarized image according to the direction in which the tapped slag flows. By summing each pixel value of each pixel along one direction, each total pixel value at each position along an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction is determined as a brightness profile, and each total pixel value at each position determined above. The width of the tap slag flow is determined based on the following. More specifically, the width calculation unit 24 determines the length of the region where the total pixel value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (second width determination threshold) as the width of the tapped iron slag flow. A predetermined threshold for binarization (binarization threshold) and the second width determination threshold are appropriately set, and are set, for example, to 60% of the maximum value of the brightness profile. This binarized image generation process S11 is executed after the above-described width calculation target image generation process S3, as shown by the broken line in FIG. For example, the width calculation unit 24 generates a binarized image shown in FIG. 9A from the width calculation target image shown in FIG. By summing the pixel values (brightness values of 0 or 1 in FIG. 9A), the total pixel value at each position along the vertical direction is determined as a brightness profile, as shown in FIG. 9B, and the The length of the region where the total pixel value exists is determined as the width of the tap slag flow. The tapped iron slag flow width measurement device D of such a modified form generates a binarized image from the width calculation target image, and calculates the value based on each total pixel value at each position along the orthogonal direction obtained from the binarized image. Since the width of the tap slag flow is determined by using the method, even in an image where slag is reflected, the width of the tap slag flow can be determined by distinguishing between the slag and the tap slag flow.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing, as an example, images of a pool of water, slag, and a tap slag flow. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing results according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 in a case where slag is included as a comparative example. The left side of the page in FIG. 11 is an image in which a pool of water and slag are reflected, and the right side of the page is the result of processing the image on the left side of the page using the method disclosed in Patent Document 3. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing, as an example, a plurality of edge images, a width calculation target image, and their luminance profiles in a case where a slag is included. FIG. 12A shows a width calculation target image of a plurality of edge images and their average edge image, and FIG. 12B shows a brightness profile of the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 12A. The vertical axis in FIG. 12B is each position in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) in the width calculation target image, and the horizontal axis is the brightness (total brightness). FIG. 13 is a diagram showing, as an example, a binarized image based on the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 12 and its brightness profile in a modified form. 13A shows a binarized image of the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 12, and FIG. 13B shows a brightness profile of the binarized image shown in FIG. 13A. The vertical axis in FIG. 13B is each position in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) in the binarized image, and the horizontal axis is the luminance (total luminance of the binarized luminance).

For example, the image shown in FIG. 10 is an image in which a tap slag flow, a pool of hot water, and slag are reflected. A pool of hot water is reflected at the bottom of the page, and slag is visible at the bottom of the pool. In the method disclosed in Patent Document 3, as in the case of FIG. 8 described above, the difference between the brightness of the tap slag flow and the brightness of the pool is small, so as shown in FIG. It is difficult to determine the width of the tap iron slag flow by distinguishing it from the hot water pool. In the tap slag flow width measuring device D in the above-described embodiment, 60 edge images shown in FIG. 12A are generated from 60 time-series images in which the tap slag flow, pools, and slag are reflected. From these 60 edge images, the average edge image width calculation target image shown on the right side of the paper in FIG. 12A is generated, and the brightness profile generated by calculating the horizontal total pixel value at each vertical pixel position is , as shown in FIG. 12B. From the brightness profile shown in FIG. 12B, it is possible to determine the width of the tap slag flow by distinguishing between the tap slag flow and the pool, but since the edge information due to slag is large, In addition to the portion of the brightness profile corresponding to slag, there is also a portion exceeding the first width determination threshold Th1, making the brightness profile somewhat unclear. On the other hand, in the tap iron slag flow width measurement device D in this modified form, the binarized image shown in FIG. 13A is generated from the width calculation target image shown in FIG. 12A, and the total pixels in the horizontal direction at each pixel position in the vertical direction are The brightness profile generated by calculating the values is as shown in FIG. 13B. In the brightness profile shown in FIG. 13B, the total pixel value caused by slag is reduced, and the brightness profile shown in FIG. 13B is clearer than the brightness profile shown in FIG. 12B, and the width of the tap slag flow is reduced. It has become easier to find. This is because the bright parts of the binarized image caused by slag become spatially thinner connections than the bright parts of the binarized image caused by the tap slag flow, so the sum of the binarized and lateral directions It can be inferred that this is because edge information caused by slag is suppressed by calculating the pixel values (or by averaging them).

In the above-described embodiment, the tap slag flow width measuring device D includes an acquisition process for acquiring the plurality of images, an edge image generation process for generating the plurality of edge images, as shown by the broken line in FIG. The image acquisition unit 1, the edge image generation unit 22, the target image generation unit 23, and the width The control processing unit 2 is further functionally equipped with an iterative execution unit 25 that causes each of the calculation units 24 to repeatedly execute the operation, and the width calculation unit 24 sets a predetermined threshold value (of the first to third width determination thresholds) in the repeated execution. The width of the tap iron slag flow may be determined as the length of a region where the total pixel value is continuously equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times (any one of the threshold values). The predetermined number of times is appropriately set in advance from a plurality of samples.

For example, a brightness profile as shown in FIG. 5B is repeatedly obtained, and the overlapping portion (common width portion) of each width of each tap slag flow obtained from each brightness file a predetermined number of times. is considered to be the width of the tap slag flow. Alternatively, for example, a brightness profile as shown in FIG. ) is considered to be the width of the tap slag flow. Alternatively, for example, a brightness profile as shown in FIG. ) is considered to be the width of the tap slag flow.

Such a tap slag flow width measuring device D calculates the length of the region where the total pixel value that exceeds a predetermined threshold value or more consecutively a predetermined number of times exists in the tap slag flow in the repeated execution. Since it is determined as a width, it is possible to determine the width of the tap slag flow by removing positional fluctuations (variations) at both ends of the tap slag flow in the width direction.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the tap slag flow width measuring device D may further determine and output the flow rate of the tap slag flow. In this case, for example, it is assumed that the tap slag flow has a cylindrical shape, and the width of the tap slag determined as described above is taken as the diameter of the tap slag. Then, the tap slag flow width measuring device D determines the flow velocity of the tap slag flow using the method disclosed in Patent Document 3, and determines the flow velocity of the tap slag flow based on the determined diameter of the tap slag flow. The flow rate per unit time is determined by determining the cross-sectional areas and multiplying these cross-sectional areas by the flow velocity. In Patent Document 3, in two images of the tap slag generated at different times, the tap slag is detected by searching for corresponding points in the image showing the tap slag using pattern matching. Flow velocity is required.

In order to express the present invention, the present invention has been adequately and fully described through embodiments with reference to the drawings in the above description, but those skilled in the art will easily be able to modify and/or improve the embodiments described above. It should be recognized that this is possible. Therefore, unless the modification or improvement made by a person skilled in the art does not depart from the scope of the claims stated in the claims, such modifications or improvements do not fall outside the scope of the claims. It is interpreted as encompassing.

1 Image acquisition section 2 Control processing section 6 Storage section 21 Control section 22 Edge image generation section 23 Target image generation section 24 Width calculation section 25 Iteration execution section

Claims (5)

an image acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of images arranged in chronological order generated by imaging a tap slag flow containing a mixture of hot metal and molten slag flowing out from a tap hole;
an edge image generation unit that generates a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each of the plurality of images acquired by the image acquisition unit;
Width calculation is performed to generate a difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the hot water pool based on the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit. a target image generation unit that generates a target image;
a width calculation unit that calculates the width of the tap slag flow based on the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit;
Tap iron slag flow width measuring device. The target image generation unit generates one total edge image by summing pixel values for each pixel of the plurality of edge images generated by the edge image generation unit, or generates an average value of pixel values for each pixel. Generating one average edge image as the width calculation target image by determining
The tap iron slag flow width measuring device according to claim 1. The width calculation unit generates a binarized image from the width calculation target image generated by the target image generation unit, and converts the binarized image into a predetermined direction corresponding to the flow direction of the tap iron slag flow. By summing each pixel value of each pixel along the direction, each total pixel value of each position along the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction is obtained, and the said iron tapping is Find the width of the tailings,
The tap iron slag flow width measuring device according to claim 2. Acquisition processing for acquiring the plurality of images, edge image generation processing for generating the plurality of edge images, target image generation processing for generating the width calculation target image, and width calculation processing for determining the width of the tap iron slag flow. further comprising an iterative execution unit that causes each of the image acquisition unit, the edge image generation unit, the target image generation unit, and the width calculation unit to repeatedly execute each,
In the repeated execution, the width calculation unit calculates the length of a region where a total pixel value that is continuously equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value exists for a predetermined number of times as the width of the tapped iron slag flow.
The tap slag flow width measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. an image acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of images arranged in chronological order generated by imaging a tap slag flow flowing out from a tap hole and containing a mixture of hot metal and molten slag;
an edge image generation step of generating a plurality of edge images by extracting edges from each of the plurality of images acquired in the image acquisition step;
width calculation to generate a difference between the first brightness in the first image of the tap slag flow and the second brightness in the second image of the hot water pool based on the plurality of edge images generated in the edge image generation step; a target image generation step of generating a target image;
and a width calculation step of determining the width of the tap slag flow based on the width calculation target image generated in the target image generation step.
Method for measuring tap slag flow width.

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