Monitoring the wear of the refractory lining in the blast-furnace hearth

The Razgar Gorna computer program is developed for calculating two-dimensional temperature fields in any vertical and horizontal cross section of the blast-furnace hearth. In the calculations, the heat-conduction equations are solved by means of readings from many temperature sensors (up to 1000, depending on the volume) installed within the furnace lining between the refractory modules. Continuous temperature monitoring at each point permits the determination of the remaining lining thickness and prediction of the onset of lining wear, as necessary. A mathematical model is employed in continuous temperature monitoring of the lining. The database of the Razgar Gorna program relies on the collection, analysis, and transmission of information from the temperature or heat-flux sensors. The program is in use at blast furnaces in Chinese steelworks at Jinan (two furnaces), Jiyuan, and Liuzhou. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc

Monitoring System of Firebrick Lining Erosion of Blast Furnace Hearth

It is possible to increase the efficiency of the computer-based system of diagnostics of the elements state of the firebrick lining by means of use in their structure of the module, in real time revealing the structural changes of non-stationary controlled signals These changes as a rule testify the occurred deviations in the technical condition of the controlled object The received information about the revealed structural features in analyzed signals it is expedient to use for forecasting of further dynamics of controlled parameters The mathematical description and the computer program Hearth Erosion of calculation the two-dimensional temperature fields in any vertical and horizontal section of the blast furnace hearth are developed Calculation is carry out the decision of the equations of heat conductivity with use of indications of the big number of sensing transducers of temperature (to 1000), built in the furnaces firebrick lining between the firebrick blocks The continuous control of the temperature change in each point allows to define the remained thickness the firebrick lining and to warn, in case of need, the furnace personnel about the beginning of the firebrick lining erosion The continuous control of change of temperature in the firebrick lining is made on the basis of mathematical model The system of collecting, processing and transfer information from sensing transducers of temperature or thermal streams in a program database Hearth Erosion is used Programs are installed on blast furnaces of Chinese National Republic: Jinan, Jiyuan and Liuzhou Iron and Steel Works together with Russian- Chinese company SKKONT Copyright © 2013 IFAC.Work is carried out with supp ort and direct participation of Russian firm SKKONT (Limited liability co mpany “Research-and-production e nterprise "Northern c ompany of the completing equipment and new technologies ”)

The determination optimum sampling interval of thermo-couple's signal in condition monitoring system of the blast furnace

It is noted, that the sampling interval of the temperature sensors is determined by a process of "accumulation-output melting products. Because of the irregularity of this process, it is advisable to uneven sampling of the signal. An algorithm for non-uniform sampling based on the estimation of the instantaneous errors of the prediction signal of the temperature sensor is offered. Carried out processing real data of blast furnace No. 3 plant of JiNan Iron & Steel Group Co.Ltd (China) has confirmed the effectiveness of this algorithm.Отмечено, что интервал дискретизации температурных датчиков определяется, в первую очередь, процессом "накопление-выпуск" продуктов плавки. В силу нерегулярности этого процесса целесообразно проводить неравномерную дискретизацию сигнала. Предложен алгоритм неравномерной дискретизации, основанный на оценке мгновенной ошибки интерполяции сигнала термодатчика. Проведена обработка реальных данных доменной печи №3 комбината JiNan Iron & Steel Group Co.Ltd (Китай), подтвердившая эффективность данного алгоритма

The effect of a single administration of streptozotocin on hippocampus metabolites in NODSCID mice

The significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in recent years makes studies of this problem topical. The persistent hyperglycemia accompanying the development and course of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can affect the func-tional and structural levels of the organization of the central nervous system. These changes may be medi­ated by metabolic aberrations. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a common method of intravital detection of metabolic reactions. In this study, MRS of the hippocampus of NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/NcrCrl mice (NODSCID) was performed 4 days after the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) to assess the effect of STZ itself, and 60 days after the administration of STZ to another group of animals to assess the effect of chronic hyperglycemia caused by the delayed ef­fect of STZ, involving the death of pancreatic β-cells. The simulation of T1DM by STZ administration is used worldwide. Nevertheless, the question remains whether there is a short-term effect of the introduc­tion of STZ at the level of hippocampal metabolites recorded by MRS. The comparison of experimental and control animal groups revealed no effect of STZ on metabolites in the hippocampus of NODSCID mice on day 4 after its administration. In contrast, another comparison of the experimental and control animals on day 60 after STZ administration showed elevated contents of alanine and taurine, and a reduced lactate content. Thus, the introduction of STZ itself does not affect the metabolism of the hippocampus, and MRS is a promising method for assessing the effect of T1DM on brain metabolism in animals

Reproductive effects of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) deficiency in mice

TNF is a multifunctional cytokine that, at physiological concentrations, maintains the balance between apoptosis and survival of male germ cells and, at higher concentrations, has adverse effects on various stages of the reproductive process. Although ant-cytokine therapies have been used in millions of patients, the consequences of cytokine deficiency for reproductive functions are poorly understood and need attention. In this work, we have studied behavioral interactions between males and females, spermatogenesis, male fertility, and embryonic developmental characteristics of the progeny in TNFα knockout mice (TNF-/-). We have demonstrated that TNF is involved in the regulation of sexual behavior, spermatogenesis, pre- and postimplantation development. Complete TNF deficiency led to decreased reproductive efficiency: a lower number of viable embryos were observed in TNF-/- mice than in wild-type mice. The decrease in fertility was caused by preimplantation embryo loss in TNF-/- mice. Preimplantation loss in females might be caused by asospermia in TNF-/- males. Additionally, the sensitivity of reproductive functions to female stimuli was different between TNF-/- mice and wild-type mice, while interactions with females increased the concentrations of sper­matozoids in both TNF-/- and wild-type mice. Still higher levels were observed in knockout animals, which led to increase in the number of immature spermatozoids in epididymides