Sistema de medição de nível em silos de materiais por meio de sonda radar: projeto e aplicação

Abstract

The pursuit of efficiency is an inherent characteristic of any organization today. Companies that invest in continuous improvement increase their competitiveness in the market in which they operate. In the steel industry, reducing material losses and optimizing time in production stages are crucial factors to ensure more efficient manufacturing. This work presents a solution to reduce material losses and execution time in the steelmaking process by replacing the existing system used to determine silo occupancy with a material level measurement system using radar sensors. To achieve this goal, the project was developed with a focus on the material storage system used by Aperam South America, at the Timóteo plant in Minas Gerais. Thus, the entire adopted model and the choice of components are based on the equipment already used in the field by the company, as well as the existing demand. Among the expected results are improved reliability of the storage system, reduced material losses and downtime caused by process failures. Additionally, the project promotes more efficient integration with the company’s existing automation systems, enhancing productivity and operational reliability