EMPRESS 2: Enhancing process efficiency through improved temperature measurement 2
The efficiency of high value manufacturing processes is heavily reliant on accurate, traceable temperature measurement, with some processes requiring reliable control capabilities at temperatures up to 2000°C. Current state-of-the-art methods used by industry to measure at high temperatures suffer from drift and large measurement uncertainties. Improved measurement capability could lead to guarantee product consistency, refine sensors reliability and increased energy efficiency, reducing costs for manufacturers. This project EMPRESS 2 seeks to enhance the efficiency of high-value manufacturing processes by addressing four contemporary thermometry challenges where the need for improvement is greatest, namely, surface contact temperature probes, thermocouples, combustion thermometry, and optical fibres.
Funded by EURAMET’s European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research, the project is characterized by trials directly focusing into the industrial processes of interest to develop novel calibration techniques looking for solving documented problems in high value manufacturing environments by introducing in-situ traceability to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). (EURAMET), the European Association of National Metrology Institutes is a metrology-focused European initiative of coordinated R&D that facilitates closer integration of national research initiatives. It is integrated into the framework of the EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. EMPIR seeks to unite the efforts of European metrology institutes to universities, companies and research centres. LIR-UC3M participates in this consortium with the Spanish Metrology Centre (CEM).
Figure. Left, TELOPS hyperspectral imaging sensor which uses Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technology.
Right,NPL standard flame at LIR-UC3M facilities.
Following the success of the previous EMPRESS project, LIR-UC3M keeps an important role described in the Work Package (WP) 3: “Demonstration of a validated in-situ combustion reference standard”. The aim of this WP is to demonstrate the use of the flame reference standard, used during the EMPRESS project, for the development of an affordable IR optical system to increase the accuracy for high temperature measurements. LIR-UC3M will develop a multi-spectral filter-based concept incorporated with an IR imaging camera which is expected to reduce conventional systems costs without compromise the advisable accuracy of the measurements.