Most of the A.O.D. operating in India consists of conventional mechanical gas mixing station with manually operated valves and variable area flow meters(Rotameters). The accuracy of Rotameter is 10% only. Since the accuracy of rotameters are very poor, the total gases consumed will not be accurate at all. There is no temperature compensation and pressure compensation provided for these flow meters. All the actions of opening and closing of valves are to be done manually, which results in lot of delays. This in turn adds up to the total time, and hence loss in productivity and life of A.O.D.

SSS has now developed a computer based AOD control system software with most modern gas mixing station.

A typical A.O.D. will have 4 types of gases. Viz. Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon and Air. Based on the field requirement, the computer is to select the right type of gases and its quantity and rate of flow, duration for both main blow and shroud flow. The PC will also communicate with Spectrometer, Temperature measurement system, Weighing machine etc. to update following data.

1. Chemistry
2. Weight of the liquid metal
3. Weight of slag
4. Chemical Composition of Liquid metal
5. Required chemical composition
6. Temperature of liquid metal

Once these data are available to the A.O.D. Control system, the computer will decide the right amount of gas and its rate of flow for each operations of the A.O.D. without any operator intervention. The operator’s only is to supervise the general operation of the system.

Advantages of converting your existing system to a PC based automation.

1. Old system is mechanically unreliable
2. Maintenance costs are high
3. More precise gas control is possible with the use of latest instrumentation and power of PC
4. More precise level-1 and level-2 control
5. Faster heat time
6. Loss of process expertise from personnel changes is minimised due to PC automation
7. Lower operating cost due to improved technology

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

STANDARD A.O.D.CONTROL	SSS. A.O.D.CONTROL	ADVANTAGE
Single Control panel with Multiple instrumentation	Single monitor with multiple screens	More information, Less Capital cost
Experience based Chemistry/Temperature Estimates.	Computer modeled	Time, argon and refractory saving
Manual Collection of Data	Automatic acquisition (e.g. Weight, Chemistry, Temperature, Aims etc.)	Convenience and accuracy
	Note: To effect this, the system should have Automatic weighing, Communication with Spectrometer, Communication with Temperature measuring instruments etc.
Manual adds calculation	Adds wizard	Least cost material, accurate chemistry control
Hand held control of vessel position	Automatic vessel positioning is possible if required mechanical parameters are installed.	More convenience
Operator dependent practice and processing	Automated processing	More consistent product
Manual record keeping	Automated heat summary.	Convenience, Quality control
Remote viewing of live data not possible	Remote viewing and if required, controlling is possible through internet.	More convenient and systematic control
	* Condition apply
Networking with Lab, Pyrometer, Weighing scales MIS etc. not possible	Networking with Lab, Pyrometer, Weighing scales MIS etc. is easily attained after interfacing with such instrumentation.	Accurate and perfect control