Digital System for Limestone Granulometry Monitoring Deployed in Siberia
The system tracks particle size on conveyor belts in real time and flags out-of-spec material
An intelligent system for monitoring the granulometric composition of limestone has been launched at the lime calcination shop of EVRAZ ZSMK (United West Siberian Metallurgical Plant).
The system tracks particle size on conveyor belts in real time and alerts operators when out-of-spec fractions are detected, helping maintain consistently high product quality, according to Metallosnabzhenie i Sbyt magazine.
Flagging Out-of-Spec Material
For high-quality lime calcination, it is critical to use granules sized between 40 and 80 millimeters. Deviations can lead to defects: underburning reduces lime quality, while overburning can cause clumping and destabilize furnace operations.
Previously, it was difficult to control raw material separation on screening equipment. The new system, developed by EvrazTekhnika IT specialists, continuously captures the limestone flow, analyzes particle size, and measures up to ten diagonal cross-sections per granule. It also displays average material volume and the share of out-of-spec fractions, highlighting them visually with color coding.
Instant Anomaly Detection
The deployed system enables immediate detection of anomalies, allowing production staff to respond quickly to disruptions and maintain stable equipment operation.
The projected economic impact of the system is up to 11.9 million rubles per year (about $130,000). The lime produced in the calcination shop is used in the company’s steelmaking operations to remove impurities from steel.
Earlier reports noted that “digital shop floors” powered by artificial intelligence are set to be launched in Rybinsk.
