Authors: A. Sadri, P. Gebski, H. Ghorbani, G. McGarrie and T. de Vries (Anglo Platinum Research Group)
JOM, A Publication of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, October 2009, Volume 61 No. 10
Abstract
Cooling elements in operating furnaces,
such as waffl e coolers, finger
coolers, cooling staves, and plate coolers,
are subject to wearing and deterioration
over time. Ultrasonic (UT) pulse
echo is an efficient nondestructive testing
methodology to monitor the thickness
and quality of the cooling blocks
through periodical inspections; however,
the highly dampening properties
of copper and the high temperatures
on the hot face of the cooling elements
could cause errors in UT thickness
measurements. To eliminate potential
errors in UT measurements, a study
was conducted to determine the correct
temperature and velocity distributions
and relationship in waffl e coolers. In
this study, a combination of mathematical
modeling and experimental work
was used to establish a relationship between
the temperature and the speed of
ultrasonic waves in copper elements.
