Investigation of Thermal Anemometry With Thermistor Sensing Elements for Gas Flow Measurements in Harsh Environments

The production of high-quality steel requires purging with argon to remove impurities, degas the molten metal, and optimize the alloying process. However, sealing challenges in steelworks result in variable argon losses. But accurate mass flow measurements are crucial for process optimization. This letter investigates the feasibility of a ladle-based argon flow sensor system to overcome these challenges. The system must address high gas velocities, wide fluid temperature range, and limited power availability. The study focuses on a thermal anemometer with thermistors as sensing elements, evaluating sensitivity, cross-sensitivity, and power consumption on a test rig.