The Raytek GS150 system uses a linescanner to measure infrared radiation of the glass sheets after they have been heated to melting point.It scans the sheets line by line as they are being transported from the furnace to the air quench, generating thermal images of each sheet. The accompanying visualization and analysis software enables operators to quickly and reliably check the correct and even heating of the sheets. For fast process setup and precise calibration of the infrared solution, Datapaq has developed a new Furnace Tracker system with an especially low-height thermal barrier. This system is based on a data logger that passes through the furnace as well as the air quench, taking temperature readings directly from the glass surface via thermocouples. Particularly in the light of growing shares of coated glasses, contact measurement is a valuable addition to the established infrared measurement method which relies on the correct emissivity value. Even low-E glass can thus be monitored.
The combined solution provides the reliable data required for optimizing production efficiency and quality. The Raytek GS150 system, designed for monitoring ongoing production, enables complete documentation of the processed glass sheets. With a maximum 170:1 resolution, a scanning speed of up to 150 lines/s, and up to 1,024 measurement points per line, the MP150-type linescanner is one of the most precise and fastest thermal imaging solutions currently available. It detects even very small hot spots. The Datapaq Furnace Tracker system is used to set up the line for new products or after production standstills. It provides complete temperature profiles from the pre-heat, furnace, and quenching phases that - in addition to correct calibration of the IR scanner - are used to identify any furnace problems early on as well as to save energy costs by correcting too hot furnace settings and reducing excessive dwell time.