Profiling of hot surfaces by pulsed time-of-flight laser range finder techniques.

The possibilities for using the pulsed time-of-flight (TOF) laser radar technique for hot refractory lining measurements are examined, and formulas are presented for calculating the background radiation collected, the achievable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and the measurement resolution. An experimental laser radar device is presented based on the use of a laser diode as a transmitter. Results obtained under real industrial conditions show that a SNR of 10 can be achieved at measurement distances of up to 15-20 m if the temperature of the converter is 1400 °C and the peak power of the laser diode used is 10 W. The single-shot resolution is about 60 mm (sigma value), but it can be improved to millimeter range by averaging techniques over a measurement time of 0.5 s. A commercial laser radar profiler based on the experimental laser radar device is also presented, and results obtained with it in real measurement situations are shown. These measurements indicate that it is possible to use the pulsed TOF laser radar technique in demanding measurement applications of this kind to obtain reliable data on the lining wear rate of a hot converter in a steel works.