TY - GEN
T1 - Experiments on wireless instrumentation of potlines
AU - Schneider, Michael H.
AU - Evans, James W.
AU - Ziegler, Donald
AU - Wright, Paul
AU - Steingart, Daniel Artemus
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Hall-Héroult potlines are very inefficient and inadequately outfitted with sensors, mostly due to safety concerns around sensor wires between pots, possible interference with existing hardware, and the lack of an easily-accessible, maintenance-free, continuous power source for the sensors. We present a tested solution to accurately measure various process parameters via wireless sensing technology, specifically Berkeley motes running TinyOS, using the cells' waste heat as a thermoelectric power source. Early experiments at Eastalco indicated that the motes, with a few modifications, will be able to operate reliably in industrial conditions, successfully transmitting radio packets, despite the plant's strong magnetic fields, at distances of over 100 feet. This paper describes the successful testing of wireless measurements of several cells' parameters, discusses what other measurements are feasible and appropriate, and describes the energy-scavenging thermoelectric power sources.
AB - Hall-Héroult potlines are very inefficient and inadequately outfitted with sensors, mostly due to safety concerns around sensor wires between pots, possible interference with existing hardware, and the lack of an easily-accessible, maintenance-free, continuous power source for the sensors. We present a tested solution to accurately measure various process parameters via wireless sensing technology, specifically Berkeley motes running TinyOS, using the cells' waste heat as a thermoelectric power source. Early experiments at Eastalco indicated that the motes, with a few modifications, will be able to operate reliably in industrial conditions, successfully transmitting radio packets, despite the plant's strong magnetic fields, at distances of over 100 feet. This paper describes the successful testing of wireless measurements of several cells' parameters, discusses what other measurements are feasible and appropriate, and describes the energy-scavenging thermoelectric power sources.
KW - Energy Efficiency
KW - Hall-Héroult Cells
KW - Motes
KW - Thermoelectricity
KW - Wireless Sensors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=23244464298&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=23244464298&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:23244464298
SN - 9780873395809
T3 - TMS Light Metals
SP - 407
EP - 412
BT - Light Metals 2005 - Proceedings of the Technical Sessions Presented by the TMS Aluminium Committee
A2 - Kvande, H.
T2 - 134th TMS Annual Meeting
Y2 - 13 February 2005 through 17 February 2005
ER -