Authors:
Miao Zhang
1
;
Oliver Leys
2
;
Markus Vogelbacher
1
;
Regina Knitter
2
and
Jörg Matthes
1
Affiliations:
1
Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
;
2
Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
Keyword(s):
Ceramic Pebbles Manufacturing, Control System, High-Speed Camera Based Measurement System, Melt-Based Process, Real-Time Measurement and Control.
Abstract:
As the production of lithium-rich ceramic pebbles play a key role in the tritium-breeding blankets, it is vital for future fusion reactors. To ensure high-quality pebbles, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed a melt-based fabrication process called KALOS (KArlsruhe Lithium OrthoSilicate). This process involves the break-up of a molten laminar jet to produce pebbles with precise diameters of hundreds of micrometers, which are highly dependent on process parameters. Therefore, a real-time monitoring and regulation system is essential for the fabrication process. This paper discusses a high-speed camera-based measurement system designed to automatically monitor and control the production process. Experimental evidence shows that this system can accurately provide real-time data on the sizes, locations, and distance distribution of the molten ceramic droplets utilizing image processing approaches. Additionally, the system is capable of controlling the production of p
ebbles by adjusting the driving frequency in real-time based on real-time measurements of the computer vision.
(More)