Process for measuring an electrochemical activity

• US 5,989,408 A
• Filed: 08/12/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V. (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Original Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V. (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Inventors: Neyens, Guido, Baerts, Christiaan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, T.
• Application Number:
  US09/132,656
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 204/422, 204/423, 207/783.5, 207/784
• US Class Current: 205/783.5
• CPC Class Codes: C21B 7/24 Test rods or other checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: C21C 5/4673 Measuring and sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/411 for investigating or analysing of liquid metals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4118 Means for protecting the electrolyte or the electrodes

Abstract

A a process as well as an immersion sensor for measuring an electrochemical activity of a layer lying on a melt is provided, using an electrochemical sensor, which has a measuring cell and a counter electrode. In order to make possible reliably reproducible and accurate measurements in the layer, the measuring cell and counter electrode are first immersed in the melt, wherein the measuring cell and counter electrode are protected from contact with the layer and wherein the measuring cell and counter electrode are brought into contact with the melt and are heated. After that, the measuring cell is pulled up to perform the measurement in the layer, wherein the counter electrode is located in the melt during the measurement. For this purpose, the measuring cell and the counter electrode have a protective cover, and the measuring cell is arranged, in the immersion position of the sensor, above the counter electrode.

Claims

1. A process for measuring an electrochemical activity of a slag layer (2) lying on a steel melt (3), using an electrochemical sensor which has a measuring cell (5) and a counter electrode (4), comprising immersing the measuring cell (5) and the counter electrode (4) in the steel melt (3), such that the measuring cell (5) and the counter electrode (4) are protected from contact with the slag layer (2), bringing the measuring cell (5) and counter electrode (4) into contact with the steel melt (3) to heat the measuring cell (5) and the counter electrode (4), and pulling the measuring cell (5) up into the slag layer (2) for carrying out the measurement, such that the counter electrode (4) is located in the steel melt (3) during the measurement.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the measuring cell (5) and the counter electrode (4) are arranged on a support, and the counter electrode (4) is simultaneously pulled up with the measuring cell (5).

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein prior to pulling up the measuring cell (5) from the melt, the oxygen activity of the melt is determined.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the measurement takes place during the pulling up movement of the measuring cell (5) and the counter electrode (4).

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein during the measurement the temperature of the steel melt (3) and/or the slag layer (2) is determined.