ABSTRACT
The metals production industry is concerned with the extraction of metals from mineral ores. This is achieved through a variety of different process paths that depend on the metal that is being produced. In general, ores are processed to remove impurities and increase the concentration of the valuable mineral. This concentrate then undergoes smelting to produce a crude metal which is then
refined further to achieve the required purity for the final product. This chapter does not address the processing of ores prior to their smelting, but a widely used overview of metallurgical processing is given by Rosenqvist
[1]. The high temperatures inherent in extractive metallurgy, and the aggressive
materials involved, present difficulties in directly observing many of the relevant processes by conventional sensor technologies. The industry has turned to process imaging and other sensing technologies that are able to overcome the hostile processing environment. Now these sensors are finding application in various steps of metal production: metallurgical furnaces, ladles, continuous casters, and inspection of the final product. These technologies provide a better understanding of process conditions and enable advanced process control schemes. The demands for product quality, improved process safety, and reduced emissions are driving the development of new sensors in the metallurgical industry.
