China’s First Mould Level Measurement System (Cs-137 Radioactive Type)

 In the early 1990s, China’s steel enterprises confronted two problems: one was that automatic measurement equipments depend on import. The price was high and the equipment utilization and security became a problem. The other was that a household Japanese TV serial “The blood doubts” aggravated people’s fear of Cobalt 60. However, the foreign mould level measurement systems all used Cobalt 60 as the radioactive source.

 At that time, Hengyang Nonferrous Metallurgical Mechanical Manufactory (hereinafter HNMMM for short), known as the “Top Heng”, was working on the nationalization of mould level measurement and control system. RAMON was strongly recommended by HNMMM and Wuhan Iron & Steel Designing Institute (hereinafter WISDI for short) to conduct the R&D of mould level measurement and control system at Anyang Steel, Laiwu Steel and Jinan Steel. Mr. Liu Zhi, deputy chief engineer of HNMMM at that time, provided imported cobalt for RAMON to do research. Ms. Zhang Hualian, the chief designer of WISDI also provided a lot of useful advices to RAMON.

 RAMON totally had 8 members at that time. Under the encouragement of Deng Xiaoping’s talk during inspecting the south, RAMON president Tian Zhiheng, CEO, Tian Lu, vice general manager Tian Li, chief engineer Zhou Yonghui and other four members set up RAMON together. RAMON’s first product Cs-137 type mould level measurement system was just developed in such background. Professor Tian Zhiheng didn’t copy the imported cobalt mould level measurement system but to put forward Cs instead of Cobalt. He creatively developed four-stage amplifier and replaced NaI crystal with BGO crystal. The product sensitivity is doubly increased than foreign products.

 The product R&D has experienced the stages from imperfection to perfection step by step. At the beginning, the radioactive source was large and the sensor was externally installed. The aluminum alloy plug was broken easily. According to the feedback from the field workers, RAMON upgraded the system for several times. The development of the product was taken in a basement hostel, which cost them 5 RMB a night at that time. Starting from scratch, they all became all-rounders, from crystal encapsulation to components procurement, from circuit board welding, testing to delivery. They completed all these things only by themselves. Three or four people could produce 10 sets of mould level measurement system within a month.

The product R&D has experienced the stages from imperfection to perfection step by step. At the beginning, the radioactive source was large and the sensor was externally installed. The aluminum alloy plug was broken easily. According to the feedback from the field workers, RAMON upgraded the system for several times. The development of the product was taken in a basement hostel, which cost them 5 RMB a night at that time. Starting from scratch, they all became all-rounders, from crystal encapsulation to components procurement, from circuit board welding, testing to delivery. They completed all these things only by themselves. Three or four people could produce 10 sets of mould level measurement system within a month.

three or four people a month can produce ten of the liquid steel level gauge.

Sharing our story:

Board chairman of Anyang Steel Group

  At that time, Anyang Steel used the mould level measurement system of Demag, which adopted Cobalt 60 as the source. Due to the large radiation dose of cobalt 60, the steel workers were frightened. Meanwhile,

provided breakout accident happened, the equipments would be burned and brought difficulties to management. Professor Tian developed Cs type under such condition and Anyang Steel became RAMON’s first customer. The ministry of metallurgical industry held an appraisal conference for the Cs type mould level measurement system. I think it was win-win cooperation for both Anyang Steel and RAMON, leaving good memory for us.