OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH INSTRUMENTATION.

Energy represents a significant fraction of the cost of processing materials and producing goods. Instrumentation has an important role to play in conserving energy in these applications. Some progress has already been made by using strategies for optimized control and management of production equipment. Many further gains are possible, but await the development of appropriate sensor technologies. The potential for energy saving through advanced measurement are illustrated by several efforts presently underway in the metals industry, including instrumentation for inspecting hot steel slabs, analyzing the composition of molten metal, estimating temperature distributions within solids, and protecting sensors from damage in high-temperature corrosive and erosive atmosphere.