Control and optimization of sheeting (rolling) manufacturing through on-line ultrasonic monitoring and evaluation

NSERC战略项目的目标是开发一种用于板材(轧制)制造过程的闭环控制的智能声学非接触传感器系统，并了解影响系统效率的因素。该研究小组与加拿大非接触式空气耦合超声换能器和分析系统制造商VN Instruments合作。该系统具有许多潜在的制造应用，但由于研究团队在了解基于声学技术的软固体特性方面拥有相当丰富的经验，该系统最初将用于测量面条面团的特性。加拿大一半以上的小麦出口用于制造亚洲面条，因此该项目的新知识将促进这个作为主要外国收入来源的行业的经济活动。它还将为VN Instruments在海外和加拿大创造先进的制造机会。该研究小组的另一个工业合作伙伴是加拿大国际谷物研究所(CIGI)。CIGI不仅对他们的全功能中试规模面条生产线的项目成功至关重要，还因为他们将获得专业知识(与研究团队合作的结果)，以展示声传感器系统将如何在制造过程中优化质量。因此，CIGI将支持VN Instruments制造的系统的销售。项目研究目标是开发一个功能齐全的传感器系统原型。该系统将用于全面表征板材的性能，从而确定传感器系统的最佳位置。基于这些研究成果，原型系统将在CIGI的中试生产线上进行全面评估，以展示系统的健壮性和有效性(在各种制造条件下捕获面条的必要特性)。作为该项目的一部分，研究团队和行业合作伙伴将培训五名高素质人员(HQP)。这些HQP开发的专业知识将有助于加拿大综合生产系统的进一步成功开发，从而在国内和国际市场创造独特的商机。

The goal of this NSERC Strategic project is to develop an intelligent acoustic non-contact sensor system for closed-loop control of sheeting (rolling) manufacturing processes, and to understand the factors influencing system efficacy. The research team is partnered with VN Instruments, a Canadian manufacturer of non-contact air-coupled ultrasonic transducer and analysis systems. The system has many potential manufacturing applications, but because the research team has considerable experience in understanding the properties of soft solids based on acoustic techniques, the system will initially be applied to measure the properties of noodle dough sheets. Over half of Canada's wheat exports are used to manufacture Asian noodles, so new knowledge from the project will enhance economic activity in a sector that is a major source of foreign revenue. It will also create advanced manufacturing opportunities for VN Instruments offshore and in Canada. The research team's other industrial partner is the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI). CIGI is pivotal to project success not only for their fully functional pilot scale noodle manufacturing line, but because they will acquire the expertise (as a result of working with the research team) to demonstrate how the acoustic sensor system will optimize quality during manufacturing. As such, CIGI will support the sale of systems manufactured by VN Instruments. Project research objectives are to develop a fully functioning prototype sensor system. This system will be used to comprehensively characterize properties during sheeting, so that the optimal placement of the sensor system can be defined. Based on these research outcomes, the prototype system will be fully evaluated on CIGI's pilot plant line to demonstrate system robustness and efficacy (capturing the necessary properties of the noodle sheet under a wide range of manufacturing conditions). The research team and industrial partners will train five highly qualified personnel (HQP) as part of the project. The expertise developed by these HQP will contribute to further success in the development of Canadian integrated production systems, thereby creating unique business opportunities in domestic and international markets.