A high-speed camera based approach for the on-line analysis of particles in multi-fuel burner flames

• Approach can be used as on-line measurement for the burner control.
• Image processing algorithm allows for the detection of particles within as well as outside of the coal dust flame.
• Distribution of light duration and of the particle velocity can be calculated on-line.
• Demonstrated on the basis of measurements from a 1 MW multi-fuel burner.

A high-speed camera based approach for the analysis of the trajectories, the velocities and the burning behavior of alternative fuel macroscopic particles during co-firing in a coal dust flame is presented. The new approach can be used as on-line measurement for the burner control. It consists of an image processing and a particle tracking step. The image processing algorithm allows for the detection of particles within as well as outside of the coal dust flame. The tracking algorithm connects particle detections in single images to particle trajectories in image sequences. It is tolerant to temporarily missing particle detections. Based on the particle trajectories various characteristic parameters describing the distribution of light duration and of the particle velocity can be calculated on-line. The new approach is demonstrated on the basis of measurements from an experimental combustion chamber with a 1 MW multi-fuel burner.