Abstract
Increased energy costs have placed demands for improved combustion efficiency, high equipment availability, low maintenance and safe operation. Furthermore low NO$_x\$ modification, installed due to strict environmental legislation, requires very careful combustion management. The flame monitoring system has been developed specially to satisfy these requirements. We aimed at gaining the relationship between the burner flame image and emissions such as NO$_x$ and unburned carbon in furnace by utilizing the image processing method. For the first step of development, its possibility test was undertaken with bench furnace. The test proceeded to the second step with pilot furnace and the system was observed to be effective for evaluating the combustion conditions. By using this technology, it is possible to perform continuous monitoring of the combustion conditions and instant detection of individual changes for each burner to prevent future loss of ignition. This may contribute to the saving of burner adjusting times for the changes of loads and fuels and to the reduction of the slagging as well.