Quantitative Assessment of Flame Stability Through Image Processing and Spectral Analysis

This paper experimentally investigates two generalized methods, i.e., a simple universal index and oscillation frequency, for the quantitative assessment of flame stability at fossil-fuel-fired furnaces. The index is proposed to assess the stability of flame in terms of its color, geometry, and luminance. It is designed by combining up to seven characteristic parameters extracted from flame images. The oscillation frequency is derived from the spectral analysis of flame radiation signals. The measurements involved in these two methods do not require prior knowledge about fuel property, burner type, and other operation conditions. They can therefore be easily applied to flame stability assessment without costly and complex adaption. Experiments were carried out on a 9-MW heavy-oil-fired combustion test rig over a wide range of combustion conditions including variations in swirl vane position of the tertiary air, swirl vane position of the secondary air, and the ratio of the primary air to the total air. The impact of these burner parameters on the stability of heavy oil flames is investigated by using the index and oscillation frequency proposed. The experimental results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods and the importance of maintaining a stable flame for reduced NOx emissions. It is envisaged that such methods can be easily transferred to existing flame closed-circuit television systems and flame failure detectors in power stations for flame stability monitoring

Novel Single Photon Detectors for UV Imaging

There are several applications which require high position resolution UV imaging. For these applications we have developed and successfully tested a new version of a 2D UV single photon imaging detector based on a microgap RPC. The main features of such a detectors is the high position resolution - 30 micron in digital form and the high quantum efficiency (1-8% in the spectral interval of 220-140 nm). Additionally, they are spark- protected and can operate without any feedback problems at high gains, close to a streamer mode. In attempts to extend the sensitivity of RPCs to longer wavelengths we have successfully tested the operation of the first sealed parallel-plate gaseous detectors with CsTe photocathodes. Finally, the comparison with other types of photosensitive detectors is given and possible fields of applications are identified.Comment: Presented at the 5th International Workshop on RICH detectors Playa del Carmen, Mexico, November 200

The potential of on-line optical flow measurement in the control and monitoring of pilot-scale oxy-coal flames

pre-printDigital image processing techniques oer a wide array of tools capable of extracting apparent displacement or velocity information from sequences of images of moving objects. Optical flow algorithms have been widely used in areas such as traffic monitoring and surveillance. The knowledge of instantaneous apparent flame velocities (however they are defined) may prove to be valuable during the operation and control of industrial-scale burners. Optical diagnostics techniques, coupled with on-line image processing have been applied in the optimization of coal-red power plants; however, regardless of the available technology, the current methods do not apply optical flow measurement. Some optical flow algorithms have the potential of real-time applicability and are thus possible candidates for on-line apparent flame velocity extraction. In this paper, the potential of optical ow measurement in on-line flame monitoring and control is explored

Green Public Procurement for Imaging Equipment. Technical Background Report

The report proposes and substantiates the EU Green Public Procurement criteria for the product group of ‘Imaging Equipment". Green Public Procurement criteria allow public authorities to integrate environmental aspects in their purchasing decisions. The report contains the criteria proposal itself, the underlying scientific evidence regarding the environmental impacts of imaging equipment, and it describes the most important European legislation and labelling schemes relevant for this product group. Discussions with stakeholders from industry, NGOs and Member States have supported the development of the criteria. These contributions are also reflected in the analysis presented in this report.JRC.J.5-Sustainable Production and Consumptio

BADANIA PROCESU SPALANIA Z WYKORZYSTANIEM SZEREGÓW CZASOWYCH

In the combustion process, one of the most important tasks is related to maintaining its stability. Numerous methods of monitoring, diagnostics, and analysis of the measurement data are used for this purpose. The information recorded in the combustion chamber constitute one-dimensional time series. In the case of non-stationary time series, which can be transformed into the stationary form, the autoregressive integrated moving average process can be employed. The paper presented the issue of forecasting the changes in flame luminosity. The investigations discussed in the work were carried out with the ARIMA model (p,d,q). The presented forecasts of changes in flame luminosity reflect the actual processes, which enables to employ them in diagnostics and control of the combustion process.W procesie spalania jednym z najważniejszych zadań jest zachowanie jego stabilności. Do tego celu wykorzystywanych jest wiele metod z zakresu monitorowania, diagnostyki i analizy danych pomiarowych. Zarejestrowane w komorze spalania informacje są jednowymiarowymi szeregami czasowymi. W przypadku niestacjonarnych szeregów czasowych, które można przekształcić do formy stacjonarnej, znalazły zastosowanie scałkowane procesy autoregresji i średniej ruchomej. W artykule przedstawiono problematykę prognozowania zmian intensywności świecenia płomienia. Badania zaprezentowane w pracy zostały przeprowadzone z wykorzystaniem modelu ARIMA(p,d,q). Przedstawione prognozy zmian intensywność świecenia płomienia odwzorowują rzeczywiste przebiegi, co pozwala wykorzystać je w diagnostyce i sterowaniu procesem spalania

2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy

This document is an update (new photos used) of the PDF version of the 2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy that will be available to download on the OCT Public Website. The updated 2020 NASA Technology Taxonomy, or "technology dictionary", uses a technology discipline based approach that realigns like-technologies independent of their application within the NASA mission portfolio. This tool is meant to serve as a common technology discipline-based communication tool across the agency and with its partners in other government agencies, academia, industry, and across the world

Photopolymerization and Characterization of Crosslinked Thiol-ene Networks and POSS/Thiol-ene Nanocomposites

Interests in the area of thiol-ene photopolymerization are rapidly expanding due to the numerous advantages over the polymers produced by traditional solvent based polymerizations. Although current research of photoinitiated thiol-ene polymerization is diverse, numerous opportunities are available for investigating structure/property and structure/reactivity relationships and novel material applications. This research in this dissertation includes a fundamental study of the effect of monomelic thiol functionality on thiol-ene polymerization kinetics and formation of the thiol-ene network structure, and an investigation of the development of novel silicate based thiol-ene nanocomposites. The first fundamental study investigates the effect of thiol functionality on the kinetics and ensuing network structure. More specifically, the influence of thiol functionality on the polymerization rate and the thermal and mechanical behavior is described. Novel multifunctional thiol monomers having functionalities, f = 2, 5.6, 8.1, and 11, were synthesized via an amine-catalyzed thiol Michael addition reaction. High conversions of functional groups and marginal changes in thermal and mechanical properties for highly functional thiol monomers (f \u3e 6) suggest that delayed gelation occurs, resulting in a polymer network with reduced effective crosslinked density. Also, thiol functionality has a marginal effect on polymerization rates. The development of a novel silicate based thiol-ene nanocomposite involves an investigation of the changes in the network structure that occurs upon the inclusion of organically modified silicate nanoparticles. As for all nanocomposite materials, the prevention of aggregation is a challenge and is addressed by improving compatibility and optimizing concentration of the silicate particle within the polymer matrix. A fundamental study examines the effect of compatibility and method of incorporation (physical or chemical) of the silicate particle on the morphology and subsequent thermal, mechanical, and physical behavior by varying the type of organic substituents on the caged silicate particle and the molar concentration of silicate particle within the thiol-ene matrix. In all cases, POSS whether incorporated chemically or physically in the network reduces flame spread. Results show that compatibilization of the silicate particles has a great influence on the thermal and physical properties of the network. The influence of silicate particle inclusion is examined by analyzing thermal, mechanical, and physical properties, including enthalpic relaxation. When incorporated chemically into the network with no aggregation, POSS does not alter the thermal transitions, physical properties or mechanical transitions significantly. If hydrogen bonding chemical groups are attached to POSS, an increase in thermal and mechanical transitions as well as modulus in the rubbery region occurs. The interaction of incorporated POSS within the crosslinked thiol-ene polymer was also characterized by the changes in free volume within the network structure. This investigation includes direct analysis of free volume by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and oxygen flux measurements. Results indicate that if POSS can be connected chemically into the polymer matrix with little or no aggregation the free volume is unaffected. In addition, the oxygen permeability is unaffected by the presence of POSS whether or not it is incorporated into the thiol-ene network