Abstract

An image processing method for flame monitoring is based on the formation of a video signal characteristic to the combustion process. In accordance with the method, the flame is monitored by each fire-box camera essentially from its side, whereby the video signal is adapted to cover at least an entire ignition area of a single burner, the video signal is continually processed to define the average intensity level corresponding to the steepest intensity gradients, and for each averaged level, the corresponding spatial or time coordinates of the continuous video signal, which define the location of the ignition area, are determined. The method extracts from the ignition and combustion process abundant information helpful in the control of combustion.