Coal-fired power plants can run their boilers and produce power more efficiently by optimizing the processes using a thermal imaging system and video and data analysis software, says LumaSense Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, Calif.
The thermal imaging solution from LumaSense, called BoilerSpection, uses a LumaSense infrared camera system and optics developed and optimized for boilers and industrial furnaces. With a payback period of a few months, according to the company, the system can save coal plants money.
Dirty boiler tubes can reduce equipment efficiency. Soot and ash must be cleaned off the tubes to keep the plant running at the highest achievable efficiency. Currently, coal plant operators use a number of ways to clean boiler tubes but have inadequate methods to measure their effectiveness. Some cleaning practices have negative impacts such as prolonged downtime and thermal stress to the boiler tubes.
LumaSense produced a video of the BoilerSpectrum system that can be viewed the company's website.
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