Recovery boiler

Infrared Combustion Chamber Camera PYROINC 640BL – Intelligent Monitoring for Recovery Boilers

The combustion of black liquor is a critical process for energy generation and chemical recovery. To minimize emissions and maximize safety, precise online monitoring of temperature and the char bed is essential.

Exclusive Solution for Nozzle Optimization

A particular highlight of our system is the targeted monitoring of black liquor nozzles. Thanks to specialized radial optics, the camera enables:

• Active Process Optimization: The feeding of black liquor can be monitored online and precisely optimized.
• Visual Control: Monitor the spray patterns of the black liquor sprayers in real time.
• Condition Assessment: Evaluate the condition of the boiler walls and the nozzle areas directly during ongoing operation.

Superior Infrared Technology

The PYROINC 640BL operates in a specialized spectral range of 3.9 µm. In this range, most gases in the combustion chamber are transparent, allowing for a significantly better view of the char bed compared to conventional TV or NIR systems.

• High Resolution: 640 x 480 pixels with a measurement frequency of 50 Hz for smooth live images.
• Wide Measurement Range: Precise temperature detection from 600°C to 1,450°C (1,112°F to 2,642°F).
• Maximum Safety: Since the system is exclusively air-cooled, there is no risk of smelt-water explosions caused by the sensor equipment.

Turnkey Complete System from a Single Source

We do not just deliver a camera, but a ready-to-use complete solution:

• Automated Retraction Device: Protects the camera from overheating by autonomously retracting the probe from the boiler in the event of cooling failure or malfunctions.
• Media Monitoring Control Cabinet: Central unit for controlling cooling air and system status for maximum operational reliability.
• Evaluation Unit with Professional Software: Display of online images directly in the control room as well as interfaces (ProfiNet, Profibus, WAGO) for transferring temperature data to your Distributed Control System (DCS).

Our Service Promise

Our team of experts supports you for smooth operation:

• Installation & Assembly: Professional installation of the entire system into your plant.
• Commissioning: Individual adjustment and on-site system testing.
• Training: Comprehensive instruction for your personnel on software operation and the interpretation of thermographic data.

Would you like to increase the efficiency of your black liquor combustion? Contact us for a consultation or an individual quote.

Downloads

The PYROINC endoscope angled is a specialized and extremely robust thermal imaging camera series for combustion chambers with angled optics, measuring high temperatures in real time between 400 °C and 1,600 °C (752 °F – 2,912 °F). The motorized focusable borescope optics are protected by a sapphire window. The camera’s slim and robust stainless steel probe cooling jacket is also air-cooled.

Application Examples:

The probe cooling jacket can be inserted directly through an opening in the combustion chamber wall. The small entry aperture of the optics is air-purged. Together with an automatic retraction device, it is ensured that the system withstands the high temperatures and specific requirements of the installation site. The front part of the jacket withstands temperatures of up to approx. 1,500 °C (2,732 °F). Thanks to the camera’s internal web server, remote access is possible at any time. This allows for convenient remote maintenance or the retrieval of thermography data and the current operating status.

The Physical Optimum: Why the 3.9 µm Wavelength Makes the Decisive Difference in Your Temperature Measurement

In industrial process monitoring, infrared thermometry is standard – but standard wavelengths often reach their physical limits. When combustion gases, water vapor, or CO2 obscure the view, conventional infrared cameras or pyrometers often only measure the temperature of the atmosphere, not that of your product. The solution lies in a precisely selected spectral range: 3.9 µm.

The Physics Behind the Precision: The "Atmospheric Window"

A look at the emission spectrum of typical combustion products clarifies the problem: Gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O) possess distinct absorption bands in which they almost completely block infrared radiation or emit strongly themselves.

At a wavelength of 3.9 µm, however, a crucial phenomenon occurs: The emissivity of these gases drops to near zero. In this narrow band, the atmosphere becomes nearly transparent to the sensor.

Your Advantages with 3.9 µm Technology:

• Measurement through flames: In fired furnaces, the hot gases of the flame emit massively in the standard infrared range. A 3.9 µm sensor "sees" through this flame front and directly captures the thermal radiation of the workpiece or furnace wall behind it.
• Elimination of distance errors: When measuring over large distances, air humidity (H2O) often leads to signal losses. Since 3.9 µm lies outside the water absorption bands, your measurement signal remains stable and precise even over long distances.
• Higher accuracy for metals and ceramics: Due to physical properties, the emissivity of many technical surfaces is more stable and higher at shorter wavelengths than in the long-wave range (e.g., 8–14 µm). This reduces errors caused by background reflections and ensures a more linear, reliable temperature curve.

Conclusion for the User

Choosing a sensor in the 3.9 µm range is a decision for process reliability. It enables imaging through flames, minimizes systematic measurement errors, reduces waste due to temperature misinterpretation, and optimizes the energy efficiency of your plants.

Rely on measurement technology that understands physics. Rely on 3.9 µm.