Virtual Windows for Furnace Visualization

The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of image-capturing devices (cameras, infrared spectrometers) positioned near the viewports that capture thermal and visual data, then process this data through a computer system to generate virtual windows. These virtual windows present the combustion process information to operators at a safe distance, eliminating direct heat exposure while maintaining or improving assessment accuracy through enhanced imaging capabilities.

The patent creates virtual copies of the furnace interior through virtual windows that replicate the visual and thermal characteristics of the actual combustion process. Multiple virtual windows can be generated simultaneously, each showing different perspectives or processed views (including infrared thermal views) of the furnace interior, allowing operators to assess the combustion process without physical proximity to the heat source.

The patent transitions from two-dimensional viewport views to multi-dimensional virtual window displays. The computer system processes images from multiple angles and combines them to create comprehensive virtual representations of the three-dimensional furnace interior. This allows operators to view internal regions that would be obscured in traditional 2D viewport displays, effectively adding spatial dimensions to the visualization without physically enlarging the viewports.

The patent creates multiple virtual copies of the furnace interior that can be displayed simultaneously or sequentially. These virtual windows can show different perspectives, magnified views, and processed thermal images of internal regions, providing complete visibility of the combustion process without requiring physical enlargement of the actual viewports or insertion of complex optical systems into the furnace structure.

The patent makes the image-capturing devices multi-functional by using them for both visual imaging and thermal measurement simultaneously. The same camera or infrared spectrometer that captures visual images of the combustion process also provides thermal data through intensity-temperature calibration relationships. This eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors at multiple locations, reducing system complexity while maintaining 3D temperature field estimation capabilities through computational methods.

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of installing multiple physical temperature sensors throughout the furnace with an optical/electronic system. Image-capturing devices positioned at accessible locations capture images that are then processed through thermal radiation transfer equations and intensity-temperature calibration to compute temperature distributions. This substitution reduces installation complexity while providing comprehensive temperature and radiance field data through computational reconstruction.

The patent performs preliminary intensity-temperature calibration and establishes lookup tables or calibration curves that map image intensities to temperatures before actual measurement. This pre-computed reference data allows the system to quickly determine temperatures from captured images without performing complex iterative thermal radiation transfer computations during real-time operation, significantly reducing computation time while maintaining accuracy.

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the computed temperature and radiance fields are used to validate and refine the calibration relationships. The system continuously compares measured image intensities with predicted intensities based on computed temperature fields, and adjusts calibration parameters to minimize discrepancies. This feedback loop improves accuracy over time without requiring repeated complex iterative computations for each new measurement.