Segmentation of the Solid Bed in Infrared Image Sequences of Rotary Kilns

This paper presents two novel methods for segmenting the solid bed in infrared image sequences of metalrecycling rotary kilns. Exploiting the different dynamics and temperatures of gas phase, solid bed and kiln wall, we developed filter chains for an image segmentation of the solid bed. For the image acquisition we employed infrared cameras with a spectral filter. Two image processing algorithms were realized according to the two most common camera positions (frontal and top-left view on the solid bed at the rear-end of the kiln). Results show that both algorithms are capable to segment the solid bed in the image sequences accurately and reliably. The work presented here provides a basis for the extraction of characteristic process state variables, that can help to improve the process control with regard to product quality, energy consumption and emission