Digital Imaging for Process Monitoring and Control with Industrial Applications

The development of on-line digital imaging systems for process monitoring and control is illustrated through two industrial applications: i) the control of coating concentration and distribution on snack food products. and ii) the monitoring of boiler systems through imaging of the combustion processes. Feature information extracted from images using Multivariate Image Analysis (MIA) based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA). is used to develop models to predict product quality and process property variables. The imaging systems are used to monitor these product quality and process property variables, to detect and diagnose operational problems in the plants, and to directly implement closed-loop feedback control.