Determination of Coal and Biomass Co-Combustion Process States Using Convolutional Neural Networks

The paper presents the application of high-speed flame imaging combined with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for determining different states of biomass–coal co-combustion in terms of thermal power and excess air coefficient. The experimental setup and methodology used in a laboratory-scale co-combustion system are described, highlighting tests conducted across nine defined operational variants. The performance of several state-of-the-art CNN architectures was examined, focusing particularly on those achieving the highest classification metrics and exploring the dependence of input image resolution and applying a transfer learning paradigm. By benchmarking various CNNs on a large, diverse image dataset without preprocessing, the research advances intelligent, automated control systems for improved stability, efficiency, and emissions control, bridging advanced visual diagnostics with real-time industrial applications. The summary includes recommendations and potential directions for further research related to the use of image data and machine learning techniques in industry.