In Russia, industrial furnaces have gained ‘eyes’
A new computer‑vision system developed in Russia gives industrial furnaces the ability to ‘see,’ enabling precise forecasting of refractory wear under extreme temperatures
Industrial Furnaces Gain Vision
Researchers at the Shukhov Belgorod State Technological University have built a laboratory system that accurately predicts how refractory materials break down inside industrial furnaces. According to Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the technology makes it possible to evaluate in real time how molten metals, slags or glass interact with the surfaces of refractories at extreme temperatures.
The system was developed by materials scientist Sergey Zaitsev and solves a core problem in materials engineering: forecasting the degradation rate of refractories. The platform measures the wetting angle — a parameter that determines how actively a molten substance “sticks” to a material and begins to destroy it.
Computer Vision for Extreme Environments
At the heart of the system is a combination of high‑temperature video monitoring and automated image analysis. The process resembles observing how a droplet behaves on different surfaces.
Existing tools on the market often suffer from uneven heating and outdated optical components, compromising precision. The new design eliminates these issues, offering uniform heat distribution and high‑resolution visualization. This allows researchers and engineers to objectively compare different refractory compounds and predict which materials will survive longer under aggressive operating conditions.
Practical Implications for Heavy Industry
The invention has direct value for metallurgy, glass production and research centers. Accurate predictions of refractory wear reduce maintenance costs, minimize unplanned downtime and improve equipment reliability — key factors for any heat‑intensive industrial operation.
The team plans to automate the measurement and analytics workflow and convert the laboratory setup into a commercial‑grade product. This will allow industrial and scientific laboratories across Russia to adopt the tool for material testing and furnace lifecycle planning.
