Shaw Renewables has created a monitoring system and process to improve the reliability of burner refractory which is critical for energy efficiency and performance, as well as for the safety and integrity of the burner. A refractory breakdown can lead to unplanned shutdowns, repairs, downtime, and hot spots or deterioration of the external steel shell. The company has implemented this innovative approach at its Belledune, New Brunswick and Hardwood Lands, Nova Scotia plants. … The Belledune facility continuously operates 24/7/365 and produces 100,000 tonnes per year of bulk pellets shipped through the Port of Belledune. The Belledune plant uses a 75 MBtu vertically stacked, single wall suspension burner. …A  grid for systematically and consistently measuring each key area of the burner skin was developed, and other influencing parameters, including fuel type and operating set points, are also documented.