Combustion control systems

Claim 2

A control system including a sensor assembly (11) having sensor means providing an output signal indicative of at least one parameter of the process; and a process controller means (12) comprising input means (21) for receiving output signals provided by the sensor means, processing means (23) for processing the signals and generating control outputs to maintain a desired operation of the process, said signal processing means (23) including monitoring means for continuously monitoring parameters of the control system including parameters of the sensor means and generating an alarm signal whenever any one of the parameters deviates from a setpoint value, and display means (32) controlled by said signal processing means (23) for displaying alarm conditions, said signal processing means (23) including prioritisation means (126) for automatically prioritising the alarms to provide a display of only relevant alarm conditions.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein a first group of the monitored parameters are predefined in terms of correct operation of the sensor assembly (11), and a second group of said parameters are selectable as a function of operating modes for the combustion control system, the system comprising user interface means (24) coupled to said signal processing means (23) to enable the user to apply to the signal processing means (23) selected setpoint values for said second group of parameters.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, wherein said prioritisation means (126) is operative to cause a display of an alarm condition for deviation of any one of the parameters of said first group from respective setpoint values and to suppress display of an alarm condition for any one of the parameters of said second group in the presence of an alarm condition for any one of the parameters of said first group.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 3, wherein certain ones of the parameters of said first group are internal system variables and said prioritisation means (126) is operative to cause display of an alarm condition whenever said certain parameters deviate from setpoint values, a further parameter of said first group is indicative of application of power to at least said sensor assembly (11) and said prioritisation means (126) is operative to cause display of an alarm condition whenever power is not applied to said sensor assembly, and wherein the parameters of the second group are indicative of conditions of the sensor, said prioritisation means (126) being operative to cause display of their alarm conditions only in the absence of alarm conditions for all parameters of said first group.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 3, wherein said prioritisation means (126) is operative to control said user interface means (24) to display certain ones of said alarm conditions on said display means (32) and is operative to generate alarm signals corresponding to other ones of said alarm conditions for application to a control system interface (128) to effect adjustment in system operation in accordance with the alarms being generated.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 3, wherein said sensor means includes a plurality of sensors (14 to 18) and wherein said prioritisation means (126) is responsive to an alarm signal indicative of a failure condition for a given one of said sensors to suppress the display of an alarm condition indicative of deviation from the setpoint value of the parameter monitored by said one sensor and to apply said alarm signal to a control system interface (128) to effect transfer of system operation to a known safe condition.

Claim 8

A control system according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a combustion control system.

Claim 9

A combustion control system including: a sensor assembly (11) having at least first and second parameter sensor means each providing output signals indicative of different parameters of the process; and a process controller means (12) comprising input means (21) for receiving the output signals provided by the first and second parameter sensor means, signal processing means (23) for processing the signals and generating control outputs to maintain a desired operation of the process, said signal processing means (23) including monitoring means including component sensing means for continuously monitoring operating conditions of the first and second sensor means and generating an alarm signal whenever a process parameter or a sensor operating condition deviates from a setpoint value, and user interface means (24) coupled to said signal processing means (23) and including display means (32) controlled by said signal processing means for displaying the alarm conditions, said signal processing means (23) including prioritisation means (126) for automatically prioritising the alarm conditions to provide a display of only relevant alarm conditions.

Claim 10

A combustion control system including: a sensor assembly (11) having at least first and second parameter sensor means each providing output signals indicative of different parameters of the process; and a process controller means (12) comprising input means (21) for receiving the output signals provided by the first and second parameter sensor means, signal processing means (23) for processing the signals and generating control outputs to maintain a desired operation of the process, said signal processing means (23) including monitoring means including component sensing means for continuously monitoring operating conditions of the first and second sensor means and generating an alarm signal whenever a process parameter or a sensor operating condition deviates from a setpoint value, and user interface means (24) coupled to said signal processing means (23) and including display means (32) controlled by said signal processing means for displaying the alarm conditions, said signal processing means (23) including prioritisation means (126) for automatically prioritising the alarm conditions to provide a display of only relevant alarm conditions.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 8, wherein said user interface means (24) includes a keyboard (31), wherein the system parameters are predefined, and wherein process alarms (124) and trim alarms (122) which are a function of the process being controlled have their limits user adjustable via said keyboard (31) based on the user's knowledge of the process.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 9, wherein said prioritisation means (126) is operative to cause a display of an alarm condition for deviation of any one of said system parameters from its respective setpoint value and to suppress display of an alarm condition for any one of said sensor operating conditions in the presence of an alarm condition for any one of said system parameters.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 9, wherein said prioritisation means (126) is operative to cause display of an indication of an alarm condition for process parameters whenever they occur and to cause display of an indication of an alarm condition for a sensor operation condition only in the absence of an alarm condition for a process parameter.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 11, wherein said alarm prioritisation means (126) is operative to establish prioritisation of alarm conditions to be displayed on said display means (32) for alarm conditions for sensor operating conditions for said first sensor means relative to said second sensor means.

Claim 15

A housing for a process controller means (12) in a system including a sensor assembly (11) having at least one sensing means for providing an output signal indicative of a parameter of the process, the process controller means (12) being arranged for receiving and processing the output signal or signals and generating control outputs for maintaining a desired operation of the process, the housing (70) comprising a body portion including a generally box-like member (71) having top and bottom walls (71b, 71c), a side wall (71a), first and second end walls (71d, 71e), and an open side, cover means (75) pivotally mounted on said member (71) adjacent said open side and movable between an open position and a closed position, said cover means (75) in its closed position overlying said open side to close said body portion, said body portion defining means for mounting the process controller means (12) within said member (71) and means for mounting connection means within said member (71), said connection means being constructed and arranged for connecting the process controller means (12) to the sensor assembly (11), said member (71) defining flange means (71b′ to 71e′) extending along the periphery of its open side, and when said cover means (75) is in its closed position, said cover means (75) having a first portion extending in overlying relation with said flange means and defining a first gap, and a second portion in overlying relation with portions of said top, bottom and side walls (71b, 71c, 71a) and defining a second gap which extends perpendicularly to said first gap, the ratio of the length of the overlapping portions of said member (71) and said cover means (75) to the width of one of said gaps therebetween being in the range of about 15 to 20 and the ratio of the length of the overlapping portions of said member (71) and said cover means (75) to the width of the other of said gaps being in the range of about 5 to 10, thereby defining a closed housing which substantially attenuates electromagnetic radio frequency interference thereby isolating said process controller means (12) therefrom whenever said cover means (75) is in its closed position.

Claim 16

A housing for a process controller means (12) in a system including a sensor assembly (11) having at least one sensing means for providing an output signal indicative of a parameter of the process, the process controller means (12) being arranged for receiving and processing the output signal or signals and generating control outputs for maintaining a desired operation of the process, the housing (70) comprising a body portion including a generally box-like member (71) having top and bottom walls (71b, 71c), a side wall (71a), first and second end walls (71d, 71e), and an open side, cover means (75) pivotally mounted on said member (71) adjacent said open side and movable between an open position and a closed position, said cover means (75) in its closed position overlying said open side to close said body portion, said body portion defining means for mounting the process controller means (12) within said member (71) and means for mounting connection means within said member (71), said connection means being constructed and arranged for connecting the process controller means (12) to the sensor assembly (11), said member (71) defining flange means (71b′ to 71e′) extending along the periphery of its open side, and when said cover means (75) is in its closed position, said cover means (75) having a first portion extending in overlying relation with said flange means and defining a first gap, and a second portion in overlying relation with portions of said top, bottom and side walls (71b, 71c, 71a) and defining a second gap which extends perpendicularly to said first gap, the ratio of the length of the overlapping portions of said member (71) and said cover means (75) to the width of one of said gaps therebetween being in the range of about 15 to 20 and the ratio of the length of the overlapping portions of said member (71) and said cover means (75) to the width of the other of said gaps being in the range of about 5 to 10, thereby defining a closed housing which substantially attenuates electromagnetic radio frequency interference thereby isolating said process controller means (12) therefrom whenever said cover means (75) is in its closed position.

Claim 17

A housing for a process controller means (12) for use in a system including a sensor assembly (11) having at least one sensing means for providing an output signal indicative of a parameter of the process, the process controller means (12) being arranged for receiving and processing the output signal or signals and generating control outputs for maintaining a desired operation of the process, the housing (70) comprising a body portion including a generally box-­like enclosure member (71) having top and bottom walls (71b, 71c), a side wall (71a), first and second end walls (71d, 71e) and an open side, a door (75) pivotally mounted on said enclosure member (71) and movable between an open position and a closed position to enclose said body portion (71), said member (71) defining means for mounting said process controller means (12) therewithin, said member (71) defining at its open side a first flange (71b′ to 71e′) extending inwardly along the periphery thereof and extending in overlying relation with peripheral surface portions of said door (75) and defining a first gap therebetween when said door is in its closed position, and said door (75) defining a second flange (75′) extending in overlying relation with peripheral surface portions of said walls of said member and defining a second gap when said door is in its closed position, said first and second gaps extending perpendicularly to each other, the ratio of the length of the overlying portions of said first and second flanges and said respective portions of said enclosure member (71) and said door (75) to the width of the gaps therebetween being selected to define a substantially closed housing which substantially attenuates electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference whereby the process controller means (12) enclosed within the housing (70) is isolated from electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference whenever said door (75) is in its closed position.

Claim 18

A housing for a process controller means (12) for use in a system including a sensor assembly (11) having at least one sensing means for providing an output signal indicative of a parameter of the process, the process controller means (12) being arranged for receiving and processing the output signal or signals and generating control outputs for maintaining a desired operation of the process, the housing (70) comprising a body portion including a generally box-­like enclosure member (71) having top and bottom walls (71b, 71c), a side wall (71a), first and second end walls (71d, 71e) and an open side, a door (75) pivotally mounted on said enclosure member (71) and movable between an open position and a closed position to enclose said body portion (71), said member (71) defining means for mounting said process controller means (12) therewithin, said member (71) defining at its open side a first flange (71b′ to 71e′) extending inwardly along the periphery thereof and extending in overlying relation with peripheral surface portions of said door (75) and defining a first gap therebetween when said door is in its closed position, and said door (75) defining a second flange (75′) extending in overlying relation with peripheral surface portions of said walls of said member and defining a second gap when said door is in its closed position, said first and second gaps extending perpendicularly to each other, the ratio of the length of the overlying portions of said first and second flanges and said respective portions of said enclosure member (71) and said door (75) to the width of the gaps therebetween being selected to define a substantially closed housing which substantially attenuates electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference whereby the process controller means (12) enclosed within the housing (70) is isolated from electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference whenever said door (75) is in its closed position.

Claim 19

A housing according to claim 14, wherein the ratio of the length of the overlapping portions of said first flange (71b′ to 71e′) and said door (75) to the width of said first gap is in the range of about 15 to 20, and the ratio of the length of the overlapping portions of said second flange (75′) and said member (71) to the width of said second gap is in the range of about 5 to 10.

Claim 20

A housing according to claim 15, which comprises partition means (72) dividing said enclosure member (71) into first and second compartments (73, 74), and wherein said process controller means (12) is mounted within said first compartment (73) and includes termination means mounted within said second compartment (74), said door (75) closes into first compartment (73), and a second door (77) is pivotally mounted on said enclosure member (71) for closing said second compartment (74).

Claim 21

A housing according to claim 16, which comprises sealing rail means (80) extending along said enclosure member (71) adjacent to said partition means (72), the first-mentioned door (75) having a portion of its flange (75′) cooperating with said sealing rail means (80) to define a gap portion therebetween and said second door (77) having a flange portion (77′) cooperating with said sealing rail means (80) to define a further gap therebetween.

Claim 22

A housing according to claim 14 or claim 15, comprising user interface means (24) including a membrane keyboard means (31) mounted on said door (75), said door (75) having at least one aperture (75b) therethrough for facilitating electrical connection between said keyboard means (31) and said process controller means (12), and said membrane keyboard means (31) including shielding means (31a) of an electrically conductive material overlying said aperture (75b) to substantially prevent entry of electromagnetic and radio frequency energy into the housing (70) through said aperture (75b).

Claim 23

A housing according to claim 18, wherein said user interface means (24) comprises an alphanumeric display means (32) mounted within said enclosure member (71) and aligned with said aperture (75b) rearwardly of said keyboard means (31), and said keyboard means (31) defines a window (53) of a material impervious to electromagnetic and radio frequency energy while exposing the display means (32) to view through the door (75) mounted on said open side of said enclosure member (71).