Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of monitoring the burning efficiency of a furnace having variable burning rates comprising the steps of: viewing the flame of said furnace with an infrared detector in a manner such that the thickness of the section of the flame viewed by the detector varies with the burner feeding rate, measuring the infrared radiation emitted by said flame in at least three different wavelengths, having a first wavelength representing a strong emission band of carbon dioxide, a second wavelenth representing a weak emission band of water and carbon dioxide, and a third wavelength reprsenting a band where none of the furnace gases absorb, deriving a control parameter based on the ratio of the measurements of the third to the first wavelengths corrected by the measurement of said second wavelength, and applying said control parameter to said furnace for varying the fuel to air mixture for maximizing the burning efficiency of said furnace.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of monitoring the burning efficiency of a furnace having variable burning rates comprising the steps of: viewing the flame of said furnace with an infrared detector in a manner such that the thickness of the section of the flame viewed by the detector varies with the burner feeding rate, measuring the infrared radiation emitted by said flame in at least three different wavelengths, having a first wavelength representing a strong emission band of carbon dioxide, a second wavelenth representing a weak emission band of water and carbon dioxide, and a third wavelength reprsenting a band where none of the furnace gases absorb, deriving a control parameter based on the ratio of the measurements of the third to the first wavelengths corrected by the measurement of said second wavelength, and applying said control parameter to said furnace for varying the fuel to air mixture for maximizing the burning efficiency of said furnace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method set forth in claim 1 in which the step of measuring infrared radiation in at least three wavelengths includes bands (3.8μ-4.1μ), 4.4μ-4.6μ), and (2.6μ-2.9μ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
165 words
A furnace burner flame monitoring apparatus for controlling the burner fuel mixture of a furnace having a burner to which the fuel mixture is applied and burned generating a flame in order to operate the furnace at maximum burning efficiency comprising: radiometric means having infrared detector means which is oriented relative to the burner such that the thickness of the section of the flame viewed by the detector varies with the feed rate, and which views said flame and detects infrared radiation applied thereto from said flame, optical means interposed between said infrared detector means and said flame for applying at least three different, discrete infrared radiation bands from said flame to said infrared detector means, said infrared detector means generating at least three signals in response to radiation received from said three infrared radiation bands and means for deriving a control parameter using a ratio of at least two of said signals which is compensated for path length using the third of said signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
165 words
A furnace burner flame monitoring apparatus for controlling the burner fuel mixture of a furnace having a burner to which the fuel mixture is applied and burned generating a flame in order to operate the furnace at maximum burning efficiency comprising: radiometric means having infrared detector means which is oriented relative to the burner such that the thickness of the section of the flame viewed by the detector varies with the feed rate, and which views said flame and detects infrared radiation applied thereto from said flame, optical means interposed between said infrared detector means and said flame for applying at least three different, discrete infrared radiation bands from said flame to said infrared detector means, said infrared detector means generating at least three signals in response to radiation received from said three infrared radiation bands and means for deriving a control parameter using a ratio of at least two of said signals which is compensated for path length using the third of said signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The furnace burner flame monitoring apparatus set forth in claim 3 in which said optical means comprises a rotating filter wheel having at least three different interference filters therein for applying radiation from said three infrared radiation bands to said detector means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The furnace burner flame monitoring apparatus set forth in claim 3 or 4 in which said three different infrared radiation bands comprise (3.8μ-4.1μ), a region where none of the furnace gases absorb, (4.4μ-4.6μ) a strong emission band for carbon dioxide and (2.6μ-2.9μ) a weak emission band of CO 2 and H 2 O.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The furnace burner flame monitoring apparatus set forth in claim 3 or 4 in which said infrared radiation bands represent the black body radiation from particulates in the flame, the temperaure of the flame and view path length of the flame.