Patent US5037291A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5037291A
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Method and apparatus for optimizing fuel-to-air ratio in the combustible gas supply of a radiant burner
Assignee: Carrier Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-25
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Granted: 1991-08-06
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Expires: 2010-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus to optimize the proportion of gaseous fuel and air supplied to a radiant burner employed in a heating appliance. With the flow rate of the gaseous fuel supply held constant, the flow rate of the air supply is adjusted to change the relative proportion of air and fuel in the mixture to attain an optimum value for burner combustion, i.e. a value where the proportion of air is slightly greater than the stoichiometric ratio. The invention employs a sensor to measure the intensity of the radiation emitted by the burner while the air supply to the burner is varied. From the measurements obtained, control parameters are derived which are then applied to set the air supply flow rate to a level that results in the optimum proportion of air and fuel in the mixture.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel R. Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:57
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N1/00; F23N1/02; F23N1/022; F23N1/04; F23N1/042; F23N5/02; F23N5/08; F23N5/082; F23N2223/00; F23N2223/08; F23N2223/44; F23N2225/00; F23N2225/26; F23N2225/30; F23N2227/00; F23N2227/20; F23N2233/00; F23N2233/02; F23N2233/04; F23N2235/00; F23N2235/12; F23N3/00; F23N3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner that burns a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air and that emits radiation while burning said combustion gas, having means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said radiant burner at at least one flow rate and having means for controlling the rate of supply of said combustion air to said radiant burner, a method of setting the proportion of said gaseous fuel to said combustion air in said combustible gas to a desired proportion comprising the steps of: setting said gaseous fuel supply means at a given flow rate; measuring the unmodulated intensity of said radiation; deriving a control parameter based on measurements of intensity of said radiation taken while varying said combustion air flow rate; and applying said control parameter to said means for controlling the rate of supply of said combustion air so as to reach and maintain a flow rate of said combustion air that results in said desired proportion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner that burns a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air and that emits radiation while burning said combustion gas, having means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said radiant burner at at least one flow rate and having means for controlling the rate of supply of said combustion air to said radiant burner, a method of setting the proportion of said gaseous fuel to said combustion air in said combustible gas to a desired proportion comprising the steps of: setting said gaseous fuel supply means at a given flow rate; measuring the unmodulated intensity of said radiation; deriving a control parameter based on measurements of intensity of said radiation taken while varying said combustion air flow rate; and applying said control parameter to said means for controlling the rate of supply of said combustion air so as to reach and maintain a flow rate of said combustion air that results in said desired proportion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 in which said radiation is in the upper ultraviolet, visible or near infrared spectra.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1 in which said control parameter derivation step comprises the substeps of: varying said combustion air flow rate so that the intensity of said radiation first increases then decreases while simultaneously recording said multiple measurements; determining from said recorded multiple measurements the value of said combustion air flow rate when the intensity of said radiation is at a maximum; and calculating said control parameters based on said maximum intensity value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 in which said radiation is in the upper ultraviolet visible or near infrared spectra.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 1 in which said control parameter derivation step comprises the substeps of: varying said combustion air flow rate about a rate estimated to be at or near a value that results in said desired proportion while simultaneously recording said multiple measurements; determining from said recorded multiple measurements the value of said combustion air flow rate when the intensity of said radiation would be at a minimum; and calculating said control parameters based on said minimum intensity value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5 in which said radiation is in the upper ultraviolet, visible or near infrared spectra.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner that burns a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air and that emits radiation while burning said combustible gas, having means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said radiant burner at at least flow rate and having means for supplying said combustion air at a variable flow rate, an apparatus for setting the proportion of said gaseous fuel to said combustion air in said combustible gas to a desired proportion comprising: means for setting said gaseous fuel supply means at a given flow rate; means for measuring the unmodulated intensity of said radiation while varying the rate of supply of combustion air; means for deriving control parameters from measurements of the intensity of radiation from said burner; and means for applying said control parameters to control said combustion air supply means so as to reach and maintain a combustion air flow rate that results in said desired proportion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner that burns a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air and that emits radiation while burning said combustible gas, having means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said radiant burner at at least flow rate and having means for supplying said combustion air at a variable flow rate, an apparatus for setting the proportion of said gaseous fuel to said combustion air in said combustible gas to a desired proportion comprising: means for setting said gaseous fuel supply means at a given flow rate; means for measuring the unmodulated intensity of said radiation while varying the rate of supply of combustion air; means for deriving control parameters from measurements of the intensity of radiation from said burner; and means for applying said control parameters to control said combustion air supply means so as to reach and maintain a combustion air flow rate that results in said desired proportion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said radiation is in the upper ultraviolet, visible or near infrared spectra.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which said intensity measuring means comprises a sensor that responds to said radiation with an output that varies with the intensity of said radiation; said derivation means and said application means comprise a control device having microprocessor means; and said combustion air supply means comprises an induction fan unit having a variable speed motor and controller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said radiation is in the upper ultraviolet, visible or near infrared spectra.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner that burns a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air and that emits radiation while burning said combustible gas, having means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said radiant burner at at least one flow rate and having means for supplying said combustion air at a variable flow rate comprising an induction fan unity having a variable speed motor and controller, an apparatus for setting the proportion of said gaseous fuel to said combustion air in said combustible gas to a desired proportion comprising: means for setting said gaseous fuel supply means at a given flow rate; means for measuring the intensity of said radiation while varying the rate of supply of combustion air comprising a sensor that responds to said radiation with an output that varies with the intensity of said radiation; means for deriving control parameters from measurements of the intensity of radiation from said burner comprising a control device having microprocessor means; and means for applying said control parameters to control said combustion air supply means so as to reach and maintain a combustion air flow rate that results in said desired proportion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner that burns a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of gaseous fuel and combustion air and that emits radiation while burning said combustible gas, having means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said radiant burner at at least one flow rate and having means for supplying said combustion air at a variable flow rate comprising an induction fan unity having a variable speed motor and controller, an apparatus for setting the proportion of said gaseous fuel to said combustion air in said combustible gas to a desired proportion comprising: means for setting said gaseous fuel supply means at a given flow rate; means for measuring the intensity of said radiation while varying the rate of supply of combustion air comprising a sensor that responds to said radiation with an output that varies with the intensity of said radiation; means for deriving control parameters from measurements of the intensity of radiation from said burner comprising a control device having microprocessor means; and means for applying said control parameters to control said combustion air supply means so as to reach and maintain a combustion air flow rate that results in said desired proportion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which said radiation is in the upper ultraviolet, visible or near infrared spectra.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |