US5368471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for use in monitoring and controlling a black liquor recovery furnace
Assignee: Diamond Power International Inc
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Filing: 1991-11-20
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Granted: 1994-11-29
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Expires: 2011-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A system for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the operation of a kraft chemical recovery furnace which includes a mechanism for determining carryover particle counts, bed profile information, and temperature information of a smelt the bed over a major portion of the bed. The location and temperatures of high and low temperature spots on the bed can be determined. This information may be displayed in a convenient manner, such as on a common screen, for use by the furnace operator in controlling the furnace. Trending and history of bed performance in relationship to these characteristics may be tracked for use in diagnosing furnace operating problems and in adjusting parameters of the furnace to enhance furnace performance.
Inventors
- 👤 George Kychakoff
- 👤 Stephen N. Anderson
- 👤 George E. Seymore
- 👤 Earl B. Manchester
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:43
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/08; F23N5/082; F23N1/00; F23N1/02; F23N2221/00; F23N2221/04; F23N2223/00; F23N2223/08; F23N2223/10; F23N2225/00; F23N2225/08; F23N2229/00; F23N2229/20; F23N2233/00; F23N2233/02; F23N2233/06; F23N2235/00; F23N2235/02; F23N2235/06; F23N2235/12; F23N2235/16; F23N5/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the apparatus comprising: means for determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and for producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; means for determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and for producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; means for detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and for producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; and means for displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the apparatus comprising: means for determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and for producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; means for determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and for producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; means for detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and for producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; and means for displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
296 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; wherein air is supplied to the furnace at plural levels within the furnace and at plural locations about the furnace at each level, and in which fuel is supplied to the furnace through at least one fuel gun or nozzle aimed into the furnace at an angle relative to horizontal, at a fuel temperature and at a fuel pressure, the method including the step of correlating the determined bed profile, determined temperature, and detected particles with furnace operating parameters selected from the group comprising the fuel nozzle angle, the fuel temperature, the fuel pressure, and the supply of air to the furnace at the plural levels and locations; and the method including the step of adjusting the furnace operating parameters in response to the determined bed profile, determined temperature and detected particles and further including the step of cleaning out the air delivery locations in response to variations in the determined bed profile, determined temperature, and detected particles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
296 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; wherein air is supplied to the furnace at plural levels within the furnace and at plural locations about the furnace at each level, and in which fuel is supplied to the furnace through at least one fuel gun or nozzle aimed into the furnace at an angle relative to horizontal, at a fuel temperature and at a fuel pressure, the method including the step of correlating the determined bed profile, determined temperature, and detected particles with furnace operating parameters selected from the group comprising the fuel nozzle angle, the fuel temperature, the fuel pressure, and the supply of air to the furnace at the plural levels and locations; and the method including the step of adjusting the furnace operating parameters in response to the determined bed profile, determined temperature and detected particles and further including the step of cleaning out the air delivery locations in response to variations in the determined bed profile, determined temperature, and detected particles.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; determining the profile of the bed step comprising the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed; and wherein the digital image is comprised of successive vertical slices or columns of pixels, the step of processing the image to determine transitions comprises the step of repeatedly evaluating pixels within each vertical slice of the bed profile to determine the transition between the bed and image associated with the vertical slice, the pixels evaluated in determining the transition for a given evaluation being within a predetermined number of pixels of the pixel determined as the transition during the preceding evaluation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
267 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; determining the profile of the bed step comprising the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed; and wherein the digital image is comprised of successive vertical slices or columns of pixels, the step of processing the image to determine transitions comprises the step of repeatedly evaluating pixels within each vertical slice of the bed profile to determine the transition between the bed and image associated with the vertical slice, the pixels evaluated in determining the transition for a given evaluation being within a predetermined number of pixels of the pixel determined as the transition during the preceding evaluation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
234 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; determining the profile of the bed step comprising the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed; and wherein the digital image is comprised of pixels, the step of determining the bed profile including the step of identifying at least one selected element in the background, assigning a value for pixels associated with the selected element to minimize such associated pixels being determined as a transition.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
234 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; determining the profile of the bed step comprising the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed; and wherein the digital image is comprised of pixels, the step of determining the bed profile including the step of identifying at least one selected element in the background, assigning a value for pixels associated with the selected element to minimize such associated pixels being determined as a transition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the value for pixels associated with the selected element is reassigned with each determination of transitions to minimize such associated pixels being determined as a transitions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the value for each pixel associated with the selected element are assigned by averaging the values of plural pixels proximate to the associated pixel.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
260 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; determining the profile of the bed step comprising the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed; and wherein the digital image is comprised of pixels, the step of processing the image to determine transitions comprises the step of determining transitions from the method of simulated thermal annealing by applying the thermodynamic relationship (e -u/t ) wherein u is a positive function of the group comprising the height of the pixel, the strength of the pixel, the memory of the pixel and continuity of the pixel and T is a simulated temperature.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
260 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined temperature of the bed and the detected particles; determining the profile of the bed step comprising the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed; and wherein the digital image is comprised of pixels, the step of processing the image to determine transitions comprises the step of determining transitions from the method of simulated thermal annealing by applying the thermodynamic relationship (e -u/t ) wherein u is a positive function of the group comprising the height of the pixel, the strength of the pixel, the memory of the pixel and continuity of the pixel and T is a simulated temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method according to claim 7 in which the digital image is comprised of successive vertical slices or columns of pixels, the step of processing the image to determine transitions comprises the step of repeatedly evaluating pixels within each vertical slice of the bed profile to determine the transition between the bed and image associated with the vertical slice, the pixels evaluated in determining the transition for a given evaluation being within a predetermined number of pixels of the pixel determined as the transition during the preceding evaluation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 7 in which the digital image is comprised of pixels, the step of determining the bed profile includes the step of identifying at least one selected element in the background, assigning a value for pixels associated with the selected element to minimize such associated pixels being determined as a transition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 9 in which the value for pixels associated with the selected element is reassigned with each determination of transitions to minimize such associated pixels being determined as a transition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 10 in which the value for each pixel associated with the selected element are assigned by averaging the values of plural pixels proximate to the associated pixel.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the magnitude of the average temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the magnitude of the average temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; and displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined magnitude of the average temperature of the bed and the detected particles.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for use in monitoring a kraft chemical recovery furnace of the type in which black liquor fuel is injected into a combustion chamber and burned therein to form a bed of chemicals to be recovered, the method comprising: determining the profile of the bed viewed from at least one direction and producing a first output signal representing the bed profile; determining the magnitude of the average temperature of the bed over at least a major portion of the bed profile and producing a second output signal representing the magnitude of the average temperature of the bed; detecting particles in an upper region of the furnace and producing a third output signal representing the detected particles; and displaying from the first, second and third output signals a visual representation of the determined profile of the bed, the determined magnitude of the average temperature of the bed and the detected particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the step of displaying comprises the step of simultaneously displaying the determined profile of the bed, the determined magnitude of the average temperature of the bed and the detected carryover particles on a common screen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 12 including the step of determining a mean bed temperature over substantially the entire bed area and displaying the mean bed temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 12 including the step of determining a mean bed temperature over at least two-thirds of the bed area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 12 including the step of detecting particles at plural locations of the upper region of the furnace and in which the displaying step comprises the step of visually displaying the detected particles graphically in association with the location of the furnace in which the particles are detected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the determining the profile of the bed step comprises the step of producing a digital image of the bed and background and processing the image to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method according to claim 17 in which the displaying the profile of the bed step includes the step of displaying the determined profile of the bed, the method including the step of selecting at least one bed characteristic from the group of bed characteristics including at least the area of the bed, peak height of the bed, the width of the bed at a bar location which is a selected height below the peak, and the center of the bed at the bar location, and the step of displaying the selected characteristics with the determined bed profile.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the temperature determining step includes the step of determining at least one low temperature location under the bed profile and at least one high temperature location under the bed profile and the displaying step comprising the step of displaying the high and low temperature locations under the displayed profile of the bed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 19 also including the step of determining and displaying the magnitudes of high and low temperatures of the bed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 20 in which the step of determining the high and low temperatures comprise the step of providing an average value of high and low temperatures determined from selected portions of the bed under the profile.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method according to claim 12 in which air is supplied to the furnace at plural levels within the furnace and at plural locations about the furnace at each level, and in which fuel is supplied to the furnace through at least one fuel gun or nozzle aimed into the furnace at an angle relative to horizontal, at a fuel temperature and at a fuel pressure, the method including the step of correlating the determined bed profile, determined temperature, and detected particles with furnace operating parameters selected from the group comprising the fuel nozzle angle, the fuel temperature, the fuel pressure, and the supply of air to the furnace at the plural levels and locations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 22 including the step of storing the correlations over time to create a history of the correlations of furnace operating parameters to the determined bed profile, determined temperature and detected particles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 22 including the step of adjusting the furnace operating parameters in response to the determined bed profile, determined temperature and detected particles.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-28 | 1998-05-30 | 1998-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-28 | 2002-05-30 | 2002-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-28 | 2006-05-30 | 2006-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |