US6045353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for optical flame control of combustion burners
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
•
Filing: 1997-05-20
•
Granted: 2000-04-04
•
Expires: 2017-05-20
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus to control the combustion of a burner are presented which overcome many of the problems of the prior art. One aspect of the invention comprises a burner control apparatus including a device for viewing light emitted by a flame from a burner, a device for optically transporting the viewed light into an optical processor, an optical processor for processing the optical spectrum into electrical signals, a signal processing for processing the electrical signals obtained from the optical spectrum, and a control device which accepts the electrical signals and produces an output acceptable to one or more oxidant or fuel flow control devices. The control device, which may be referred to as a "burner computer," functions to control the oxidant flow and/or the fuel flow to the burner. In a particularly preferred apparatus embodiment of the invention, a burner and the burner control apparatus are integrated into a single unit, which may be referred to as a "smart" burner.
Inventors
- 👤 William VonDrasek
- 👤 Louis C. Philippe
- 👤 Eric L. Duchateau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:41
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/08; F23N5/082; F23N1/00; F23N1/02; F23N2235/00; F23N2235/02; F23N2235/06; F23N2235/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring flame radiation emission from a burner through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer, the fiber optic positioned in the burner; (b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (fuel), B (burner characteristics), ρ (process disturbances), and P (burner power) constant while varying S (combustion stoichiometry) to determine the emission intensity Γ as a function of stoichiometry S by measuring integrated OH emission intensity; (c) calculating constants A and B from a relationship of emission intensity Γ and stoichiometry S having a characteristic equation Γ=AS+B; and (d) monitoring stoichiometry S in real time using the equation ##EQU7##
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring flame radiation emission from a burner through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer, the fiber optic positioned in the burner; (b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (fuel), B (burner characteristics), ρ (process disturbances), and P (burner power) constant while varying S (combustion stoichiometry) to determine the emission intensity Γ as a function of stoichiometry S by measuring integrated OH emission intensity; (c) calculating constants A and B from a relationship of emission intensity Γ and stoichiometry S having a characteristic equation Γ=AS+B; and (d) monitoring stoichiometry S in real time using the equation ##EQU7##
Claim 3
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring flame radiation emission from a burner through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer; (b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (burner fuel), B (burner characteristics), ρ (process disturbances), and S (combustion stoichiometry) constant while varying P (burner power) to determine the emission intensity Γ as a function of power P by monitoring integrated OH emission intensity; (c) calculating constants A and B from a graph of emission intensity versus power having a characteristic equation Γ=AP+B; and (d) monitoring burner power P in real time using the equation ##EQU8##
Claim 4
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring flame radiation emission from a burner through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer; (b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (burner fuel), B (burner characteristics), ρ (process disturbances), and S (combustion stoichiometry) constant while varying P (burner power) to determine the emission intensity Γ as a function of power P by monitoring integrated OH emission intensity; (c) calculating constants A and B from a graph of emission intensity versus power having a characteristic equation Γ=AP+B; and (d) monitoring burner power P in real time using the equation ##EQU8##
Claim 5
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring flame radiation emission of a burner through the refractory block by a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer; (b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (burner fuel), B (burner characteristics), and ρ (process disturbances) constant while varying S (combustion stoichiometry) and P (burner power) to determine the power P as a function of the integrated emission intensity Γ of at least one of OH, CH, C2(A), and C2(B); and (c) monitoring the power P using the equation P=ρ.sub.a Γ.sub.1.sup.2 +ρ.sub.b Γ.sub.2.sup.2 +ρ.sub.c Γ.sub.1 Γ.sub.2 +ρ.sub.e Γ.sub.1 Γ.sub.4 +ρ.sub.f Γ.sub.2 Γ.sub.3 +ρ.sub.g Γ.sub.2 Γ.sub.4 +ρ.sub.h Γ.sub.1 +ρ.sub.i Γ.sub.2 +ρ.sub.j Γ.sub.3 +ρ.sub.k Γ.sub.4 +ρ.sub.1 wherein the constants ρ's are determined from multivariable regression analysis, and wherein Γ i , i=[1,4], are the integrated emission intensities of OH, CH, C2(A), and C2(B), respectively.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring flame radiation emission of a burner through the refractory block by a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer; (b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (burner fuel), B (burner characteristics), and ρ (process disturbances) constant while varying S (combustion stoichiometry) and P (burner power) to determine the power P as a function of the integrated emission intensity Γ of at least one of OH, CH, C2(A), and C2(B); and (c) monitoring the power P using the equation P=ρ.sub.a Γ.sub.1.sup.2 +ρ.sub.b Γ.sub.2.sup.2 +ρ.sub.c Γ.sub.1 Γ.sub.2 +ρ.sub.e Γ.sub.1 Γ.sub.4 +ρ.sub.f Γ.sub.2 Γ.sub.3 +ρ.sub.g Γ.sub.2 Γ.sub.4 +ρ.sub.h Γ.sub.1 +ρ.sub.i Γ.sub.2 +ρ.sub.j Γ.sub.3 +ρ.sub.k Γ.sub.4 +ρ.sub.1 wherein the constants ρ's are determined from multivariable regression analysis, and wherein Γ i , i=[1,4], are the integrated emission intensities of OH, CH, C2(A), and C2(B), respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
An integrated fuel burner and stoichiometry control apparatus comprising: (a) a fuel burner control apparatus including (i) means for viewing radiation emitted by flame from a burner to collect flame radiation intensity data as a function of time; (ii) means for optically transporting the viewed radiation emitted by said flame from said burner into an optical processor; (iii) an optical processor for selecting one or more specific spectral regions of viewed radiation and means for converting said one or more specific spectral regions into first electrical signals indicative of flame radiation intensity for those spectral regions over time; (iv) a signal processor for integrating flame radiation intensity for the specific spectral regions over time and generating second electrical signals; and (v) control means which accepts said second electrical signals from said signal processor and produces an output acceptable to a controller for controlling oxidant flow, fuel flow, or both oxidant flow and fuel flow; and (b) a burner refractory block, wherein said means for viewing the radiation comprises a hole in a position on the refractory block suitable for viewing said flame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
An integrated fuel burner and stoichiometry control apparatus comprising: (a) a fuel burner control apparatus including (i) means for viewing radiation emitted by flame from a burner to collect flame radiation intensity data as a function of time; (ii) means for optically transporting the viewed radiation emitted by said flame from said burner into an optical processor; (iii) an optical processor for selecting one or more specific spectral regions of viewed radiation and means for converting said one or more specific spectral regions into first electrical signals indicative of flame radiation intensity for those spectral regions over time; (iv) a signal processor for integrating flame radiation intensity for the specific spectral regions over time and generating second electrical signals; and (v) control means which accepts said second electrical signals from said signal processor and produces an output acceptable to a controller for controlling oxidant flow, fuel flow, or both oxidant flow and fuel flow; and (b) a burner refractory block, wherein said means for viewing the radiation comprises a hole in a position on the refractory block suitable for viewing said flame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a reflector positioned adjacent said hole for reflecting light from said hole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for controlling the inputs of oxidant or fuel into a burner, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting usable radiation wavelengths from one or more optical ports on the burner; (b) operating the burner over a range of combustion stoichiometry with inputs of oxidant, fuel, or both over a range of operating conditions; (c) measuring electric signals from the usable wavelengths; and (d) determining a mathematical function between the electrical signals and the inputs of oxidant, fuel, or both by modeling a relationship between said electrical signals and said inputs of oxidant, fuel, or both with a modeling method selected from the group consisting of statistical modeling, neural network modeling, and physical modeling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
A process for controlling the inputs of oxidant or fuel into a burner, the method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting usable radiation wavelengths from one or more optical ports on the burner; (b) operating the burner over a range of combustion stoichiometry with inputs of oxidant, fuel, or both over a range of operating conditions; (c) measuring electric signals from the usable wavelengths; and (d) determining a mathematical function between the electrical signals and the inputs of oxidant, fuel, or both by modeling a relationship between said electrical signals and said inputs of oxidant, fuel, or both with a modeling method selected from the group consisting of statistical modeling, neural network modeling, and physical modeling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein said modeling method is statistical modeling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein said modeling method is using a neural network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein said modeling method is physical modeling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein radiation from a flame in said burner is viewed and optically transported using optical fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for controlling a fuel burner comprising the steps of: monitoring burner flame radiation emission; determining integrated intensity values for the flame radiation emission; selecting specific integrated intensity values that vary with burner stoichiometry changes; and adjusting the stoichiometry of the burner mixture based on the integrated intensity value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for controlling a fuel burner comprising the steps of: monitoring burner flame radiation emission; determining integrated intensity values for the flame radiation emission; selecting specific integrated intensity values that vary with burner stoichiometry changes; and adjusting the stoichiometry of the burner mixture based on the integrated intensity value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 11, wherein said step of monitoring comprises monitoring said emission through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 11, wherein said step of adjusting comprises changing the flow rate of a component of said fuel mixture selected from the group consisting of burner fuel, oxidizer, and both burner fuel and oxidizer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4588372A
Cited
US4607256A
Cited
JPS60129524A
Cited
US4534728A
Cited
US4756684A
Cited
DE3616344A1
Cited
US4696639A
Cited
US4770629A
Cited
US5141294A
Cited
US5071105A
Cited
US4934926A
Cited
US5123739A
Cited
US5023426A
Cited
US5233152A
Cited
DE4028922C2
Cited
DE4010570A1
Cited
DE4024832C1
Cited
US5191220A
Cited
US5077550A
Cited
US5126721A
Cited
US5222713A
Cited
US5480298A
Cited
GB2280023A
Cited
JPH0791656A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-04-04 | 2003-10-04 | 2004-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | 2008-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-04-04 | 2011-10-04 | 2012-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |