US6071114A
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US
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Method and apparatus for characterizing a combustion flame
Assignee: Meggitt Orange County Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-05
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Granted: 2000-06-06
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Expires: 2017-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Characteristics of a flame within a turbine or burner are determined based upon ultraviolet, visible, and infrared measurements of the flame. The measurements include the amplitude of frequency bands that are indicative of an efficient combustion process, such as those that increase when the flame temperature increases. The measurements also include the amplitude of frequency bands that are indicative of an inefficient combustion process, such as those that do not vary, increase a relatively small amount, or decrease when the flame temperature increases. The temperature of the flame may therefore be determined accurately, to facilitate efficient operation of the turbine or burner, while minimizing polluting emissions.
Inventors
- 👤 Deidre E. Cusack
- 👤 Leo Jubinville
- 👤 Jonathan Plimpton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:05
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/08; F23N5/082; F01; F01D; F01D17/00; F01D17/02; F01D21/00; F01D21/003; F02; F02C; F02C9/00; G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/0014; H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/0006; H05H1/0012; H05H1/0025; G01J5/60; G01J5/602; G01J2005/604; G01J5/02; G01J5/08; G01J5/0818; G01J5/0821; G01J5/0878
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A system for characterizing a combustion flame in a combustion chamber, comprising: a first sensor having an input that receives energy within a first frequency band of the flame, and an output that provides a first signal indicative of an amplitude of the energy within the first frequency band; a second sensor having an input that receives energy within a second frequency band of the flame, different from the first frequency band, and an output that provides a second signal indicative of an amplitude of the energy within the second frequency band; and a flame characterization module having a first input coupled to the output of the first sensor, a second input coupled to the output of the second sensor, and an output that provides a figure of merit that characterizes the combustion flame as a function of at least a ratio of the first signal to the second signal; wherein the first frequency band is chosen to be a predetermined band characteristic of an efficient combustion process wherein an efficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a minimized waste stream pollutant emission level and a maximized power output level per unit measure of fuel; and wherein the second frequency band is chosen to be a predetermined band characteristic of an inefficient combustion process wherein an inefficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a high level of NO x , a high level of SO x , a high level of CO 2 , a high level of unburned hydrocarbons, a high level of particulate matter, and a lower power output level per unit measure of fuel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
273 words
A system for characterizing a combustion flame in a combustion chamber, comprising: a first sensor having an input that receives energy within a first frequency band of the flame, and an output that provides a first signal indicative of an amplitude of the energy within the first frequency band; a second sensor having an input that receives energy within a second frequency band of the flame, different from the first frequency band, and an output that provides a second signal indicative of an amplitude of the energy within the second frequency band; and a flame characterization module having a first input coupled to the output of the first sensor, a second input coupled to the output of the second sensor, and an output that provides a figure of merit that characterizes the combustion flame as a function of at least a ratio of the first signal to the second signal; wherein the first frequency band is chosen to be a predetermined band characteristic of an efficient combustion process wherein an efficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a minimized waste stream pollutant emission level and a maximized power output level per unit measure of fuel; and wherein the second frequency band is chosen to be a predetermined band characteristic of an inefficient combustion process wherein an inefficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a high level of NO x , a high level of SO x , a high level of CO 2 , a high level of unburned hydrocarbons, a high level of particulate matter, and a lower power output level per unit measure of fuel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the second frequency band includes a wavelength of 600 nm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
152 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: a third sensor having an input that receives energy within a third frequency band of the flame within a visible region, and an output that provides a third signal indicative of an amplitude of the energy within the third frequency band; and a fourth sensor having an input that receives energy within a fourth frequency band of the flame within an ultraviolet region, and an output that provides a fourth signal indicative of an amplitude of the energy within the fourth frequency band; wherein the third and fourth frequency bands are chosen to be predetermined bands characteristic of an efficient combustion process; wherein the first frequency band is within an infrared region; and wherein the flame characterization module receives the third signal and the fourth signal, and the figure of merit further characterizes the combustion flame as a function of the third and fourth signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the amplitude of energy of the first frequency band is indicative of a first characteristic of the combustion flame that increases in response to an increase in temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the amplitude of energy with the second frequency band is indicative of a second characteristic of the combustion flame representative of at least one of soot and unburned hydrocarbons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1, in combination with a flame control system having an input that receives the figure of merit and an output that controls the combustion flame based upon the figure of merit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising a frequency variation module having an input that receives the first signal, and an output that provides a measure of a frequency of amplitude variation of the first signal, wherein the flame characterization module receives the measure of frequency, and the figure of merit further characterizes the combustion flame as a function of the measure of frequency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising an AC amplitude measurement module having an input that receives the first signal, and an output that provides a measure of an amount of AC amplitude variation of the first signal, wherein the flame characterization module receives the measure of AC amplitude variation, and the figure of merit further characterizes the combustion flame as a function of the measure of the amount of AC amplitude variation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of characterizing a combustion flame in a combustion chamber, comprising: (a) measuring an amplitude of energy within a first frequency band of the flame, the first frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process wherein an efficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a minimized waste stream pollutant emission level and a maximized power output level per unit measure of fuel; (b) measuring an amplitude of energy within a second frequency band of the flame, the second frequency band indicative of an inefficient combustion process and different from the first frequency band, wherein an inefficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a high level of NO x , a high level of SO x , a high level of CO 2 , a high level of unburned hydrocarbons, a high level of particulate matter, and a lower power output level per unit measure of fuel; and (c) determining a figure of merit to characterize the combustion flame as a function of at least a ratio of the amplitude of energy within the first frequency band to the amplitude of energy within the second frequency band.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of characterizing a combustion flame in a combustion chamber, comprising: (a) measuring an amplitude of energy within a first frequency band of the flame, the first frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process wherein an efficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a minimized waste stream pollutant emission level and a maximized power output level per unit measure of fuel; (b) measuring an amplitude of energy within a second frequency band of the flame, the second frequency band indicative of an inefficient combustion process and different from the first frequency band, wherein an inefficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a high level of NO x , a high level of SO x , a high level of CO 2 , a high level of unburned hydrocarbons, a high level of particulate matter, and a lower power output level per unit measure of fuel; and (c) determining a figure of merit to characterize the combustion flame as a function of at least a ratio of the amplitude of energy within the first frequency band to the amplitude of energy within the second frequency band.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the second band includes a wavelength of 600 nm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: measuring an amplitude of energy within a third frequency band within a visible region of the flame, the third frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process; measuring an amplitude of energy within a fourth frequency band within an ultraviolet region of the flame, the fourth frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process; wherein the first frequency band is within an infrared region; and wherein step (c) includes determining the figure of merit further as a function of the amplitude of energy within the third frequency band and the amplitude of energy within the fourth frequency band.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step (a) of measuring includes measuring at least one characteristic of the combustion flame that increases in response to an increase in a temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the step (b) of measuring includes measuring at least one characteristic of the combustion flame indicative of at least one of soot and unburned hydrocarbons.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of controlling the combustion flame based upon the figure of merit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising measuring a frequency of amplitude variation of the first signal, wherein step (c) includes determining the figure of merit further as a function of the frequency of amplitude variation of the first signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of measuring an amount of AC amplitude variation of the first signal, wherein step (c) includes determining the figure of merit further as a function of the amount of AC amplitude variation of the first signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for characterizing a combustion flame in a combustion chamber, comprising: first means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a first frequency band of the flame, the first frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process wherein an efficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a minimized waste stream pollutant emission level and a maximized power output level per unit measure of fuel; second means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a second frequency band of the flame, the second frequency band indicative of an inefficient combustion process and different from the first frequency band, wherein an inefficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a high level of NO x , a high level of SO x , a high level of CO 2 , a high level of unburned hydrocarbons, a high level of particulate matter, and a lower power output level per unit measure of fuel; and third means for determining a figure of merit to characterize the combustion flame as a function of at least a ratio of the amplitude of energy within the first frequency band to the amplitude of energy within the second frequency band.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for characterizing a combustion flame in a combustion chamber, comprising: first means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a first frequency band of the flame, the first frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process wherein an efficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a minimized waste stream pollutant emission level and a maximized power output level per unit measure of fuel; second means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a second frequency band of the flame, the second frequency band indicative of an inefficient combustion process and different from the first frequency band, wherein an inefficient combustion process is characterized by at least one of a high level of NO x , a high level of SO x , a high level of CO 2 , a high level of unburned hydrocarbons, a high level of particulate matter, and a lower power output level per unit measure of fuel; and third means for determining a figure of merit to characterize the combustion flame as a function of at least a ratio of the amplitude of energy within the first frequency band to the amplitude of energy within the second frequency band.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second means include means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a second band that includes a wavelength of 600 nm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a third frequency band within a visible region of the flame, the third frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process; means for measuring an amplitude of energy within a fourth frequency band within an ultraviolet region of the flame, the fourth frequency band indicative of an efficient combustion process; wherein the first frequency band is within an infrared region; and wherein the third means include means for determining the figure of merit further as a function of the amplitude of energy within the third frequency band and the amplitude of energy within the fourth frequency band.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first means include means for measuring at least one characteristic of the combustion flame that increases in response to an increase in a temperature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second means include means for measuring at least one characteristic of the combustion flame indicative of at least one of soot and unburned hydrocarbons.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17, fierier comprising means for controlling the combustion flame based upon the figure of merit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for measuring a frequency of amplitude variation of the first signal, wherein the third means include means for determining the figure of merit further as a function of the frequency of amplitude variation of the first signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for measuring an amount of AC amplitude variation of the first signal, wherein the third means include means for determining the figure of merit further as a function of the amount of AC amplitude variation of the first signal.
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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) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |