US6775645B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Application of symbol sequence analysis and temporal irreversibility to monitoring and controlling boiler flames
Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
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Filing: 2001-11-14
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Granted: 2004-08-10
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Expires: 2021-11-14
Abstract
Abstract The current invention provides a method and apparatus, which uses symbol sequence techniques and/or temporal irreversibility derived from chaos theory to monitor the operating state of individual burner flames on a appropriate time scale. Both the method and apparatus of the present invention may be used optimize the performance of burner flames.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Stuart Daw
- 👤 Timothy A. Fuller
- 👤 Thomas J. Flynn
- 👤 Charles E. A. Finney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:35
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D1/0082; B01D1/0011; B01D1/0058
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of monitoring the operating state of a burner flame, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining data on the operating state of the burner flame; and analyzing the data with symbol sequence techniques to determine the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of monitoring the operating state of a burner flame, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining data on the operating state of the burner flame; and analyzing the data with symbol sequence techniques to determine the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising computing a temporal irreversibility function from the data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising changing the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the data is obtained by a sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 in which the sensor is a optical scanner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 in which the scanner is an infrared scanner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 in which the sensor is a pressure transducer or a acoustical transducer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising processing the data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising storing the data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a edge lifting flame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a sporadic lifting flame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a unsteady fuel feed flame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a optimal flame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating state of the burner flame is correlated to the A/F ratio of the burner flame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 in which the operating state of the burner flame is changed to an optimal flame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the operating state of the burner flame is correlated to the primary air/coal ratio of the burner flame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the burner flame is a low NO x coal flame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the burner flame is an oil flame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 in which the operating state of the burner flame is converted into a symbol sequence histogram.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising storing the symbol sequence histogram.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 19 in which the symbol sequence histogram is compared with a library of symbol sequence histograms to determine the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising storing the temporal irreversibility function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising communicating the operating state of the burner flame to a display.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the temporal irreversibility function is a time delay function, a time delay and symbolic function or a symbolic function.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
49 words
An apparatus for monitoring the operating state of the burner flame comprising: a sensor that provides data on the operating state of the burner flame; and a computer coupled to the sensor that performs symbol sequence analysis on the data to determine the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
49 words
An apparatus for monitoring the operating state of the burner flame comprising: a sensor that provides data on the operating state of the burner flame; and a computer coupled to the sensor that performs symbol sequence analysis on the data to determine the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the computer calculates a temporal irreversibility function from the data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 further comprising a control unit coupled to the computer that changes the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the sensor is a optical scanner.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the scanner is an infra red scanner.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the sensor is a pressure transducer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the sensor is a acoustical transducer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 further comprising a data storage unit coupled to the computer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the burner flame is a low NO x coal flame.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the burner flame is an oil flame.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is converted into a symbol sequence histogram.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising storing the symbol sequence histogram.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 35 in which the symbol sequence histogram is compared with a library of symbol sequence histograms to determine the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 further comprising a display coupled to the computer that exhibits the operating state of the burner flame.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a sporadic lifting flame.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a unsteady fuel feed flame.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is a optimal flame.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is correlated to the A/F ratio of the burner flame.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is changed to an optimal flame.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 25 or claim 26 in which the operating state of the burner flame is correlated to the primary air/coal ratio of the burner flame.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the temporal irreversibility function is a time delay function, a time delay and symbolic function or a symbolic function.
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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) | 2007-08-10 | 2008-02-09 | 2008-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-08-10 | 2012-02-09 | 2012-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-08-10 | 2016-02-09 | 2016-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |