Method of monitoring heat flux and controlling corrosion of furnace wall tubes
AssigneeBreen Energy Solutions
InventorsBernard P. Breen, Robert A. Schrecengost
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method of measuring heat flux and corrosion in a furnace, pairs of thermocouples are attached to the back side of the furnace wall. One thermocouple of each pair is attached to a tube and the second thermocouple is attached to a web connected to that tube. A temperature differential is determined for each pair at selected time intervals. A decrease in the difference between temperature differentials indicates slag on the furnace wall has melted indicating corrosion can be occurring.
Claims21
A method of measuring heat flux and corrosion in a furnace of the type having a wall containing a plurality of tubes, adjacent pairs of tubes connected by a web, a front side of each tube and web being exposed to heat and products of combustion generated in the furnace and a back side of each tube and web not exposed to said heat and products of combustion, the method comprising:
- a) measuring a first heat flux temperature on the back side of a selected tube;
- b) measuring a second heat flux temperature on the back side of a web adjacent to the selected tube;
- c) determining a difference between the first heat flux temperature and the second heat flux temperature;
- d) periodically repeating steps a through c to determine subsequent differences between the first heat flux temperature and the second heat flux temperature;
- e) comparing subsequent differences to at least one previously determined difference;
- and
- f) correlating any increase in compared differences to slag melt and indicative of corrosive conditions in the furnace.
A method of monitoring corrosion activity in a furnace having a wall containing a plurality of tubes, adjacent pairs of tubes connected by a web such that for each tube there is an associated web connected to that tube, each tube and web having a front side which is exposed to heat and products of combustion generated in the furnace and a back side which is not exposed to said heat and products of combustion, the method comprising:
- a) selecting a number of tubes and an associated web for each selected tube;
- b) measuring for each selected tube and associated web a first heat flux temperature on the back side of the tube;
- c) measuring for each selected tube and associated web a second heat flux temperature on the back side of the associated web;
- d) determining a difference between the first heat flux temperature and the second heat flux temperature for each selected tube and associated web;
- e) periodically repeating steps b through d for at least some of the selected tubes and associated webs;
- f) comparing subsequent differences for each of the at least some of the selected tubes and associated webs with previously determined differences for those same selected tubes and associated webs to obtain a differential for each selected tube and associated web;
- and
- g) displaying at least one such differential.
An improved furnace wall of the type having a plurality of tubes, each pair of adjacent tubes connected by a web wherein the improvement comprises a first thermocouple connected to the back side of one tube, a second thermocouple connected to the back side of a web attached to that one tube, and a device connected to the first and second thermocouple which receives signals from the thermocouples and determines a temperature differential between a first temperature corresponding to a signal from the first thermocouple and a second temperature corresponding to a signal received from the second thermocouple.
A method of measuring heat flux and corrosion in a furnace of the type having a wall containing a plurality of tubes, adjacent pairs of tubes connected by a web, a front side of each tube and web being exposed to heat and products of combustion generated in the furnace and a back side of each tube and web not exposed to said heat and products of combustion, the method comprising:
- a) measuring a first heat flux temperature on the back side of a selected tube;
- b) measuring a second heat flux temperature on the back side of a web adjacent to the selected tube;
- c) determining a difference between the first heat flux temperature and the second heat flux temperature;
- d) periodically repeating steps a through c to determine subsequent differences between the first heat flux temperature and the second heat flux temperature;
- e) comparing subsequent differences to at least one previously determined difference;
- and
- f) correlating any increase in compared differences to accumulation of ash or slag deposits on the wall of the furnace.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.