Fiber optic spectroscopic digital imaging sensor and method for flame properties monitoring
AssigneesGas Technology Institute, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsSerguei A. Zelepouga, David M. Rue, Alexei V. Saveliev
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Abstract
A system for real-time monitoring of flame properties in combustors and gasifiers which includes an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end and a spectroscopic imaging system operably connected with the light output end of the imaging fiber optic bundle. Focusing of the light received by the light receiving end of the imaging fiber optic bundle by a wall disposed between the light receiving end of the fiber optic bundle and a light source, which wall forms a pinhole opening aligned with the light receiving end.
Claims12
A system for real-time monitoring of flame properties in combustors and gasifiers comprising:
- at least one wall enclosing a space and forming a pinhole opening;
- an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end disposed within said space and having a light output end, said light receiving end aligned with said pinhole opening;
- a spectroscopic imaging system operably connected with said light output end of said imaging fiber bundle;
- and
- purging means for purging said space.
A system for real-time monitoring of flame properties in combustors and gasifiers comprising:
- an imaging fiber optic bundle having a light receiving end and a light output end;
- a spectroscopic imaging system operably connected with said light output end of said imaging fiber optic bundle;
- and
- focusing means for focusing light received by said light receiving end of said imaging fiber optic bundle, said focusing means comprising a wall disposed between said light receiving end and a light source, said wall forming a pinhole opening aligned with said light receiving end.
A method for real-time monitoring of flame properties in a combustor or gasifier comprising the steps of:
- collecting light emitted by a flame within a combustor or gasifier using an imaging fiber optic bundle;
- transmitting said light as an image through said imaging fiber optic bundle to a spectroscopic imaging system;
- transforming a selected portion of said image, forming a transformed image of spectrally-resolved light intensities represented by a 3-dimensional array comprising light intensities, flame position, and light wavelength;
- and
- analyzing absolute and relative intensities and shapes of spectral lines and bands generated by OH* radicals, CH* radicals, sodium atoms, potassium atoms, and blackbody continuum and determining at least one flame property selected from the group consisting of oxygen/coal ratio, steam/coal ratio, temperature, coal conversion, and sulfur emissions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.