Means and method of optimizing efficiency of furnaces, boilers, combustion ovens and stoves, and the like

The method of optimizing combustion efficiency in combustion devices such as furnaces, boilers, stoves, ovens, and the like, wherein said combustion device has a fixed fuel supply and produces an output having a temperature component, comprising the steps of:

• initiating combustion in said combustion device by inputting said fixed supply of fuel, introducing an initial amount of input air, and instigating combustion;
• monitoring said output of said combustion device;
• recording for subsequent comparison a first output reading for said combustion device;
• increasing the amount of combustion air from said initial setting entering said combustion device;
• recording a second output reading;
• subtracting said first output reading from said second output reading;
• increasing the amount of combustion air again if the remainder between said second output reading and said first output reading is positive or zero;
• decreasing the amount of combustion air if the remainder between said second output reading and said first output reading is negative;
• thereby increasing or decreasing the combustion air to maximize output of said combustion device as the fixed fuel supply is used up.

A method of operating a combustion device such as a furnace, boiler, stove, oven or the like at a desired output by inputting variable amounts of fuel to maintain said desired output, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the rate of fuel input of said combustion device;
• recording a first rate of fuel input reading;
• increasing the air being input to said combustion device from the initial air input level;
• recording a second rate of fuel input reading;
• subtracting the second rate of fuel input reading from the first rate of fuel input reading to derive a remainder representing the change in fuel input;
• increase air input into the combustion device if the remainder is positive and repeating increase in air input if the remainder is positive;
• decreasing the air input into said combustion device if the remainder is negative;
• repeating the decrease in air if said remainder is positive;
• and
• increasing the air input in the remainder is negative or zero after previously decreasing input air.

A means for optimizing efficiency of a combustion device such as a furnace, boiler, oven, stove and the like, wherein the input fuel supply and input air supply is variable, comprising:

• an output monitoring means for continuously deriving output levels of said combustion device;
• an input monitoring means for continually monitoring fuel input to said combustion device;
• air control device means operatively connected to the means for controlling air input into said combustion device for controlling the exact amount of said input air into said combustion device;
• means to convert the readings for fuel input and output into electrical signals representing fuel input and output;
• divider math unit means in electrical communication with said output and input reading means for dividing said output reading by said fuel input reading to derive a ratio of combustion device output to fuel input;
• a first signal storage means in electrical communication with said divider means for storing a present output ratio of said divider means, and being updatable upon each division of said divider means;
• a second signal storage means in electrical communication with said divider means which stores a past output ratio of said divider means, and has a electronic means to hold said past output ratio until said second storage means is updated;
• a math unit subtracter means for subtracting the contents of said second signal storage means from said first signal storage means to derive a remainder representing a change between said present output ratio and said past output ratio, said subtracter means being in electrical communication with said first and second storage means;
• a math unit logic means in electrical communication with said subtracter means which produces a signal if the said remainder of said subtracter means is negative and does not produce a signal if said remainder is positive;
• an electronic switching means in electrical communication with said logic means and said air control bias means for directing said air control bias means to either increase air input or decrease air input into said combustion device, said switching means having an increased air state which sends an increased air input signal to air control bias, and a decrease air state which sends a decrease air input signal to said air control bias, said switching means being initially in said increase air state and continuing in said increase air state until said signal is received from said logic means which would switch said switching means to said decrease air state, any said signal from said logic means switching the states of said switching means;
• and
• timing means to control sequencing of the elements of the means.

A means for optimizing efficiency of a combustion device such as a furnace, boiler, oven, stove, and the like wherein the amount of fuel input is fixed, comprising:

• a motor means operatively connected to the air damper of said combustion device for moving said air damper between a minimum and maximum air input position;
• an output reading means operatively connected to said combustion device to derive a representation of output of said combustion device;
• a transducer means to convert the output readings of said output reading means into an electrical signal;
• a first electronic signal storage means in electrical communication with said output transducer means for storing a present output reading signal;
• a second electronic signal storage means in electronic communicaton with said first storage means for storing a past output reading;
• a clock means in electronic communication with said second electronic signal storage means which causes said second storage means to hold an output reading until a subsequent signal is entered into said first electronic signal storage means, so that said second storage means always contains the immediately prior output reading to that of the first storage means;
• a math unit subtracter means in electrical communication with said first and second storage means for subtracting the past reading of said second storage means from the present reading of said first storage means to derive a remainder representing the change in output of said combustion device;
• a logic means in electrical communication with said subtracter means which generates an electronic signal if the said remainder of said subtracter means is zero or negative;
• a switching toggle means in electronic communication with said logic means and with said air control means, said switching means having an air increase state and an air decrease state, said switching means always beginning in said increase state which causes said air control to increase the amount of air input into said combustion device, said switching means being responsive to said logic means so that the state of said switching means is continued until a signal is received from said logic means which then switches the state of said switching means.

A means for optimizing efficiency of a combustion device such as a furnace, boiler, oven, stove, and the like, wherein said fuel input and air input are variable to maintain a desired output level, comprising:

• an output reading means operatively connected to said combustion device for monitoring the output of said combustion device;
• an output reading transducer which converts the output reading of said output reading means into an electric signal;
• a fuel control means in operative connection with a fuel input means which controls the amount of fuel input into said combustion device;
• an output regulator means electronically connected to said output transducer means and said fuel control means, having an adjustable means for setting the desired output level and signalling said fuel control means to input sufficient fuel to maintain the set output level according to the readings of said output transducer;
• a first electronic signal storage means in electronic communication with said fuel control means to store the present value of said fuel control means;
• a second electronic signal storage means connected to said present electronic signal register means which stores the present fuel control reading and has a clock means attached thereto so that said second storage means stores the immediately preceding fuel control level to that of said first storage means to represent a change in fuel input to said combustion device;
• a math unit subtracter means which subtracts said past reading from said present reading to represent a change in fuel input;
• a logic means which is electronically connected to said subtracter means and which issues a signal if the fuel is raised or lowered;
• a toggle switching means connected to said logic means and to an air control means, said switching means having an air lower state and an air higher state so that upon signalling from said logic unit, said toggle switches between the two states to raise or lower air input according to fuel input to maintain the optimum excess air level.