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US 5,189,963 AGranted
Combustible atmosphere furnace control system
OwnerCarlton B. Manninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The operation of a combustible atmosphere furnace is controlled by monitoring the temperature of the combustible atmosphere, and the rate-of-change thereof. The measured rate-of-change is compared to a previously determined safe rate-of-change so as to anticipate and discourage incipient internal ignition.
Claims10
A method for temperature control of a combustible atmosphere processing furnace independent of elapsed time without internal ignition or explosion comprising:
- establishing a safe upper limit for the rate-of-change of combustible atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof for said furnace;
- charging said furnace with volatile materials;
- firing said furnace;
- continuously measuring the temperature of the combustible atmosphere of said furnace;
- continuously determining the rate-of-change of said combustible atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof;
- cooling said furnace whenever said combustible atmosphere temperature rate-of-change with respect to the temperature thereof exceeds said established safe limit;
- and
- discontinuing said cooling when said combustible atmosphere temperature rate-of-change with respect to the temperature thereof is less than said established safe limit.
5 more elements
A method for control of temperature within the operating temperature range of a combustible atmosphere processing furnace without internal ignition or explosion comprising:
- determining the characteristic curve relationship of the rate-of-change of furnace atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof when said furnace is fired in a non-volatile condition;
- establishing a curve relationship for a rate-of-change of temperature of said combustible atmosphere with respect to the temperature thereof at a higher temperature level than said characteristic curve so as to define a safe limit for rate of temperature increase for all temperatures within said operating range;
- charging said furnace with volatile materials;
- re-firing said furnace;
- continuously measuring the temperature of the combustible atmosphere of said furnace;
- continuously determining the rate-of-change of said combustible atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof;
- cooling said furnace whenever said rate-of-change of combustible atmosphere temperature exceeds said established safe linit;
- and
- discontinuing said cooling when said rate-of-change of combustible atmosphere temperature is less than said established safe limit.
6 more elements
A method for control of volatile mixture concentration of a combustible atmosphere processing furnace independent of elapsed time without internal ignition or explosion comprising:
- establishing a safe upper limit for the rate-of-change of combustible atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof for said furnace;
- charging said furnace with volatile materials;
- firing said furnace so as to gasify said volatile materials;
- continuously measuring the temperature of the combustible atmosphere of said furnace;
- continuously determining the rate-of-change of said combustible atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof;
- and
- decreasing the concentration of said volatile mixture whenever said combustible atmosphere temperature rate-of-change exceeds said established safe limit.
4 more elements
A method for control of volatile mixture concentration within the operating temperature range of a combustible atmosphere processing furnace without internal ignition or explosion comprising:
- determining the characteristic curve relationship of the rate-of-change of furnace atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof when said furnace is fired in a non-volatile condition;
- establishing a curve relationship for a rate-of-change of temperature of said combustible atmosphere with respect to the temperature thereof at a higher temperature level than said characteristic curve so as to define a safe limit for rate of temperature increase for all temperatures within said operating range;
- charging said furnace with volatile materials;
- re-firing said furnace;
- continuously measuring the temperature of the combustible atmosphere of said furnace;
- continuously determining the rate-of-change of said combustible atmosphere temperature with respect to the temperature thereof;
- decreasing the concentration of said volatile mixture by cooling said furnace when said rate-of-change of combustible atmosphere temperature exceeds said established safe limit;
- and
- discontinuing said cooling whenever said rate-of-change is less than said established safe limit.
6 more elements
A combustible atmosphere processing furnace comprising:
- an oven chamber for containing combustible materials;
- means for firing said oven chamber so as to pyrolize said combustible materials;
- means for combustion of gaseous constituents released by said pyrolysis;
- means for establishing a safe limit for temperature rate-of-change with respect to temperature thereof for the combustion of said gaseous constituents;
- means for continuously measuring the temperature of said combustion;
- means for continuously determining the instant rate-of-change of said temperature with respect to the temperature thereof;
- means for cooling said gaseous constituents so as to discourage combustion thereof;
- means for activation of said cooling means whenever said instant temperature rate-of-change exceeds said safe limit;
- and
- means for deactivation of said cooling means when said instant temperature rate-of-change is less than said safe limit.
7 more elements
A combustible atmosphere processing furnace comprising:
- an oven chamber for containing combustible materials;
- means for firing said oven chamber so as to pyrolize said combustible materials;
- means for combustion of gaseous constituents released by said pyrolysis;
- means for continuously measuring the temperature of said combustion;
- means for continuously determining the instant rate-of-change of said temperature with respect to the temperature thereof;
- means for determining a safe limit for said rate-of-change of said temperature at said temperature;
- means for comparing said instant rate-of-change to said safe limit;
- means for reducing the concentration of said gaseous constituents so as to discourage combustion thereof;
- and
- means for activation of said concentration reducing means whenever said instant temperature rate-of-change exceeds said safe limit.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.