Burner tilt feedback control

A control system for controlling a position of a tiltable burner in a coal fired furnace comprising:

• a controller;
• a solenoid valve electrically coupled to said controller, said solenoid valve having first and second outlet ports;
• a piston-cylinder having a housing, a piston dividing the housing so as to define first and second chambers within the housing, said first chamber being coupled with said first outlet port, said second chamber being coupled with said second outlet port;
• a rotary actuating member coupled to said piston and coupled to the burner tilt device;
• a potentiometer operatively coupled to said actuating member for converting a rotational position of said actuating member into a proportional electrical resistance;
• a signal converting element for converting said electrical resistance into a proportional electrical current;
• and
• current conducting means for conducting current to the controller,
• said controller including means for comparing said current to a control signal indicative of a desired position of the burner tilt device, and means for generating a voltage pulse to said solenoid valve, said solenoid valve delivering fluid pressure to one of said first and second chambers while exhausting fluid pressure from the other of said first and second chambers to displace the piston to move the tiltable burner toward said desired position whereby feedback control of the position of the tiltable burner is provided.

A method of controlling a position of a tiltable burner in a coal fired furnace comprising the steps of:

• providing a controller;
• providing a pneumatic solenoid valve electrically coupled to said controller;
• providing a pneumatic piston-cylinder pneumatically coupled to said solenoid valve;
• providing a rotary actuating member coupled to said piston-cylinder, said actuating member being coupled to the tiltable burner;
• providing a potentiometer operatively coupled to said actuating member for converting a position of said actuating member into a proportional electrical resistance;
• providing a signal converting means for converting said electrical resistance into a proportional electrical current;
• providing current conducting means for conducting said current to the controller,
• inputting data to said controller to generate a control signal indicative of a desired position of said tiltable burner;
• comparing a signal provided to said controller by said signal converting means to said control signal;
• generating a difference signal in accordance with a difference between said control signal and said signal provided by said signal converting means;
• generating a voltage pulse with said controller in accordance with said difference signal;
• conducting said voltage pulse to said solenoid valve, said solenoid valve one of venting and supplying fluid pressure to said piston-cylinder, said piston-cylinder moving said actuating member to adjust a position thereof until said actuating member and thus said tiltable burner are disposed at said desired position, thereby providing feedback control of the position of the tiltable burner.

A control system for an actuating member comprising:

• a controller;
• a valve member electrically coupled to said controller;
• a fluid driven actuator operatively coupled to said valve member;
• an actuating member operatively coupled to said fluid driven actuator;
• a potentiometer operatively coupled to said actuating member for converting a position of said actuating member into a proporational electrical resistance;
• signal converting means for converting said electrical resistance into a porportional electrical current;
• and
• means for conducting said current to said controller,
• said controller including means for comparing said current to a control signal indicative of a desired position of said actuating member, and means for generating a voltage pulse to said valve member to displace said fluid driven actuator and move the actuating member toward the desired position whereby feedback control of the position of the actuating member is provided,
• said actuating member being a tiltable burner in a coal fired furnace.