Microbridge-based combustion control
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorUlrich Bonne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a combustion system, fuel flow and fuel composition are sensed, and energy flow in the combustion system is determined based on the fuel flow and the fuel composition. Air flow of combustion air is also sensed. The fuel-to-air ratio in the combustion system is controlled as a function of the energy or oxygen demand flow determined and the air flow sensed.
Claims37
A method of controlling a fuel-to-air ratio in a combustion system, comprising:
- sensing fuel flow rate in the combustion system;
- sensing parameters representative of the composition of the fuel in the combustion system, including at least one parameter selected from thermal conductivity and specific heat;
- determining average fuel composition based on the sensed parameters;
- determining energy flow in the combustion system based on the fuel flow rate and the average fuel composition;
- sensing combustion air flow rate in the combustion system;
- and
- controlling the fuel-to-air ratio as a function of the energy flow determined and the air flow sensed.
A method of controlling the fuel-to-air ratio in a combustion system, comprising:
- selecting a desired fuel-to-air flow ratio set point;
- sensing fuel flow and air flow to the combustion system;
- sensing parameters representative of composition of the fuel supplied to the combustion system, including at least one selected from thermal conductivity and specific heat parameters of the fuel;
- determining average fuel composition as related to heating value based on the sensed parameters;
- determining energy flow in the combustion system based on the fuel flow and the average fuel composition;
- and
- controlling the fuel-to-air ratio as a function of the energy flow determined and sensing the air flow to the combustion system.
An apparatus for controlling a fuel-to-air ratio in a heating system, comprising:
- flow sensing means for sensing the rate of fuel flow in the heating system;
- composition sensing means for sensing parameters representative of composition of the fuel in the heating system, including means for sensing at least one of the parameters selected from thermal conductivity and specific heat of the fuel;
- composition determining means for determining average fuel composition based on the sensed parameters;
- flow determining means for determining energy flow in the heating system based on the fuel flow and the average fuel composition;
- air flow sensing means sensing combustion air flow in the heating system;
- and
- control means controlling the fuel-to-air ratio as a function of the energy flow determined and the combustion air flow sensed.
An apparatus for controlling a fuel-to-air ratio in a combustion system, comprising:
- fuel flow sensing means for sensing fuel flow in the combustion system;
- parameter sensing means for sensing parameters representative of the oxygen demand value of the fuel in the combustion system including at least one of the parameters selected from thermal conductivity and specific heat of the fuel;
- determining means for determining the oxygen demand value based on the sensed parameters;
- combustion air flow sensing means sensing air flow of combustion air in the combustion system;
- and
- control means for controlling the fuel-to-air ratio as a function of the fuel flow, the oxygen demand value of the fuel and the air flow sensed.
A method of controlling a fuel-to-air ratio in a combustion system, comprising:
- sensing fuel flow to the combustion system;
- sensing parameters representative of an oxygen demand value of the fuel in the combustion system, including at least one selected from thermal conductivity and specific heat parameters;
- determining the oxygen demand value based on the sensed parameters;
- sensing combustion air flow in the combustion system;
- determining the actual fuel-to-air ratio as a function of the fuel flow, the oxygen demand value of fuel and the air flow sensed;
- and
- controlling the fuel-to-air ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.