Method and apparatus to detect a flame
OwnerRomeo E. Guerrainventor
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to qualify the condition of a flame body is disclosed, where such apparatus comprises a power source, an amplifier and sensor means, where said sensor means includes two or more probes disposed in spaced apart relation so as to conduct a current and said amplifier is designed to selectively amplify the signal generated between said probes so as to isolate a selected frequency consistent with ionization of a given fuel/air mixture.
Claims24
An apparatus for evaluating the condition of a flame body in a pilot comprising:
- sensor means situated in said flame body, where said sensor means is coupled to an electrical circuit;
- power means to generate an alternating current electrical signal in said circuit;
- means to selectively amplify and measure discrete frequencies and current presented in said electrical signal;
- and
- means to compare a final signal derived from said sensor means against known values for the ionization resultant from the combustion of a given fuel/air mixture.
A method for determining the presence of and/or quality of a flame body, comprising:
- positioning one or more conductive probes in the flame body such that said probes conduct though said flame body a selected conductivity proportional to the ionized particles present in said body and in contact with said probes which results in an alternating current signal exemplifying discrete frequencies, where further said probes are coupled to an electrical circuit;
- generating an alternating current electrical signal in said circuit:
- selectively amplifying the discrete frequencies produced in the resultant electrical signal;
- collecting and measuring the resultant alternating current signal;
- and
- comparing said signal against known values for the ionization resultant from the combustion of a given fuel/air mixture.
A system for differentiating between a "flame" and a "no flame" condition in a flare stack containing a flame in a pilot chamber comprising:
- a sensor positioned in said flame and operatively coupled to an electrical circuit such that said sensor is adapted to conduct a current through said flame;
- a power source coupled to said circuit and adapted to produce an alternating current electrical signal;
- an amplifier adapted to enhance the amplitude of selected frequencies presented in said signal;
- means to compare said signal to selected frequencies of the alternating current signal;
- and
- means to modify fuel flow to a given flame when the signal associated with said flame falls outside a selected frequency.
A method for evaluating the quality of a flame body comprising the steps of:
- selectively positioning one or more conductive probes in said flame body where said probes are each coupled to an electrical circuit so as to create a conductive current therebetween;
- generating an alternating current electrical signal in said circuit;
- amplifying the voltage at each probe where such amplification is amplitude and frequency selective so as to produce a discreet alternating current electrical signal;
- measuring the discrete frequencies and current presented in said electrical signal;
- comparing said signal against known frequencies for the ionization resultant from the combustion of a given fuel/air mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.