Combustion diagnostics method and system
AssigneeReuter-Stokes, Inc.
InventorMark J. Khesin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Combustion variables are diagnosed using sensors to measure turbulence in the post-flame zone as well as in the flame envelope of a combustor. Output signals from the sensors are processed and a set of statistical functions are calculated which are correlated with specific combustion variables, such as the concentration of unburned carbon in fly ash. A special sensor mounting box provides reliable long-term operation in harsh combustor environment, without a supply of cooling or protective air flow.
Claims46
A method for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor;
- and
- (b) analyzing an AC component of the monitored radiation to determine at least one combustion parameter based thereupon.
A method for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor;
- (b) analyzing an AC component of the monitored radiation according to a first algorithm;
- (c) analyzing the AC component of the monitored radiation according to a second algorithm;
- and
- (d) combining results of the first and second algorithms to determine at least one combined combustion parameter.
A method for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring radiation emitted within the combustor;
- (b) producing a time-domain signal representing a measured amplitude of the monitored radiation;
- (c) determining an average amplitude of the signal during a particular time period;
- (d) counting at least one of:
- a number of high peaks in the signal that, during the particular time period, achieve an amplitude, relative to the average amplitude, that is greater than a first threshold, and
- a number of low peaks in the signal that, during the particular time period, achieve an amplitude, relative to the average amplitude, that is less than a second threshold;
- and
- (e) using the at least one of the number of high peaks and the number of low peaks counted in step (d) to determine at least one combustion parameter.
A method for monitoring an amount of unburned carbon in fly ash comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of a combustor;
- and
- (b) analyzing the monitored radiation to determine the amount of unburned carbon in fly ash.
A method for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising the steps of:
- (a) using a first radiation sensor, that is sensitive to a first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum, to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor;
- (b) using a second radiation sensor, that is sensitive to a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which is different from the first portion, to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in the post-flame zone of the combustor;
- and
- (c) analyzing outputs of each of the first and second radiation sensors to determine at least one combined combustion parameter.
A system for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising:
- at least one radiation sensor arranged to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor and to produce a signal indicative thereof;
- and
- analyzing means for determining at least one combustion parameter based upon an AC component of the signal.
A system for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising:
- at least one radiation sensor to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor and to produce a signal indicative thereof;
- first means for analyzing an AC component of the signal according to a first algorithm;
- second means for analyzing the AC component of the signal according to a second algorithm;
- and
- means for combining results of the first and second algorithms to determine at least one combined combustion parameter.
A system for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising:
- at least one radiation sensor to monitor radiation emitted within the combustor and to produce a signal indicative thereof;
- means for determining an average amplitude of the signal during a particular time period;
- means for counting at least one of:
- a number of high peaks in the signal that, during the particular time period, achieve an amplitude, relative to the average amplitude, that is greater than a first threshold, and
- a number of low peaks in the signal that, during the particular time period, achieve an amplitude, relative to the average amplitude, that is less than a second threshold;
- and
- means for using the at least one of the number of high peaks and the number of low peaks counted by the means for counting to determine at least one combustion parameter.
A system for continuous, on-line monitoring of an amount of unburned carbon in fly ash generated by a combustor comprising:
- at least one radiation sensor to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor and to produce a signal indicative thereof;
- and
- means for analyzing the signal to monitor the amount of unburned carbon in fly ash generated by the combustor.
A system for analyzing operation of a combustor comprising:
- at least one first radiation sensor, that is sensitive to a first portion of an electromagnetic spectrum, to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of the combustor;
- at least one second radiation sensor, that is sensitive to a second portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which is different from the first portion, to monitor radiation emitted from flue gas in the post-flame zone of the combustor;
- and
- analyzing means for determining at least one combined combustion parameter based upon outputs of each of the first and second radiation sensors.
A computer-readable medium for use with a processor operatively coupled to at least one radiation sensor, the medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
- (a) calculating an average amplitude of a signal generated by the at least one radiation sensor during a particular time period;
- (b) counting at least one of:
- a number of high peaks in the signal that, during the particular time period, achieve an amplitude, relative to the average amplitude, that is greater than a first threshold, and
- a number of low peaks in the signal that, during the particular time period, achieve an amplitude, relative to the average amplitude, that is less than a second threshold;
- and
- (c) using the at least one of the number of high peaks and the number of low peaks counted in step (b) to determine at least one combustion parameter.
A computer-readable medium for use with a processor operatively coupled to at least one radiation sensor monitoring radiation emitted from flue gas in a post-flame zone of a combustor, the medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the step of:
- (a) analyzing an output of the at least one radiation sensor to determine an amount of unburned carbon in fly ash.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.