Real-time combustion controls and diagnostics sensors (CCADS)

A apparatus for the real-time monitoring and control of the combustion process in combustion zone of a lean premix burner of a combustion system, the system comprising:

• flow-through combustion means having upstream and downstream end portions in fluid communication;
• said upstream end portion having at least one fuel mixing chamber including fuel supplying means for supplying a hydrocarbon fuel at a first rate and oxidizer supplying means for supplying an oxidizer at a second rate in flow-through communication with said downstream end portion;
• combustion means disposed in said downstream end portions including an outer shell having a lean premix fuel nozzle, having upstream and downstream portions, disposed therein downstream from and in flow-through communication with said fuel mixing chamber and a center body surrounded by the nozzle;
• a means for initiating the combustion process of the hydrocarbon fuel and oxidizer to maintain a combustion flame plume during operation of the combustion burner assembly, wherein the products of combustion include hydrocarbon ions;
• a sensor positioned within the combustion means, said sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode in axially spaced-apart relation to provide for flame plume, wherein a portion of the flame plume is disposed between the first and second electrodes, wherein said sensor first electrode is centered in the lean premix nozzle center body;
• means for applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes;
• and
• means for determining the magnitude of the current between said first and second electrodes to selectively measure the concentration of hydrocarbon ions in said flame plume.

A process for monitoring and control of the combustion process in combustion zone of a lean premix burner of a combustion system, the process comprising:

• providing a combustion system comprising a fuel nozzle having a fuel inlet, a gas inlet, and an outer shell, wherein at a portion of the outer shell defines a combustion zone and a sensor positioned within the combustion system, said sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode in spaced-apart relationship of the first electrode,
• supplying a hydrocarbon-based fuel to the fuel nozzle at a first rate;
• supplying an oxidizer to the fuel nozzle at a second rate;
• mixing the fuel and the oxidizer;
• igniting the hydrocarbon-based fuel-oxidizer mixture such that the combustion process proceeds, wherein at least a portion of the combustion process takes place between the first and second electrodes;
• applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes;
• and measuring the magnitude of a current between the first and second electrodes wherein the first rate at which the fuel is supplied is adjusted to maintain the magnitude of the current between the first and second electrode at about a constant level.

A process for monitoring and control of the combustion process in combustion zone of a lean premix burner of a combustion system, the process comprising:

• providing a combustion system comprising a fuel nozzle having a fuel inlet, a gas inlet, and an outer shell, wherein at a portion of the outer shell defines a combustion zone and a sensor positioned within the combustion system, said sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode in spaced-apart relationship of the first electrode,
• supplying a hydrocarbon-based fuel to the fuel nozzle at a first rate;
• supplying an oxidizer to the fuel nozzle at a second rate;
• mixing the fuel and the oxidizer;
• igniting the hydrocarbon-based fuel-oxidizer mixture such that the combustion process proceeds, wherein at least a portion of the combustion process takes place between the first and second electrodes;
• applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes;
• and
• measuring the magnitude of a current between the first and second electrodes wherein the second rate at which the oxidizer supplied is adjusted to maintain the current between the first and second electrode at about a constant level.