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US 8,109,759 B2Granted
Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system
AssigneeFives North America Combustion, Inc.
InventorsThomas F. Robertson, Thomas B. Neville, Charles E. Kilfoyle, John J. Nowakowski
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Abstract
A combustion system is operated with reference to compliant values of a governmentally regulated exhaust emission parameter. If an alarm condition is detected during an ordinary mode of operation, the combustion system is shifted into an assured compliance mode of operation. The shift to the assured compliance mode is made while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- a) specifying a low compliant level of a regulated emission parameter that is below a maximum level permitted in compliance with a governmental regulation;
- b) generating exhaust in a preliminary mode by operating a reference combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat;
- c) measuring the available heat generated in the preliminary mode;
- d) measuring the regulated emission parameter of the exhaust generated in the preliminary mode;
- e) identifying a low range of the measured available heat in which the measured emission parameter is not greater than the low compliant level;
- f) generating exhaust in an ordinary mode by operating a user combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat in a target range above the low range;
- g) detecting an alarm condition during the ordinary mode;
- and
- h) while continuing to operate the user combustion system without a shut-down interruption, responding to the alarm condition by shifting the user combustion system from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within the low range.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- i) identifying an assured compliance mode of operation for a user combustion system by:
- a) generating exhaust in a preliminary mode by operating a reference combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat;
- b) measuring the available heat generated in the preliminary mode;
- c) measuring a regulated emission parameter of the exhaust generated in the preliminary mode;
- and
- d) identifying a low range of the measured available heat in which the measured emission parameter is not greater than a specified low compliant level below a maximum level permitted by a governmental regulation;
- and
- ii) configuring the user combustion system so that the user combustion system is operative to:
- e) generate exhaust in an ordinary mode by operating with reactant flow rates that produce available heat in a target range above the low range;
- f) detect an alarm condition during the ordinary mode;
- and
- g) while continuing to operate without a shut-down interruption, respond to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to the assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within the low range.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- a) identifying a maximum level of a regulated emission parameter permitted by a governmental regulation;
- b) specifying a target range of levels of the regulated emission parameter below the maximum level;
- c) specifying a low compliant level of the regulated emission parameter below the target range;
- d) operating a combustion system to produce exhaust and available heat;
- e) measuring the regulated emission parameter of the exhaust;
- f) measuring the available heat;
- and
- g) identifying a low range of the measured available heat at which the measured emission parameter is not greater than the low compliant level, whereby the low range of available heat corresponds to an assured compliance mode of combustion system operation, wherein the assured compliance mode is entered upon detection of an alarm condition without ceasing operation.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.