초록 ▼

In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus to control the combustion of a burner are presented which overcome many of the problems of the prior art. One aspect of the invention comprises a burner control apparatus including a device for viewing light emitted by a flame from a bu

In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus to control the combustion of a burner are presented which overcome many of the problems of the prior art. One aspect of the invention comprises a burner control apparatus including a device for viewing light emitted by a flame from a burner, a device for optically transporting the viewed light into an optical processor, an optical processor for processing the optical spectrum into electrical signals, a signal processing for processing the electrical signals obtained from the optical spectrum, and a control device which accepts the electrical signals and produces an output acceptable to one or more oxidant or fuel flow control devices. The control device, which may be referred to as a "burner computer," functions to control the oxidant flow and/or the fuel flow to the burner. In a particularly preferred apparatus embodiment of the invention, a burner and the burner control apparatus are integrated into a single unit, which may be referred to as a "smart" burner.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of:(a) monitoring flame radiation emission from a burner through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer, the fiber optic positioned in the burner;(b) holding variables OC (optical collection sy

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of monitoring operating conditions of a burner comprising the steps of:(a) monitoring flame radiation emission from a burner through a fiber optic attached to a spectrometer, the fiber optic positioned in the burner;(b) holding variables OC (optical collection system), OD (optical detector), O (oxidizer), F (fuel), B (burner characteristics), .rho. (process disturbances), and P (burner power) constant while varying S (combustion stoichiometry) to determine the emission intensity .GAMMA. as a function of stoichiometry S by measuring integrated OH emission intensity;(c) calculating constants A and B from a relationship of emission intensity .GAMMA. and stoichiometry S having a characteristic equation .GAMMA.=AS+B; and(d) monitoring stoichiometry S in real time using the equation ]EQU7 ]