Real-time combustion controller

Patent · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:870809

Lindner, Jeffrey S.; Shepard, W. Steve; Etheridge, John A.; Jang, Ping-Rey; Gresham, Lawrence L.

A method and system of regulating the air to fuel ratio supplied to a burner to maximize the combustion efficiency. Optical means are provided in close proximity to the burner for directing a beam of radiation from hot gases produced by the burner to a plurality of detectors. Detectors are provided for sensing the concentration of, inter alia, CO, CO.sub.2, and H.sub.2 O. The differences between the ratios of CO to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O to CO are compared with a known control curve based on those ratios for air to fuel ratios ranging from 0.85 to 1.30. The fuel flow is adjusted until the difference between the ratios of CO to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O to CO fall on a desired set point on the control curve.

• Research Organization: Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-93CH10575
• Assignee: Mississippi State University (Mississippi State, MS)
• Patent Number(s): 5,599,179
• Application Number: 08/283,795
• OSTI ID: 870809
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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30
85
adjusted
air
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based
beam
burner
close
close proximity
combustion
combustion control
combustion efficiency
compared
concentration
control
controller
curve
desired
desired set
detectors
difference
differences
directing
efficiency
fall
flow
fuel
fuel flow
fuel ratio
gases
gases produced
hot
hot gas
hot gases
maximize
means
method
optical
optical means
plurality
produced
provided
proximity
radiation
ranging
ratio
ratios
real-time
regulating
sensing
set
supplied