GB2204428A - Control of burner air/fuel ratio - Google Patents

Control of burner air/fuel ratio Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2204428A
GB2204428A GB08710688A GB8710688A GB2204428A GB 2204428 A GB2204428 A GB 2204428A GB 08710688 A GB08710688 A GB 08710688A GB 8710688 A GB8710688 A GB 8710688A GB 2204428 A GB2204428 A GB 2204428A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
ratio
species
predetermined range
intensity
fuel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08710688A
Other versions
GB8710688D0 (en
Inventor
Norman David Brown
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British Gas PLC
Original Assignee
British Gas PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Gas PLC filed Critical British Gas PLC
Priority to GB08710688A priority Critical patent/GB2204428A/en
Publication of GB8710688D0 publication Critical patent/GB8710688D0/en
Publication of GB2204428A publication Critical patent/GB2204428A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/02—Systems for controlling combustion using devices responsive to thermal changes or to thermal expansion of a medium
    • F23N5/08—Systems for controlling combustion using devices responsive to thermal changes or to thermal expansion of a medium using light-sensitive elements
    • F23N5/082—Systems for controlling combustion using devices responsive to thermal changes or to thermal expansion of a medium using light-sensitive elements using electronic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N1/00—Regulating fuel supply
    • F23N1/02—Regulating fuel supply conjointly with air supply
    • F23N1/022—Regulating fuel supply conjointly with air supply using electronic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2235/00—Valves, nozzles or pumps
    • F23N2235/02—Air or combustion gas valves or dampers
    • F23N2235/10—Air or combustion gas valves or dampers power assisted, e.g. using electric motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N2235/00—Valves, nozzles or pumps
    • F23N2235/12—Fuel valves
    • F23N2235/16—Fuel valves variable flow or proportional valves

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Control Of Combustion (AREA)

Abstract

The emission intensities of at least two of the species C2, CH and OH in the burner flame 8 are sensed by a pair of photodiodes 5 and 6. The ratio of the intensities of the species are calculated by a microprocessor 10 and compared with a predetermined range of intensity ratios stored in the microprocessor 10. The stored range of intensity ratios corresponds to that necessary for the flame to be adequately aerated but neither excessively over-aerated nor excessively under-aerated. An error signal is generated if the calculated ratio falls outside the predetermined range of intensity ratios and is used to control the rate at which gas enters the burner 4 via a fuel injector 14. <IMAGE>

Description

Title:- Controlling the Combustion Reaction of Fuel and Air in a Burner The present invention relates to the control of the combustion reaction of fuel and air in a burner.
According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a method for controlling the combustion reaction of fuel and air in a burner, the method comprising sensing the intensities of spectral band emissions of at least two chemical species present in the flame during combustion, calculating the ratio of intensities of the or two of the species, comparing the calculated intensity ratio with a predetermined range of intensity ratios corresponding to a desired flame aeration and adjusting the ratio of fuel to air to correct any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios.
According to another aspect of the present invention we provide apparatus for controlling the combustion reaction of fuel and air in a burner, the apparatus comprising means for sensing the intensities of spectral band emissions of at least two chemical species present in the flame during combustion, means for calculating the ratio of intensities of the or two of the species, means for comparing the calculated intensity ratio with a predetermined range of intensity ratios corresponding to a desired flame aeration and for generating a signal representing any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios, and means for adjusting the ratio of fuel to air to correct any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios.
An embodiment of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a schematic arrangement of a suitable apparatus for controlling the combustion reaction of natural gas in a burner.
The burner shown schematically at 1 is of a naturally aerated draught type being supplied with Natural Gas via an inlet 2. Combustion takes place at a surface 3 of a mixing chamber 4 in which the gas and air mix before combustion.
A pair of collimated photodiodes 5 and 6 are positioned to sense the spectral band emissions of chemical species in the primary zone 7 of the flame 8 produced by the burner.
The photodiode 5 is optically filtered between 509nm and 519nm wavelengths to receive only the spectral emissions of the C2 species while the photodiode 6 is optically filtered between 423nm and 433 nm wavelengths to receive only the spectral emissions of the CH species.
Analogue signals proportional to the intensities of emissions are produced as voltages by the sensors 5 and 6 and are converted by an interface 9 into correlated digital signals for processing in a microprocessor 10. The microprocessor 10 is programmed to calculate the ratio of the intensities of the two signals eg. CH/C2 and to compare the calculated ratio with a predetermined range of intensity ratios lying between upper and lower limits and already held in the memory of the microprocessor. These upper and lower limits of intensity ratios will'have already been determined by previous experiment and would be those corresponding to an adequately aerated flame, that is, a flame in which the gas to air ratio may be either less than or more than stoichiometric but not exceeding unsafe levels.
An error signal will be generated by the microprocessor 10 only if the calculated ratio falls outside the predetermined band range of intensity ratios. Any error signal if generated is converted from digital form into an analogue form by an interface 11. The analogue signal generated is then used to drive a DC stepper motor 12. The motor 12 rotates a needle 13 in a fuel injector 14, the needle 13 adjusting the area of the annulus 15 in the injector outlet 16 to control the rate of flow of fuel through the outlet 16 so that the gas to air ratio assumes the desired value. Fuel enters the injector 14 from a lateral inlet 17 and after leaving the outlet 16 enters the burner inlet 2. Control of the rate of flow of gas into the burner will control the ratio of gas to air reaching the burner.
Where some types of photosensing devices are used it may be more practical to use the spectral emissions of the OH species (between 306.4nm and 325.4nm wavelengths) in combination with those of the C2 or CH species or both to form the intensity ratio or ratios.

Claims (9)

1. A method for controlling the combustion reaction of fuel and air in a burner, the method comprising sensing the intensities of spectral band emissions of at least two chemical species present in the flame during combustion, calculating the ratio of intensities of the or two of the species, comparing the calculated intensity ratio with a predetermined range of intensity ratios corresponding to a desired flame aeration and adjusting the ratio of fuel to air to correct any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the predetermined intensity ratio comprises a range of ratio values between upper and lower limits.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the chemical species comprise C2, CH and OH.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the calculated intensity ratio is any ratio between the C2, CH and OH species.
5. Apparatus for controlling the combustion reaction of fuel and air in a burner, the apparatus comprising means for sensing the intensities of spectral band emissions of at least two chemical species present in the flame during combustion, means for calculating the ratio of intensities of the or two of the species, means for comparing the calculated intensity ratio with a predetermined range of intensity ratios corresponding to a desired flame aeration and for generating a signal representing any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios, and means for adjusting the ratio of fuel to air to correct any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the means for sensing the intensity of spectral emissions comprises for each species a photosensing device optically adapted to receive only the emission wavelengths of the particular species.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the means for adjusting any deviation between the calculated intensity ratio and the predetermined range of intensity ratios comprises a valve for adjusting the rate of supply of fuel to the burner.
8. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
9. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB08710688A 1987-05-06 1987-05-06 Control of burner air/fuel ratio Withdrawn GB2204428A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08710688A GB2204428A (en) 1987-05-06 1987-05-06 Control of burner air/fuel ratio

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08710688A GB2204428A (en) 1987-05-06 1987-05-06 Control of burner air/fuel ratio

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8710688D0 GB8710688D0 (en) 1987-06-10
GB2204428A true GB2204428A (en) 1988-11-09

Family

ID=10616886

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08710688A Withdrawn GB2204428A (en) 1987-05-06 1987-05-06 Control of burner air/fuel ratio

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2204428A (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991014136A1 (en) * 1990-03-14 1991-09-19 Armando Gandolfi Device for the inflow control of gas, steam or other fluids
EP0612961A2 (en) * 1993-02-24 1994-08-31 RWE Entsorgung Aktiengesellschaft Method for determining characteristic properties of processes producing radicals
EP0643265A1 (en) * 1993-09-13 1995-03-15 Ruhrgas Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for controlling excess-air premix gas burners
EP0666452A1 (en) * 1994-02-02 1995-08-09 British Gas plc Sensor fault detection
US5599179A (en) * 1994-08-01 1997-02-04 Mississippi State University Real-time combustion controller
EP1010943A2 (en) * 1998-12-16 2000-06-21 Forney Corporation Flame monitoring methods and apparatus
US6135760A (en) * 1996-06-19 2000-10-24 Meggitt Avionics, Inc. Method and apparatus for characterizing a combustion flame

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB826049A (en) * 1957-01-02 1959-12-23 Parsons & Co Sir Howard G Improvements in or relating to combustion control
GB1161741A (en) * 1965-08-16 1969-08-20 Bailey Meter Co Improvements relating to the regulation of burner excess air
GB1581384A (en) * 1976-05-17 1980-12-10 Environmental Data Corp Automatic burner monitor and control for furnaces
EP0079072A2 (en) * 1981-11-11 1983-05-18 Hitachi, Ltd. Air-fuel ratio controlling method and device for internal combustion engines
US4435149A (en) * 1981-12-07 1984-03-06 Barnes Engineering Company Method and apparatus for monitoring the burning efficiency of a furnace

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB826049A (en) * 1957-01-02 1959-12-23 Parsons & Co Sir Howard G Improvements in or relating to combustion control
GB1161741A (en) * 1965-08-16 1969-08-20 Bailey Meter Co Improvements relating to the regulation of burner excess air
GB1581384A (en) * 1976-05-17 1980-12-10 Environmental Data Corp Automatic burner monitor and control for furnaces
EP0079072A2 (en) * 1981-11-11 1983-05-18 Hitachi, Ltd. Air-fuel ratio controlling method and device for internal combustion engines
US4435149A (en) * 1981-12-07 1984-03-06 Barnes Engineering Company Method and apparatus for monitoring the burning efficiency of a furnace

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991014136A1 (en) * 1990-03-14 1991-09-19 Armando Gandolfi Device for the inflow control of gas, steam or other fluids
AU644641B2 (en) * 1990-03-14 1993-12-16 Armando Gandolfi Device for the inflow control of gas, steam or other fluids
EP0612961A2 (en) * 1993-02-24 1994-08-31 RWE Entsorgung Aktiengesellschaft Method for determining characteristic properties of processes producing radicals
EP0612961A3 (en) * 1993-02-24 1995-08-30 Rwe Entsorgung Ag Method for determining characteristic properties of processes producing radicals.
EP0643265A1 (en) * 1993-09-13 1995-03-15 Ruhrgas Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for controlling excess-air premix gas burners
EP0666452A1 (en) * 1994-02-02 1995-08-09 British Gas plc Sensor fault detection
US5589627A (en) * 1994-02-02 1996-12-31 British Gas Plc Sensor fault detection
US5599179A (en) * 1994-08-01 1997-02-04 Mississippi State University Real-time combustion controller
US6135760A (en) * 1996-06-19 2000-10-24 Meggitt Avionics, Inc. Method and apparatus for characterizing a combustion flame
EP1010943A2 (en) * 1998-12-16 2000-06-21 Forney Corporation Flame monitoring methods and apparatus
EP1010943A3 (en) * 1998-12-16 2001-05-16 Forney Corporation Flame monitoring methods and apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8710688D0 (en) 1987-06-10

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