US20120100493A1 - Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system - Google Patents
Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120100493A1 US20120100493A1 US13/344,702 US201213344702A US2012100493A1 US 20120100493 A1 US20120100493 A1 US 20120100493A1 US 201213344702 A US201213344702 A US 201213344702A US 2012100493 A1 US2012100493 A1 US 2012100493A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- available heat
- combustion system
- alarm condition
- target range
- mode
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
- F23N5/003—Systems for controlling combustion using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
- F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for controlling combustion
- F23N2900/05001—Measuring CO content in flue gas
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
- F23N2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for controlling combustion
- F23N2900/05003—Measuring NOx content in flue gas
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
- Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies
Definitions
- This technology relates to combustion systems for industrial heating plants.
- exhaust emissions may be subject to governmental regulations. Such regulations may require the operator of the heating plant to shut down a heating process upon discovering that an exhaust emission parameter has a non-compliant value above a maximum permitted value. The operator must then take corrective action before resuming the heating process.
- the claimed invention provides a method of operating a combustion system with reference to compliant values of a governmentally regulated exhaust emission parameter.
- the method includes the initial step of specifying a low compliant value below the maximum compliant value.
- Exhaust is then generated in a preliminary mode of operation by operating a reference combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat.
- the available heat and the regulated emission parameter are measured in the preliminary mode of operation. Those measurements are used to identify a low range of available heat at which the regulated emission parameter of the exhaust is not greater than the low compliant value.
- An ordinary mode of operation follows the preliminary mode. Exhaust is generated in the ordinary mode of operation by operating a user combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat in a target range above the low range. If an alarm condition is detected during the ordinary mode of operation, the user combustion system is shifted into an assured compliance mode of operation. This is done while continuing to operate the user combustion system without a shut-down interruption. The shift into the assured compliance mode is accomplished by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within the low range.
- the alarm condition is corrected and the user combustion system is subsequently shifted back from the assured compliance mode of operation to an ordinary mode of operation by increasing the available heat from within the low range to within the target range.
- the reference combustion system and the user combustion system are preferably the same system, but could be different systems.
- the claimed invention further provides a method of retrofitting a combustion system by rendering it operative to perform as claimed. It follows that the invention further includes a retrofitted apparatus as well as an originally constructed apparatus that is operative as recited in the claims.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing parts of an industrial heating apparatus having a combustion chamber, a combustion system including a burner that fires into the combustion chamber, and a flue that discharges exhaust from the combustion chamber to the atmosphere.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing additional parts of the apparatus of FIG. 1 .
- the parts that are shown schematically in FIG. 1 include a burner 10 in an industrial heating plant 12 for which the exhaust emissions are subject to governmental regulation.
- Such plants include, for example, boilers, steam generators, dryers, and process heaters.
- the burner 10 is part of a combustion system 14 that is operative to fire into a combustion chamber 15 containing the load (not shown) to be heated.
- a flue 17 discharges the exhaust from the combustion chamber 15 to the atmosphere.
- a fuel source 20 which is preferably a supply of natural gas
- an oxidant source 24 which is preferably an air blower, provide the burner 10 with streams of those reactants.
- the burner 10 communicates with the fuel source 20 through a fuel control valve 30 .
- the blower 24 communicates with the ambient atmosphere through an oxidant control valve 32 .
- the combustion system 14 includes a controller 40 that is operatively associated with the valves 30 and the 32 , and a sensor 50 that is operatively associated with the flue 17 .
- the controller 40 has hardware and/or software that is configured for operation of the burner 10 .
- the controller 40 may thus comprise any suitable programmable logic controller or other control device, or combination of control devices, that is programmed or otherwise configured to perform as recited in the claims. As the controller 40 carries out those instructions, it actuates the valves 30 and 32 to initiate, regulate, and terminate flows of reactant streams that cause the burner 10 to fire into the combustion chamber 15 .
- the controller 40 provides the burner 10 with reactant streams at controlled flow rates.
- the flow rates of the reactant streams are controlled to be appropriate for the amount of available heat needed for the industrial heating process to be performed in the chamber 15 , and also to have a fuel-to-oxidant ratio within a target range.
- Available heat is defined as the gross quantity of heat released within a combustion chamber minus both the dry flue gas loss and the moisture loss. It represents the quantity of heat remaining for useful purposes and to balance losses to walls, openings, or conveyors, etc.
- the target range of fuel-to-oxidant ratios is determined with reference to predetermined flow rate data indicating that the exhaust produced by combustion of the reactant streams will contain oxides of nitrogen (NOx) at levels that are likewise within a target range.
- the target range of NOx levels is below a threshold alarm level which, in turn, is below a maximum level permitted in compliance with an applicable governmental regulation.
- the sensor 50 is responsive to the composition of the exhaust in the flue 17 .
- the sensor 50 could sense and indicate NOx content directly.
- the sensor 50 could sense a different component of the exhaust, such as oxygen, and thus indicate NOx content by implication.
- the controller 40 would be configured to infer the NOx content of the exhaust based on a known relationship of NOx to total oxygen.
- the controller 40 measures the NOx content of the exhaust based on input from the sensor 50 , and compares the measured NOx content with the target range of NOx levels that are expected to result from the target range of fuel-to-oxidant ratios at the burner 10 . If the measured NOx level is above the target range of NOx levels, the controller 40 generates an alarm signal.
- the controller 40 is further operative to generate alarm signals that indicate other alarm conditions.
- the controller 40 is operatively associated with other sensors in addition to the sensor 50 as described above. That sensor 50 provides the controller 40 with input that directly or indirectly indicates the amount of NOx in the exhaust in the flue 17 . At least one other sensor 60 similarly provides the controller 40 with input that directly or indirectly indicates the amount of a different exhaust component such as, for example, CO.
- the controller 40 measures the CO content of the exhaust based on input from the other sensor 60 , and compares the measured CO content with a target range of CO levels that are expected to result from the target range of fuel-to-oxidant ratios at the burner 10 . If the measured CO level is above the target range of CO levels, the controller 40 generates an alarm signal.
- the additional sensors that are shown as examples in FIG. 2 include a fuel composition sensor 70 , a fuel flow rate sensor 80 , and an oxidant flow rate sensor 90 . Also shown in FIG. 2 is an exhaust temperature sensor 100 . These sensors 70 , 80 , 90 , and 100 , as well as the sensors 50 and 60 described above, are known devices. The exhaust sensors 50 , 60 and 100 are operatively associated with the flue 17 , as indicted by the sensor 50 shown in FIG. 1 . The other sensors 70 , 80 and 90 can be installed in the apparatus of FIG. 1 at any suitable locations known in the art. In accordance with the claimed invention, the controller 40 can generate an alarm signal if input from the fuel composition sensor 70 indicates an unacceptable change in fuel composition.
- the controller 40 can also generate an alarm signal indicating an unacceptable change in a reactant flow rate through a control valve 30 or 32 , as indicated by input from the corresponding flow rate sensor 80 or 90 . Input from the exhaust temperature sensor 100 might also prompt an alarm signal from the controller 40 . Moreover, the controller 40 can generate an alarm signal in response to input from any of the sensors 50 - 100 , or from any other device with which the controller 40 is operatively associated in the combustion system 14 , if that input indicates a malfunction of the respective device.
- the alarm signal generated by the controller 40 might indicate that the detected alarm condition is relatively minor. For example, an alarm signal responding to input from the exhaust content sensor 50 might indicate that the measured level of NOx in the exhaust exceeds a specified threshold alarm level that is higher than the target range but complies with the governmental regulation. If so, the controller 40 continues to fire the burner 10 in the ordinary operating mode by providing the burner 10 with reactant streams having fuel-to-oxidant ratios within the target range. However, the alarm signal generated by the controller 40 might indicate that the measured level of NOx in the exhaust approaches or exceeds the maximum compliant level. If so, the burner 10 continues to be fired without a shutdown interruption, but the controller 40 shifts from the ordinary operating mode to an assured compliance mode in which the exhaust generated by the burner 10 contains NOx at levels below the specified threshold alarm level.
- the controller 40 can shift the combustion system 14 into an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat in the chamber 15 such that NOx production will be reduced to a level below the level at which the alarm signal was generated.
- the controller 40 can measure available heat in a known manner, and the reduction can be accomplished by any operating technique or condition that is known to reduce available heat. For example, the controller 40 can calculate available heat from input received from the exhaust oxygen sensor 50 , the fuel flow rate sensor 80 , and the exhaust temperature sensor 100 . Additional input from the other sensors 60 , 70 , and 90 also could be used in the calculation of available heat in a known manner. Techniques for reducing the available heat include delivering steam or recirculated flue gas to the burner 10 as a diluent.
- the reduction in available heat is accomplished by actuating the fuel and oxidant control valves 30 and 32 to reduce the fuel-to-oxidant ratio at the burner 10 . That ratio is reduced to a value below the target range sufficiently to reduce the NOx content of the exhaust to a compliant level that is below the specified threshold alarm level, and is thus well below the maximum compliant level. For example, the reduced level of NOx content could be about 75% of the maximum compliant level.
- Shifting into an assured compliance mode enables the burner 10 to continue firing into the combustion chamber 15 without a shut-down interruption that otherwise would be necessary to avoid NOx emissions above the maximum compliant level.
- the industrial heating process performed by the plant 12 can then be continued without a shut-down interruption while the operator examines the plant 12 to identify a cause for the non-compliant level of NOx. If the cause can be corrected without shutting down the combustion system 14 , the assured compliance mode enables the heating process to be continued still further without a shut-down interruption while the operator makes a correction and, in this example, subsequently actuates the controller 40 to shift the combustion system 14 back from the assured compliance mode to an ordinary operating mode by increasing the fuel-to-oxidant ratio at the burner 10 to a value within the target range.
- an assured compliance mode can be reached by reducing the available heat in the chamber 15 to a value at which the exhaust NOx is well below the maximum compliant level.
- the controller 40 would require a predetermined reference value of low available heat to which the measured value of available heat must be reduced.
- the reference value of low available heat would preferably be established empirically. In the given example it could be established by first specifying a low compliant level of NOx to be produced in the assured compliance mode. The burner 10 would then be fired in a preliminary operating mode in which a low range of available heat is identified.
- the burner 10 would be fired with reactant flow rates that produce NOx at or below the specified low compliant level, as measured by the controller 40 with input from the sensor 50 at the flue 17 .
- the available heat in the chamber 15 would be measured at those flow rates to identify a low range of available heat at which NOx production will not exceed the specified low compliant level. Accordingly, that low range of available heat could then serve as the reference to which the measured available heat can be reduced to accomplish a shift into the assured compliance mode.
- the preliminary mode of operation that establishes the reference range of available heat is performed by the same combustion system 14 that later uses the reference range in an assured compliance mode.
- a suitable reference system could be operated in the preliminary mode to establish a low range of available heat for an assured compliance mode in one or more other user systems.
- the heating plant 12 can be constructed such that the combustion system 14 is originally configured to operate with an assured compliance mode.
- a heating plant with an existing combustion system that is not configured to operate with an assured compliance mode can be retrofitted to do so. This could be accomplished by operating either the existing combustion system or a different reference system in a preliminary operating mode to establish an assured compliance mode in the manner described above.
- the existing combustion system could then be configured to operate in an ordinary operating mode with the capability of shifting into the assured compliance mode that was established in the preliminary operating mode.
- FIG. 1 shows a burner system in which two reactant streams are delivered to a single burner 10 , but the claimed invention can be practiced with a burner system that includes a plurality of burners, and the fuel-to-oxidant ratio could be defined in whole or in part by staged reactants.
- a particular heating process may include operating modes in which some or all of a plurality of burners are cycled on and off in accordance with predetermined conditions of time, temperature and/or other heating process parameters.
- the assured compliance mode for any particular heating process can include any such burner firing interruptions without including a shut-down interruption of the burner system that would terminate the heating process.
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.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/392,005, filed Mar. 29, 2006.
- This technology relates to combustion systems for industrial heating plants.
- Industrial heating plants such as boilers, steam generators, dryers and process heaters have combustion systems that produce exhaust emissions. The exhaust emissions may be subject to governmental regulations. Such regulations may require the operator of the heating plant to shut down a heating process upon discovering that an exhaust emission parameter has a non-compliant value above a maximum permitted value. The operator must then take corrective action before resuming the heating process.
- The claimed invention provides a method of operating a combustion system with reference to compliant values of a governmentally regulated exhaust emission parameter.
- In its fullest extent the method includes the initial step of specifying a low compliant value below the maximum compliant value. Exhaust is then generated in a preliminary mode of operation by operating a reference combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat. The available heat and the regulated emission parameter are measured in the preliminary mode of operation. Those measurements are used to identify a low range of available heat at which the regulated emission parameter of the exhaust is not greater than the low compliant value.
- An ordinary mode of operation follows the preliminary mode. Exhaust is generated in the ordinary mode of operation by operating a user combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce available heat in a target range above the low range. If an alarm condition is detected during the ordinary mode of operation, the user combustion system is shifted into an assured compliance mode of operation. This is done while continuing to operate the user combustion system without a shut-down interruption. The shift into the assured compliance mode is accomplished by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within the low range.
- Preferably, while the user combustion system continues to be operated without a shut-down interruption, the alarm condition is corrected and the user combustion system is subsequently shifted back from the assured compliance mode of operation to an ordinary mode of operation by increasing the available heat from within the low range to within the target range.
- The reference combustion system and the user combustion system are preferably the same system, but could be different systems. The claimed invention further provides a method of retrofitting a combustion system by rendering it operative to perform as claimed. It follows that the invention further includes a retrofitted apparatus as well as an originally constructed apparatus that is operative as recited in the claims.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing parts of an industrial heating apparatus having a combustion chamber, a combustion system including a burner that fires into the combustion chamber, and a flue that discharges exhaust from the combustion chamber to the atmosphere. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing additional parts of the apparatus ofFIG. 1 . - The apparatus shown schematically in the drawings can be operated in steps that are examples of the elements recited in the method claims, and has parts that are examples of the elements recited in the apparatus claims. The following description thus includes examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimed invention. It is presented here to meet the requirements of enablement and best mode without imposing limitations that are not recited in the claims. The various parts, as shown, described, and claimed, may be of either original or retrofitted construction as required to accomplish any particular implementation of the invention.
- The parts that are shown schematically in
FIG. 1 include aburner 10 in anindustrial heating plant 12 for which the exhaust emissions are subject to governmental regulation. Such plants include, for example, boilers, steam generators, dryers, and process heaters. Theburner 10 is part of acombustion system 14 that is operative to fire into acombustion chamber 15 containing the load (not shown) to be heated. Aflue 17 discharges the exhaust from thecombustion chamber 15 to the atmosphere. - A
fuel source 20, which is preferably a supply of natural gas, and anoxidant source 24, which is preferably an air blower, provide theburner 10 with streams of those reactants. Theburner 10 communicates with thefuel source 20 through afuel control valve 30. Theblower 24 communicates with the ambient atmosphere through anoxidant control valve 32. - Other parts of the
combustion system 14 include acontroller 40 that is operatively associated with thevalves 30 and the 32, and asensor 50 that is operatively associated with theflue 17. Thecontroller 40 has hardware and/or software that is configured for operation of theburner 10. Thecontroller 40 may thus comprise any suitable programmable logic controller or other control device, or combination of control devices, that is programmed or otherwise configured to perform as recited in the claims. As thecontroller 40 carries out those instructions, it actuates thevalves burner 10 to fire into thecombustion chamber 15. - The
controller 40 provides theburner 10 with reactant streams at controlled flow rates. In an ordinary mode of operation, the flow rates of the reactant streams are controlled to be appropriate for the amount of available heat needed for the industrial heating process to be performed in thechamber 15, and also to have a fuel-to-oxidant ratio within a target range. Available heat is defined as the gross quantity of heat released within a combustion chamber minus both the dry flue gas loss and the moisture loss. It represents the quantity of heat remaining for useful purposes and to balance losses to walls, openings, or conveyors, etc. The target range of fuel-to-oxidant ratios is determined with reference to predetermined flow rate data indicating that the exhaust produced by combustion of the reactant streams will contain oxides of nitrogen (NOx) at levels that are likewise within a target range. The target range of NOx levels is below a threshold alarm level which, in turn, is below a maximum level permitted in compliance with an applicable governmental regulation. - The
sensor 50 is responsive to the composition of the exhaust in theflue 17. Thesensor 50 could sense and indicate NOx content directly. Alternatively, thesensor 50 could sense a different component of the exhaust, such as oxygen, and thus indicate NOx content by implication. In the latter case, thecontroller 40 would be configured to infer the NOx content of the exhaust based on a known relationship of NOx to total oxygen. In either case, thecontroller 40 measures the NOx content of the exhaust based on input from thesensor 50, and compares the measured NOx content with the target range of NOx levels that are expected to result from the target range of fuel-to-oxidant ratios at theburner 10. If the measured NOx level is above the target range of NOx levels, thecontroller 40 generates an alarm signal. - In addition to the alarm signal that indicates NOx above the target range, the
controller 40 is further operative to generate alarm signals that indicate other alarm conditions. As shown schematically inFIG. 2 , thecontroller 40 is operatively associated with other sensors in addition to thesensor 50 as described above. Thatsensor 50 provides thecontroller 40 with input that directly or indirectly indicates the amount of NOx in the exhaust in theflue 17. At least oneother sensor 60 similarly provides thecontroller 40 with input that directly or indirectly indicates the amount of a different exhaust component such as, for example, CO. Thecontroller 40 measures the CO content of the exhaust based on input from theother sensor 60, and compares the measured CO content with a target range of CO levels that are expected to result from the target range of fuel-to-oxidant ratios at theburner 10. If the measured CO level is above the target range of CO levels, thecontroller 40 generates an alarm signal. - The additional sensors that are shown as examples in
FIG. 2 include afuel composition sensor 70, a fuelflow rate sensor 80, and an oxidantflow rate sensor 90. Also shown inFIG. 2 is an exhaust temperature sensor 100. Thesesensors sensors exhaust sensors flue 17, as indicted by thesensor 50 shown inFIG. 1 . Theother sensors FIG. 1 at any suitable locations known in the art. In accordance with the claimed invention, thecontroller 40 can generate an alarm signal if input from thefuel composition sensor 70 indicates an unacceptable change in fuel composition. Thecontroller 40 can also generate an alarm signal indicating an unacceptable change in a reactant flow rate through acontrol valve flow rate sensor controller 40. Moreover, thecontroller 40 can generate an alarm signal in response to input from any of the sensors 50-100, or from any other device with which thecontroller 40 is operatively associated in thecombustion system 14, if that input indicates a malfunction of the respective device. - The alarm signal generated by the
controller 40 might indicate that the detected alarm condition is relatively minor. For example, an alarm signal responding to input from theexhaust content sensor 50 might indicate that the measured level of NOx in the exhaust exceeds a specified threshold alarm level that is higher than the target range but complies with the governmental regulation. If so, thecontroller 40 continues to fire theburner 10 in the ordinary operating mode by providing theburner 10 with reactant streams having fuel-to-oxidant ratios within the target range. However, the alarm signal generated by thecontroller 40 might indicate that the measured level of NOx in the exhaust approaches or exceeds the maximum compliant level. If so, theburner 10 continues to be fired without a shutdown interruption, but thecontroller 40 shifts from the ordinary operating mode to an assured compliance mode in which the exhaust generated by theburner 10 contains NOx at levels below the specified threshold alarm level. - The
controller 40 can shift thecombustion system 14 into an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat in thechamber 15 such that NOx production will be reduced to a level below the level at which the alarm signal was generated. Thecontroller 40 can measure available heat in a known manner, and the reduction can be accomplished by any operating technique or condition that is known to reduce available heat. For example, thecontroller 40 can calculate available heat from input received from theexhaust oxygen sensor 50, the fuelflow rate sensor 80, and the exhaust temperature sensor 100. Additional input from theother sensors burner 10 as a diluent. This could be accomplished by the use of a flue gas recirculation (FGR) line 102 with an FGR valve 104. In a preferred implementation of the claimed invention, the reduction in available heat is accomplished by actuating the fuel andoxidant control valves burner 10. That ratio is reduced to a value below the target range sufficiently to reduce the NOx content of the exhaust to a compliant level that is below the specified threshold alarm level, and is thus well below the maximum compliant level. For example, the reduced level of NOx content could be about 75% of the maximum compliant level. - Shifting into an assured compliance mode enables the
burner 10 to continue firing into thecombustion chamber 15 without a shut-down interruption that otherwise would be necessary to avoid NOx emissions above the maximum compliant level. The industrial heating process performed by theplant 12 can then be continued without a shut-down interruption while the operator examines theplant 12 to identify a cause for the non-compliant level of NOx. If the cause can be corrected without shutting down thecombustion system 14, the assured compliance mode enables the heating process to be continued still further without a shut-down interruption while the operator makes a correction and, in this example, subsequently actuates thecontroller 40 to shift thecombustion system 14 back from the assured compliance mode to an ordinary operating mode by increasing the fuel-to-oxidant ratio at theburner 10 to a value within the target range. - The foregoing example proposes that an assured compliance mode can be reached by reducing the available heat in the
chamber 15 to a value at which the exhaust NOx is well below the maximum compliant level. In order to shift into an assured compliance mode in this manner, thecontroller 40 would require a predetermined reference value of low available heat to which the measured value of available heat must be reduced. The reference value of low available heat would preferably be established empirically. In the given example it could be established by first specifying a low compliant level of NOx to be produced in the assured compliance mode. Theburner 10 would then be fired in a preliminary operating mode in which a low range of available heat is identified. Specifically, theburner 10 would be fired with reactant flow rates that produce NOx at or below the specified low compliant level, as measured by thecontroller 40 with input from thesensor 50 at theflue 17. The available heat in thechamber 15 would be measured at those flow rates to identify a low range of available heat at which NOx production will not exceed the specified low compliant level. Accordingly, that low range of available heat could then serve as the reference to which the measured available heat can be reduced to accomplish a shift into the assured compliance mode. - In the foregoing example, the preliminary mode of operation that establishes the reference range of available heat is performed by the
same combustion system 14 that later uses the reference range in an assured compliance mode. However, it is not considered necessary to use a single combustion system as both the reference system and the user system. A suitable reference system could be operated in the preliminary mode to establish a low range of available heat for an assured compliance mode in one or more other user systems. - The
heating plant 12 can be constructed such that thecombustion system 14 is originally configured to operate with an assured compliance mode. Alternatively, a heating plant with an existing combustion system that is not configured to operate with an assured compliance mode can be retrofitted to do so. This could be accomplished by operating either the existing combustion system or a different reference system in a preliminary operating mode to establish an assured compliance mode in the manner described above. The existing combustion system could then be configured to operate in an ordinary operating mode with the capability of shifting into the assured compliance mode that was established in the preliminary operating mode. - The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples of how the invention can be made and used. In this regard, the schematic illustration of
FIG. 1 shows a burner system in which two reactant streams are delivered to asingle burner 10, but the claimed invention can be practiced with a burner system that includes a plurality of burners, and the fuel-to-oxidant ratio could be defined in whole or in part by staged reactants. Moreover, a particular heating process may include operating modes in which some or all of a plurality of burners are cycled on and off in accordance with predetermined conditions of time, temperature and/or other heating process parameters. The assured compliance mode for any particular heating process can include any such burner firing interruptions without including a shut-down interruption of the burner system that would terminate the heating process. Such other examples, which may be available either before or after the application filing date, are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural or method elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they have equivalent structural or method elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
Claims (28)
1.-21. (canceled)
22. A method comprising:
configuring a combustion system to:
a) generate exhaust in an ordinary mode by operating with reactant flow rates that produce combustion with available heat in a target range;
b) detect an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and
c) while continuing to operate without a shut-down interruption, respond to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within a predetermined reference low range of available heat that is beneath the target range and in which a regulated emission parameter of the exhaust is not greater than a specified low compliant level.
23. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the regulated emission parameter is NOx content.
24. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the regulated emission parameter is COx content.
25. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of a maximum compliant level permitted by a governmental regulation.
26. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the regulated emission parameter is a non-compliant high level of the regulated emission parameter of the generated exhaust.
27. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.
28. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.
29. A method comprising:
a) generating exhaust in an ordinary mode by operating a combustion system with reactant flow rates that produce combustion with available heat in a target range;
b) detecting an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and
c) while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption, responding to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range to within a predetermined reference low range of available heat that is beneath the target range and in which a regulated emission parameter of the exhaust is not greater than a specified low compliant level.
30. A method as defined in claim 29 further comprising, while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption, correcting the alarm condition and subsequently shifting back from the assured compliance mode to an ordinary mode by increasing the available heat from within the low range to within the target range.
31. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the regulated emission parameter is NOx content.
32. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the regulated emission parameter is COx content.
33. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of a maximum compliant level permitted by a governmental regulation.
34. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the regulated emission parameter is a non-compliant high level of the regulated emission parameter of the generated exhaust.
35. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.
36. A method as defined in claim 29 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.
37. An apparatus comprising a combustion system configured to be operated in performance of the method defined in claim 29 .
38. A method comprising:
configuring a combustion system to:
a) operate in an ordinary mode to produce available heat in a target range of available heat, and simultaneously to generate exhaust with levels of a regulated emission parameter in a target range of levels higher than a specified low compliant level, with the target range of available heat being higher than a predetermined reference low range of available heat in which the regulated emission parameter is below the specified low compliant level;
b) detect an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and
c) while continuing without a shut-down interruption, respond to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range of available heat to within the reference low range of available heat.
39. A method as defined in claim 38 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of a maximum level permitted by a governmental regulation.
40. A method as defined in claim 38 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.
41. A method as defined in claim 38 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.
42. An apparatus comprising a retrofitted combustion system having a configuration attained by performance of the method defined in claim 48 .
43. A method comprising:
a) operating a combustion system in an ordinary mode to produce available heat in a target range of available heat, and simultaneously to generate exhaust with levels of a regulated emission parameter in a target range of levels higher than a specified low compliant level, with the target range of available heat being higher than a predetermined reference low range of available heat in which the regulated emission parameter is below the specified low compliant level;
b) detecting an alarm condition during the ordinary mode; and
c) while continuing without a shut-down interruption, responding to the alarm condition by shifting from the ordinary mode to an assured compliance mode by reducing the available heat from within the target range of available heat to within the reference low range of available heat.
44. A method as defined in claim 43 further comprising, while continuing to operate the combustion system without a shut-down interruption, correcting the alarm condition and subsequently shifting back from the assured compliance mode to an ordinary mode by increasing the available heat from within the reference low range of available heat to within the target range of available heat.
45. A method as defined in claim 43 wherein the low compliant level is not more than 75% of a maximum level permitted by a governmental regulation.
46. A method as defined in claim 43 wherein the alarm condition is a malfunction of a combustion system component.
47. A method as defined in claim 43 wherein the alarm condition is a fuel composition.
48. An apparatus comprising a combustion system configured to be operated in performance of the method defined in claim 43 .
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/344,702 US20120100493A1 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2012-01-06 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/392,005 US8109759B2 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-03-29 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
US13/344,702 US20120100493A1 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2012-01-06 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/392,005 Continuation US8109759B2 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-03-29 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120100493A1 true US20120100493A1 (en) | 2012-04-26 |
Family
ID=38541755
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/392,005 Expired - Fee Related US8109759B2 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-03-29 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
US13/344,702 Abandoned US20120100493A1 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2012-01-06 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/392,005 Expired - Fee Related US8109759B2 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2006-03-29 | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US8109759B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1999345A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2009531647A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2642980C (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007112126A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008103820A2 (en) | 2007-02-21 | 2008-08-28 | Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co. | System for monitoring a container and the items therein |
US20100119341A1 (en) * | 2008-11-07 | 2010-05-13 | Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co. | Method and apparatus for waste removing and hauling |
US8146798B2 (en) | 2008-11-07 | 2012-04-03 | Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co. | Method and apparatus for monitoring waste removal and administration |
US8185277B2 (en) * | 2008-11-07 | 2012-05-22 | Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co. | Waste removing and hauling vehicle |
GB0901117D0 (en) * | 2009-01-24 | 2009-03-11 | Richardson Callum S S | Flue-Gas analysis safety apparatus |
JP5455528B2 (en) * | 2009-09-29 | 2014-03-26 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Combustion control device |
TWI542406B (en) * | 2012-06-22 | 2016-07-21 | Control system for re - use of exhaust gas from combustion plant | |
US9251388B2 (en) | 2013-05-15 | 2016-02-02 | Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment, Co. | Method for deploying large numbers of waste containers in a waste collection system |
CN103778047A (en) * | 2013-11-29 | 2014-05-07 | 信航(天津)科技有限公司 | Case with fan damage alarm function |
CA3019645C (en) | 2016-03-31 | 2022-03-15 | Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Company | Systems & method for interrogating, publishing and analyzing information related to a waste hauling vehicle |
US10767584B2 (en) * | 2017-03-13 | 2020-09-08 | Cummins Inc. | Systems and methods for controlling an engine based on aftertreatment system characteristics |
DE102020106040A1 (en) | 2020-03-05 | 2021-09-09 | Ebm-Papst Landshut Gmbh | Method for monitoring and regulating a process in a gas boiler |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3396375A (en) * | 1965-05-20 | 1968-08-06 | Atomic Energy Commission Usa | Fail-safe alarm system |
US4075059A (en) * | 1976-04-28 | 1978-02-21 | Combustion Engineering, Inc. | Reactor power reduction system and method |
US4260363A (en) * | 1979-03-05 | 1981-04-07 | Standard Oil Company (Indiana) | Furnace fuel optimizer |
US4803040A (en) * | 1988-01-21 | 1989-02-07 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Expert system for surveillance and diagnosis of breach fuel elements |
US5528639A (en) * | 1994-08-01 | 1996-06-18 | General Electric Company | Enhanced transient overpower protection system |
Family Cites Families (27)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3291969A (en) * | 1963-10-18 | 1966-12-13 | Electroglas Inc | Temperature control system for a diffusion furnace |
US3450343A (en) * | 1967-12-21 | 1969-06-17 | Illinois Testing Laboratories | Temperature responsive controller system |
US4150939A (en) * | 1977-08-22 | 1979-04-24 | Reliance Instrument Manufacturing Corp. | Differential controller for positioning combustion system |
US4439138A (en) * | 1978-06-12 | 1984-03-27 | Aqua-Chem, Inc. | Combustion control apparatus |
JPS59212620A (en) * | 1983-05-16 | 1984-12-01 | Toshiba Corp | Control method of oxygen concentration in combustion waste gas |
US4568266A (en) * | 1983-10-14 | 1986-02-04 | Honeywell Inc. | Fuel-to-air ratio control for combustion systems |
US4492559A (en) * | 1983-11-14 | 1985-01-08 | The Babcock & Wilcox Company | System for controlling combustibles and O2 in the flue gases from combustion processes |
US4852384A (en) * | 1986-04-21 | 1989-08-01 | The Babcock & Wilcox Company | Automatic calibration and control system for a combined oxygen and combustibles analyzer |
US4885573A (en) * | 1987-08-12 | 1989-12-05 | Gas Research Institute | Diagnostic system for combustion controller |
US4942832A (en) * | 1989-05-04 | 1990-07-24 | Bloom Engineering Company, Inc. | Method and device for controlling NOx emissions by vitiation |
US5191313A (en) * | 1991-09-12 | 1993-03-02 | Honeywell Inc. | Method of continuous monitoring of process variables of varying grades of a product within a process control system |
US5280756A (en) * | 1992-02-04 | 1994-01-25 | Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. | NOx Emissions advisor and automation system |
US5314127A (en) * | 1993-01-25 | 1994-05-24 | Donlee Technologies, Inc. | Infectious waste feed system |
JP3291134B2 (en) * | 1994-07-04 | 2002-06-10 | 株式会社ガスター | Control method and apparatus for incomplete combustion of combustion equipment |
US5605452A (en) * | 1995-06-06 | 1997-02-25 | North American Manufacturing Company | Method and apparatus for controlling staged combustion systems |
US5970426A (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 1999-10-19 | Rosemount Analytical Inc. | Emission monitoring system |
EP0913644A1 (en) * | 1996-07-17 | 1999-05-06 | Gastar Co., Ltd. | Combustion apparatus |
US5997280A (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 1999-12-07 | Maxon Corporation | Intelligent burner control system |
KR100304907B1 (en) * | 1999-02-26 | 2001-09-24 | 구자홍 | control device for operating of gas furnace and method the same |
US6712604B2 (en) * | 2001-06-15 | 2004-03-30 | Honeywell International Inc. | Cautious optimization strategy for emission reduction |
US6882929B2 (en) * | 2002-05-15 | 2005-04-19 | Caterpillar Inc | NOx emission-control system using a virtual sensor |
US20040185398A1 (en) * | 2002-12-20 | 2004-09-23 | Fina Technology, Inc. | Method for reducing the formation of nitrogen oxides in steam generation |
CN100362448C (en) * | 2003-02-26 | 2008-01-16 | 华为技术有限公司 | Method for monitoring run of fan |
US7349794B2 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2008-03-25 | Malone Specialty, Inc. | Engine protection system |
US7113890B2 (en) * | 2003-10-16 | 2006-09-26 | Abb Inc. | Method and apparatus for detecting faults in steam generator system components and other continuous processes |
US20050089811A1 (en) * | 2003-10-24 | 2005-04-28 | United Dominion Industries, Inc. | Exhaust recirculating method and apparatus for a hydrocarbon fired burner |
CN100449901C (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2009-01-07 | 华为技术有限公司 | Apparatus for preventing equipment internal combustion from drawing outward |
-
2006
- 2006-03-29 US US11/392,005 patent/US8109759B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2007
- 2007-03-28 WO PCT/US2007/007784 patent/WO2007112126A2/en active Application Filing
- 2007-03-28 EP EP07774113.0A patent/EP1999345A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-03-28 JP JP2009503002A patent/JP2009531647A/en active Pending
- 2007-03-28 CA CA2642980A patent/CA2642980C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2012
- 2012-01-06 US US13/344,702 patent/US20120100493A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3396375A (en) * | 1965-05-20 | 1968-08-06 | Atomic Energy Commission Usa | Fail-safe alarm system |
US4075059A (en) * | 1976-04-28 | 1978-02-21 | Combustion Engineering, Inc. | Reactor power reduction system and method |
US4260363A (en) * | 1979-03-05 | 1981-04-07 | Standard Oil Company (Indiana) | Furnace fuel optimizer |
US4803040A (en) * | 1988-01-21 | 1989-02-07 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Expert system for surveillance and diagnosis of breach fuel elements |
US5528639A (en) * | 1994-08-01 | 1996-06-18 | General Electric Company | Enhanced transient overpower protection system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US8109759B2 (en) | 2012-02-07 |
US20070227125A1 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
CA2642980C (en) | 2013-07-02 |
JP2009531647A (en) | 2009-09-03 |
WO2007112126A2 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
CA2642980A1 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
WO2007112126A3 (en) | 2008-11-20 |
EP1999345A4 (en) | 2014-07-30 |
EP1999345A2 (en) | 2008-12-10 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8109759B2 (en) | Assured compliance mode of operating a combustion system | |
US7513117B2 (en) | Method for operating a furnace | |
DK171860B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for controlling fuel combustion | |
US8145403B2 (en) | Operating a turbine at baseload on cold fuel with hot fuel combustion hardware | |
RU2614471C2 (en) | Method and regulating system for gas turbine | |
KR101520240B1 (en) | Valve control device, gas turbine, and valve control method | |
US20060177785A1 (en) | Advanced control system for enhanced operation of oscillating combustion in combustors | |
US20100003123A1 (en) | Inlet air heating system for a gas turbine engine | |
KR101530807B1 (en) | Exhaust heat recovery boiler and electricity generation plant | |
US20110244407A1 (en) | Combustion controlling device | |
CN110671717B (en) | Combustion accurate control system for steam power generation boiler | |
KR100642927B1 (en) | Composite combustion apparatus | |
JP2004226035A (en) | Combustion apparatus and hot-water supply device | |
JP2016008803A (en) | Boiler equipment | |
JP7220971B2 (en) | Combustion control method for combustion equipment | |
US11486644B1 (en) | Microprocessor-based controller for pellet burners | |
JP2958550B2 (en) | Combustion equipment | |
EP4102134A1 (en) | Method for controlling the operation of a gas boiler | |
JP4155179B2 (en) | Gas combustion equipment | |
EP3287612B1 (en) | Hrsg control for optimized fresh air operation | |
JP3769660B2 (en) | Water heater | |
JP2001272030A (en) | Method and device for monitoring air-fuel ratio control of burner | |
WO2017140906A1 (en) | Over firing protection of combustion unit | |
JPH01256716A (en) | Nox controlling system at starting | |
JP2002295904A (en) | Hot water supply apparatus |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |