Flame monitoring methods and apparatus

Details Flame monitoring methods and apparatus Flame monitoring methods and apparatus

1999-11-12

2001-06-19

Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)

Combustion

Process of combustion or burner operation

Controlling or proportioning feed

C431S079000, C431S076000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247918

ABSTRACT:

The invention relates to flame monitoring methods and apparatus. Flame monitoring apparatus embodying the invention, and to be described below by way of example only, may be used for monitoring a flame of burning hydrocarbon fuel such as in a boiler, furnace or other combustion equipment, in order to determine characteristics of the flame and, in particular, to provide information on the stoichiometry of the combustion process. In such an application, therefore, the apparatus can be used to improve combustion efficiency and reduce the production of pollutants.
According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for monitoring a hydrocarbon flame, comprising first detecting means responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the flame in a first wavelength corresponding to transient species existing for only a short time within the combustion region of the flame to produce a first detection signal, second detecting means responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the flame in a second wavelength corresponding to non-transient species in the combustion region to produce a second detection signal, and comparing means responsive to the first and second detection signals to produce a comparison signal, and output responsive to the comparison signal to produce an output signal dependent on the air/fuel ratio in the flame.
According to the invention, there is further provided a method for monitoring a hydrocarbon flame, comprising the steps of detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the flame in a first wavelength corresponding to a transient species existing for only a short time within the combustion region of the flame to produce a first detection signal, detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the flame in a second wavelength corresponding to a non-transient species in the combustion region to produce a second detection signal, comparing the first and second detection signals to produce a comparison signal, and responding to the comparison signal to produce an output signal dependent on the air/fuel ration in the flame.


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