Method and apparatus for optical flame control of combustion burners
US5829962A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF23N2235/12
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus to control or monitor 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 comprising means for viewing light emitted by a flame from a burner, means for optically transporting the viewed light into an optical processor, optical processor means for processing the optical spectrum into electrical signals, signal processing means for processing the electrical signals obtained from the optical spectrum, and control means which accept the electrical signals and produce an output acceptable to one or more oxidant or fuel flow control means. The control means may be referred to as a "burner computer", which 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.