Systems and methods for determining the existence of a visible plume from the chimney of a facility burning carbon-based fuels
US7161678B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF23N2005/181
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Excess oxygen in the combustion process of a facility that bums carbon-based fuels may cause a visible plume in the atmosphere at the stack of the facility. Traditional optical based opacity monitors may be unable to detect this plume or the plume may form at a location downstream from the opacity monitor toward the stack. The present invention discloses methods to utilize common combustion control variables to detect and signal the presence of a visible plume of exhaust gasses. Also disclosed are systems that detect the visible plume and provide a signal so that the combustion process may be manually or automatically adjusted to reduce or eliminate the visible plume.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.