780results about "Chamber safety arrangement" patented technology

The present invention comprises a wide angle lens optical viewing system for the non-destructive monitoring of a high temperature area of interest with a confined space access, in particular, in a gas turbine engine. A novel cooling scheme is claimed that functions to cool the wide angle lens. Further, a method of monitoring an annular combustor region in the gas turbine via the optical viewing system is presented.

A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a feed arm having a flange for mounting the injector within the combustor and a fuel nozzle depending from the feed arm for injecting fuel into the combustor for combustion. An optical sensor array is operatively associated with the fuel nozzle for observing combustor flame characteristics. The optical sensor array includes a plurality of sapphire rods positioned to be close enough to the combustor flame to oxidize soot deposits thereon.

A control for a water heater is provided that comprises a pressure switch for sensing a predetermined level of airflow sufficient for maintaining proper burner operation, and a temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank. The control further comprises a processor for controlling the operation of the burner to maintain the water temperature above a predetermined value. When the processor receives a signal from the pressure switch indicating an insufficient level of airflow, the processor shuts down the burner and subsequently attempts to restart the burner. The processor will also lock-out further burner operation after a predetermined number of consecutive shut downs occurs before the water is heated to a desired temperature during a single call for heating.

The present invention comprises methods for detecting and controlling flame blowout in combustors. The blowout precursor detection system comprises a combustor, a blowout precursor detection unit, a pressure measuring device and / or an optical measuring device. The methods of the present invention comprise receiving optical data measured by an optical measuring device, performing one or a combination of raw data analysis, spectral analysis, statistical analysis, and wavelet analysis on received optical data, and determining the existence of a blowout precursor based on such analyses. The present invention further comprises closed-loop control methods for controlling a combustor to prevent blowout.

The invention provides a boiler water wall high-temperature corrosion on-line monitoring device and a method thereof. The device comprises a flue gas sampling pipe, a flue gas analyzer, an industrial computer, a high temperature thermocouple and a monitor. The method comprises the following steps: opening holes of the connection plate between the pipes on the membrane water wall; arranging 1 to 5 layers of measuring points in the height direction of a furnace; sucking flue gas by the flue gas sampling pipe; measuring the concentrations of CO, O2 and SO2 in the flue gas by the flue gas analyzer; and measuring the wall temperature of the wall of the water wall by combining the high temperature thermocouple; and transmitting the measured data to the industrial computer. Meanwhile, the industrial computer receives the data of the primary air speed, the secondary air speed and the air powder concentration of the Oracle database of the MIS system of a power plant, analyzes by modified intangible analytical hierarchy process, calculates the weight of the prior high-temperature corrosion influencing factor, carries out ordering on a real-time basis according to the weight, display the result on the picture of the monitor in a user-friendly manner, and gives a relevant diagnosis suggestion, and requires the line personnel to adjust timely.

The current invention provides a method and apparatus, which uses symbol sequence techniques, temporal irreversibility, and / or cluster analysis to monitor the operating state of individual burner flames on a appropriate time scale. Both the method and apparatus of the present invention may be used optimize the performance of burner flames.

A system for assessing combustor health during operation of the combustor includes a combustor, a sensor configured to sense combustion dynamics pressure data from the combustor, and a computing device that is in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the combustion dynamics pressure data from the sensor. The computing device is programed to extract a feature from the combustion dynamics pressure data and generate feature values for the feature over a period of time. The computing device is also programmed to generate a cumulative form of the feature that is based on the feature values over a time series and to compare the cumulative form to a historical cumulative form.

A seal assembly for an optical sensor employed in a high temperature environment is disclosed which includes an elongated metal guide tube having a distal end portion defining an open distal end and an inner rear wall, a sapphire window disposed within the distal end portion of the metal guide tube, the sapphire window having a rear end surface abutting the inner rear wall of the distal end portion of the metal guide tube, and a platinum mounting sleeve for securing the sapphire window to the metal guide tube, the platinum mounting sleeve having one portion joined to the metal guide tube and another portion joined to the sapphire window.

Method and apparatus for monitoring formation of deposits of solid particles from flue gas onto furnace walls formed of welded-together tubes through which cooling medium flows. For the entire surface of the walls, the exact surface temperature is detected with infrared cameras, offset by 90° relative to one another, via a thermal image obtained of a surface development of the furnace. This exact surface temperature is compared with the temperature of the cooling medium from measurement locations. Individual images from the cameras are composed to form an overall development of the inner surface of the furnace walls. The coordinates of the deposits on the walls are determined from the overall development, and the thickness of the deposits is determined from the temperature comparison.

A furnace panel leak monitoring and control system for fluid-cooled panels in high temperature industrial furnaces such as, for example, smelting furnaces, blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces. The system performs at least two and up four functions simultaneously. At minimum, the system includes one or more temperature sensors received within the body of the panel to monitor temperature within the metal of the panel itself, and pressure sensors installed proximate the inlet and outlet of each panel coolant fluid circuit, which circuits are preferably periodically automatically tested, to check for leaks in the coolant circuits. In addition, the system preferably includes temperature and flow sensors for monitoring the furnace panel coolant circuit(s) for temperature and flow fluctuations, respectively, which may be indicative of leaking cooling circuits. The system triggers visual and / or audible alarm means to alert a human operator of an apparent coolant fluid leak situation.

A method and apparatus for monitoring the exhaust path of a gas turbine engine for the presence of unwanted flames downstream from the main combustion chamber(s). The system is comprised of an Electro-Optics Module containing sensors and associated processing electronics as well as collection and transmitting optics, which relay the radiant energy generated by a flame event to the sensors. The information generated by the sensors is directly related to the time based intensity of the flame event, which can suggest problems associated with the condition of combustion related engine components. This information can then be used by the engine owner / operator to assess the condition of the engine and determine the more efficient required maintenance schedule.

A method and apparatus for monitoring the exhaust path of a gas turbine engine for the presence of unwanted flames downstream from the main combustion chamber(s). The system is comprised of an Electro-Optics Module containing sensors and associated processing electronics as well as collection and transmitting optics, which relay the radiant energy generated by a flame event to the sensors. The information generated by the sensors is directly related to the time based intensity of the flame event, which can suggest problems associated with the condition of combustion related engine components. This information can then be used by the engine owner / operator to assess the condition of the engine and determine the more efficient required maintenance schedule.

The present invention provides a combustion flame diagnostic method comprising the steps of: utilizing an image capturing device to obtain an original image of a combustion chamber used for executing a combustion technology, wherein the original image comprises a flame image and a background image; utilizing a flame recognition technology to separate the flame image and the background image in the original image; calculating characteristics of the flame image; and diagnosing stability and combustion efficiency of the combustion chamber according to the characteristics of the flame image.

A pneumatic fuel distributor for solid fuel boilers is described incorporating in various embodiments one or more of the following features: a converging nozzle section, a converging adjustable orifice section and an integral trajectory plate. The nozzle, orifice and trajectory plate are preferably all interconnected and rotate together about a common axis. The orifice damper is, in one embodiment, a rotating convergent section and independently adjustable. The unit preferably incorporates a viewing glass and access port and the rotating components are preferably removable for maintenance. The unit is preferably reversible for left or right hand installation and the trajectory plate is easily replaceable.

A flame sensor apparatus and a cable assembly apparatus are provided for use in sensing characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber. The flame sensor apparatus includes an electrical assembly remote from a sensor assembly. A cable assembly extends between the sensor assembly and the electrical assembly. The cable assembly includes two cable ends and a housing that defines an internal volume. Cable fittings are connected to the cable ends through a first seal. An electrical cable is inserted through cable fitting openings in each cable fitting and the internal volume of the housing. A second seal is located in the annular spaces between the electrical cable and each cable fitting opening, configured to prevent moisture and contaminants from passing through the cable fitting opening. Additionally, a method of sealing an electrical cable and a flexible conduit is provided.

A device and method for detecting flame using real-time continuous imaging and pattern recognition of infrared (IR) images of a flame region. Infrared emissions radiated from the region pass through a wide field-of-view lens and are detected by a Charged-Coupled Device (CCD) array sensitive to the near IR range. The system then digitizes the image, extracts characteristic parameters from the measurement and stores both the image and characteristic information for pattern recognition. To accomplish the pattern recognition function, the derived real-time characteristics of the current measurement are statistically compared to pre-stored patterns representative of images of radiation emitted from the region while known flame conditions prevail within the region. Based on this comparison, an assessment is made to determine the presence or absence of flame. The characteristic measurements are also used for evaluating the quality of flame.

A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a fuel nozzle for issuing fuel into the combustor for combustion, at least one photodetector responsive to flame radiation indicative of an OH chemiluminescence peak, and at least one photodiode responsive to flame radiation indicative of a CH chemiluminescence peak.

The current invention provides a method and apparatus, which uses symbol sequence techniques, temporal irreversibility, and / or cluster analysis to monitor the operating state of individual burner flames on a appropriate time scale. Both the method and apparatus of the present invention may be used optimize the performance of burner flames.

A system for detecting an at-fault combustor includes a sensor that is configured to sense combustion dynamics pressure data from the combustor and a computing device that is in electronic communication with the sensor and configured to receive the combustion dynamics pressure data from the sensor. The computing device is programmed to convert the combustion dynamics pressure data into a frequency spectrum, segment the frequency spectrum into a plurality of frequency intervals, extract a feature from the frequency spectrum, generate feature values for the feature within a corresponding frequency interval over a period of time, and to store the feature values to generate a historical database. The computing device is further programmed to execute a machine learning algorithm using the historical database of the feature values to train the computing device to recognize feature behavior that is indicative of an at-fault combustor.

A fuel injector for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed which includes a fuel nozzle for issuing fuel into the combustor for combustion, at least one photodetector responsive to flame radiation indicative of an OH chemiluminescence peak, and at least one photodiode responsive to flame radiation indicative of a CH chemiluminescence peak.

The invention discloses an independent flameout alarm monitoring system of a multi-combustor for combustion applying a computer program. The system provided by the invention mainly comprises a photographic device, an image inputting device, a signal converting device, an image delineating device, a signal extraction device, a comparing device and a combustor flameout alarming device, wherein the photographic device is used for collecting a combustor flame image in a furnace; the image entering device is used for inputting the collected image; the signal converting device is used for converting the collected analog signal image; the image ring positioning device is used for delineating a combustor nozzle on a display; the signal extraction device is used for extracting the information of chromaticity, illumination and RGB (red, green and blue) three-color value in the delineated range; the comparing device is used for comparing the extracted signal and a default value; and after the combustor in the furnace is close to the flameout state, the alarm monitoring system automatically sends alarm signals after comparison according to the extracted information and the default value. By adopting the system provided by the invention, when the combustion state of a furnace combustor of a boiler is monitored, not only is the manual work labor intensity reduced, but also the probability of boiler accident occurrence is reduced greatly.

The invention relates to a reconstruction method for a hearth three-dimensional temperature field. The method comprises the following steps that: a burning flame colorized image can be obtained through a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image pickup system and a computer processing system, based on R,G and B pixels of a flame image, two-dimensional temperature of a burning flame image can be obtained through a neural network BP algorithm, an inverse solution of a radiative transfer equation can be combined, and three-dimensional temperature distribution of a burning flame in a hearth can be further obtained. The reconstruction method has the advantages of scientific design and creativeness, three-dimensional characteristic of coal dust in a large-scale boiler can be fully embodied, and the reconstruction method is significant to safety, economic benefit, clean operation and the like of the boiler. The system disclosed by the invention has the advantages of compact structure, less material consumption, long service life, stable and reliable performance, convenient for maintenance and high measurement precision of three-dimensional temperature, and flame combustion condition in the boiler can be controlled in time.

A furnace panel leak monitoring and control system for fluid-cooled panels in high temperature industrial furnaces such as, for example, smelting furnaces, blast furnaces and electric arc furnaces. The system performs at least two and up to four functions simultaneously. At minimum, the system includes one or more temperature sensors received within the body of the panel to monitor temperature within the metal of the panel itself, and pressure sensors installed proximate the inlet and outlet of each panel coolant fluid circuit, which circuits are preferably periodically automatically tested, to check for leaks in the coolant circuits. In addition, the system preferably includes temperature and flow sensors for monitoring the furnace panel coolant circuit(s) for temperature and flow fluctuations, respectively, which may be indicative of leaking cooling circuits. The system triggers visual and / or audible alarms to alert a human operator of an apparent coolant fluid leak situation.

In a flammable vapor sensor-based shut-off system of a fuel-fired water heater the sensor resistance output signal degradation caused by aging of the sensor is automatically compensated for using an operational timer having an output signal indicative of the total life of the sensor subsequent to its installation on the water heater. In one embodiment of the system, a resistance adjustment signal having a magnitude related in a predetermined manner to the timer output signal is created and added to the sensor resistance output signal. In another embodiment, the timer output signal is used to appropriately adjust the minimum-maximum received sensor signal magnitude range, based on the installed age of the sensor, which will preclude combustion in the appliance. Additionally, in each embodiment thereof the system is provided with an improved initial minimum-maximum sensor signal magnitude range. Other types of shut-off gas sensors may be alternatively utilized.

A seal assembly for an optical sensor employed in a high temperature environment is disclosed which includes an elongated metal guide tube having a distal end portion defining an open distal end and an inner rear wall, a sapphire window disposed within the distal end portion of the metal guide tube, the sapphire window having a rear end surface abutting the inner rear wall of the distal end portion of the metal guide tube, and a platinum mounting sleeve for securing the sapphire window to the metal guide tube, the platinum mounting sleeve having one portion joined to the metal guide tube and another portion joined to the sapphire window.