Adaptive Combustion Actuator Control With Stored Rate Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combustion devices face inefficiencies due to conservative actuator adjustments caused by fluctuations in air temperature and pressure, leading to delayed responses and deviations in actuator positions, which can result in prolonged undesirable emissions and potential shutdowns.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a closed-loop or open-loop control system with a non-volatile memory to manage actuators, allowing for precise adjustment of mechanical variables based on stored or empirically determined rates of change, ensuring actuators change at optimal speeds without exceeding their maximum capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If actuators are adjusted conservatively using the slowest rate of change as reference, then all actuators can operate reliably, but the response time of the combustion device is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the rate of change for each actuator based on its individual characteristics stored in memory, rather than using a static conservative reference value. This allows the system to optimize response time while maintaining reliability by adapting to actual actuator capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (rate of change) for each actuator based on stored characteristic values. By retrieving and applying specific rate of change parameters for each actuator type, the system eliminates unnecessary delays while ensuring reliable operation.
2Speed
If actuators operate at their nominal rate of change, then the response speed is maximized, but deviations between target and actual positions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The closed-loop control system continuously monitors the actual position of actuators and compares it with the target position. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts control signals to eliminate deviations, allowing actuators to operate at optimal speeds while maintaining position accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the combustion device is set conservatively to the slowest actuator, then system compatibility is ensured, but the overall system efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the control of each actuator type (blowers, air flaps, fuel valves) and assigns individual rate of change characteristics to each segment. This allows each actuator to operate at its optimal speed rather than being constrained by the slowest actuator, thereby improving overall system efficiency while maintaining compatibility.
4Productivity
If actuators are readjusted during operation, then combustion efficiency is improved, but the complexity of control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the rate of change characteristics of each actuator in memory before operation. This pre-programming of actuator characteristics simplifies the control process during operation, as the system can directly retrieve and apply the appropriate rates of change without complex real-time calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
An example includes a combustion device comprising: a burner; a feed duct; an actuator adjusting a feed of fluid through the feed duct; and a control apparatus programmed to adjust the actuator. The actuator, upon receipt a request signal, checks for a stored rate of change in an associated memory and, if the stored rate of change is present, sends a response signal to the control apparatus. The control apparatus determines a rate of change from the response signal, and generates a first automation signal as a function of the stored rate of change. The first automation signal causes the actuator to change a mechanical variable of the actuator so the mechanical variable changes no faster than the stored rate of change.