Combustion Plant Fume Monitoring for Predictive Maintenance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combustion plants experience rapid performance degradation, leading to lower heat production, higher consumption, and increased pollutant emission, necessitating laborious and expensive maintenance, with potential risks from soot accumulation.

Innovation Solution

A control device and process that monitors combustion plants using sensors to detect fume temperature, pressure, chemical composition, and particle content, integrated with a neural network to optimize operation and predict maintenance needs, ensuring optimal performance and air quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If combustion plants operate continuously without maintenance, then productivity is maintained, but performance degradation occurs leading to lower heat production and higher consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat productionVSAvoidconsumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring and analysis of combustion parameters to detect early signs of performance degradation. By continuously tracking temperature, pressure, and composition data, the system identifies trends indicating upcoming maintenance needs before actual performance loss occurs, allowing proactive intervention to maintain optimal heat production efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data from the combustion process is analyzed by neural networks to detect deviations from optimal performance. This feedback mechanism automatically adjusts operational parameters and triggers maintenance alerts, creating a closed-loop system that prevents performance degradation and maintains consistent heat production while minimizing energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If maintenance is performed frequently to maintain optimal performance, then heat production and efficiency are preserved, but operational time is reduced and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance consistencyVSAvoidoperational time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of combustion data to predict maintenance requirements in advance. By detecting early indicators of component wear or performance drift through continuous monitoring of temperature, pressure, and gas composition, the system schedules maintenance only when actually needed, maximizing operational time while ensuring performance consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The combustion plant incorporates self-diagnostic capabilities through integrated sensors and neural network analysis. The system autonomously monitors its own performance parameters, detects anomalies, and generates maintenance alerts without external intervention, enabling operators to maintain optimal performance while minimizing unnecessary maintenance interruptions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If advanced sensors and neural networks are integrated for real-time monitoring, then measurement precision and control accuracy improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multi-functional sensor units that simultaneously measure multiple combustion parameters (temperature, pressure, gas composition) using a single integrated device. This universal approach provides comprehensive monitoring data for neural network analysis while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate sensor systems, maintaining measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise real-time monitoring and predictive control, reducing maintenance frequency, ensuring optimal performance, safety, and environmental sustainability by detecting deviations and regulating operation effectively.

Implementation Method 1

monitors combustion plants using sensors to detect fume temperature, pressure, chemical composition, and particle content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Implementation Method 2

monitors combustion plants using sensors to detect fume temperature, pressure, chemical composition, and particle content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 3

monitors combustion plants using sensors to detect fume temperature, pressure, chemical composition, and particle content

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical composition detection:

Implementation Method 4

integrated with a neural network to optimize operation and predict maintenance needs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNeural network processing:

Implementation Method 5

ensuring optimal performance and air quality

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion control: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP4538595B1Device and process for controlling a combustion plant
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 ALTREFIAMME SRL
  • EP4538595B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A control process (100) is provided for a combustion plant (2) equipped with a burner (21) and an exhaust (22) for the discharge of the fumes produced by the burner (21); a temperature sensor (31) for measuring the temperature of the fumes; a pressure sensor (32) for measuring the pressure of the fumes; a reference database associating at least one optimal cycle with each identifier of said plant (2), describing the variation of said temperature and said pressure during optimal operation; a control unit (4) defines whether the plant (2) operates optimally according to the measured temperature and pressure.