Controller System for Combustion Resonance Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Combustion resonance in combustion devices such as industrial heaters and jet engines causes pressure oscillations that can lead to equipment damage and failure, and existing solutions like redesigning the combustion chamber or using complex acoustic modulation are impractical or resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that monitors operating conditions in a combustion chamber, using UV sensors and pressure transducers to detect resonance characteristics and adjusts air and fuel supplies to prevent resonance, employing a semi-active control mechanism without requiring chamber redesign.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the combustion chamber is redesigned to prevent combustion resonance, then combustion resonance is suppressed, but significant economic resources are required and chamber redesign becomes impracticable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion resonance suppressionVSAvoidcombustion chamber redesign

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts fuel flow rate in real-time based on detected acoustic oscillations to suppress combustion resonance, replacing static chamber redesign with adaptive control that modifies operating parameters during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fuel flow rate parameter in response to detected acoustic conditions, using parameter modulation to suppress resonance without requiring physical modifications to the combustion chamber structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If speakers are used to dampen combustion resonance by modifying acoustic pressures, then combustion resonance is suppressed, but advanced control approaches based on complex models are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion resonance suppressionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical acoustic pressure modulation approach (using speakers) with a combustion-based control mechanism that modulates fuel flow to directly affect the combustion process and suppress resonance through changes in heat release rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the combustion process itself to suppress resonance by modulating fuel flow, eliminating the need for external acoustic devices and complex control models

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If heat release rate is modulated by changing fuel flow at acoustic frequencies, then combustion resonance is suppressed, but advanced control approaches based on complex models are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion resonance suppressionVSAvoidcontrol model complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring acoustic oscillations and adjusting fuel flow rate accordingly, using simple feedback loops rather than complex predictive models to achieve resonance suppression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively suppresses combustion resonance, preventing equipment damage and maintaining operational stability by quickly detecting and modifying fuel and air supplies to prevent flame extinction and equipment fatigue.

Implementation Method 1

using UV sensors and pressure transducers to detect resonance characteristics

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV detection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

using UV sensors and pressure transducers to detect resonance characteristics

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 3

Combustion resonance can be caused by the acoustics of a combustion chamber of the combustion device interacting with a flame in the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion resonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 4

the acoustics of the combustion chamber can interact with the flame to cause pressure oscillations in the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic pressure oscillation: Acoustics

Data Source

PatentUS10072843B2Combustion resonance suppression

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

Methods, devices, and systems for combustion resonance suppression are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive a number of operating conditions of a burner, determine whether resonance characteristics are present in a combustion chamber housing the burner based on the number of operating conditions of the burner, and modify at least one of an air supply and a fuel supply to the burner upon determining resonance characteristics are present in the combustion chamber.