Compressed-Air Flame Detector Lens Cleaning and Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial flame detectors in harsh environments, such as turbomachines, face challenges with contamination and overheating, which affect their accuracy and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance system comprising a conduit, a source of air, and a valve configured to deliver compressed air onto the flame detector's surface to remove contaminants and cool the lens, with optional controller activation by fault signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flame detector is operated in a harsh industrial environment, then the detector can monitor for fires, but the lens accumulates contaminants and overheats reducing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning and cooling actions by providing a conduit with compressed air delivery capability that can be activated before contaminants significantly degrade detection accuracy or before overheating occurs. The valve assembly allows for periodic maintenance operations without requiring shutdown of the fire detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The flame detector system serves itself by incorporating an integrated compressed air cleaning mechanism that can be activated through the valve assembly. The system uses available compressed air from the industrial environment to clean its own lens and cool its components, eliminating the need for external maintenance equipment.
2Reliability
If compressed air is delivered continuously to clean and cool the flame detector, then the lens remains clean and cool, but compressed air consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is designed to deliver compressed air in periodic bursts rather than continuous flow. The valve can be opened to deliver compressed air for cleaning and cooling, then closed to conserve compressed air, repeating this cycle as needed to maintain lens cleanliness and temperature while minimizing compressed air consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static compressed air delivery system to a dynamic one where the valve can open and close based on operational needs. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt compressed air delivery to actual cleaning and cooling requirements, reducing waste during periods when the lens does not require attention.
3Ease of operation
If a valve assembly is added to control compressed air delivery, then compressed air can be delivered on demand, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is designed as a separate, extractable component that can be installed independently of the flame detector itself. The conduit connects to the detector housing, and the valve assembly can be removed and replaced without replacing the entire fire detection system, reducing the perceived complexity by modularizing the added components.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly serves multiple functions: controlling compressed air delivery for lens cleaning, providing cooling air flow, and potentially serving as a maintenance access point. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by consolidating several maintenance needs into a single integrated assembly.
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 cleans and cools the flame detector lens, ensuring accurate operation by maintaining cleanliness and temperature within limits, enhancing the detector's performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the first conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface
Implementation Method 2
the valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the first conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface and/or cooling the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A maintenance system for a flame detector in an enclosure for an industrial machine, such as turbomachine, is disclosed. The maintenance system may include a conduit having an inlet at an exterior of the enclosure and an outlet at an interior of the enclosure. The outlet is adjacent the flame detector. The maintenance system also includes a source of air and a valve fluidly coupling the inlet of the conduit and the source of air. The valve is configured to deliver a compressed air from the source of air through the outlet of the conduit onto a surface of the flame detector, thereby removing contaminants from the surface and/or cooling the surface. A controller can be provided to automatically operate the cleaning and cooling system when a fault signal is observed.