Spatial Combustion Control for Steam Generator Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combustion control systems in steam generators face inefficiencies and high emissions due to limited spatially resolved measurements, leading to delayed and non-specific data for closed-loop control, resulting in suboptimal operation and increased wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
The method employs spatially resolving measurement technology to transform data into state variables for closed-loop control, allowing for precise setpoint definition and distribution of controller outputs to actuating elements, optimizing combustion efficiency and reducing emissions through conventional and neural network-based control structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spatially resolving measurement technology is used in the firing chamber, then measurement precision and control speed are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The firing chamber is divided into multiple spatial zones with dedicated measurement points. Each measurement location provides localized data about combustion conditions, enabling precise control of individual burners and air supplies based on spatially distributed measurements rather than single-point data
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the complex spatial measurement data and the combustion control actuators. The control system processes the distributed measured values and translates them into coordinated control signals for burners and air supplies, managing the complexity of coordinating multiple spatial measurements with multiple control elements
2Productivity
If process parameters are set close to technical process limits for maximum efficiency, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to limited closed-loop control capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements closed-loop control by continuously measuring combustion parameters at multiple spatial locations and using this feedback to automatically adjust burner settings and air supplies. This real-time feedback enables the system to operate close to technical limits while maintaining stability through automatic corrections
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts combustion parameters based on real-time measured values rather than operating at fixed settings. The burners and air supplies are continuously modulated according to spatially resolved combustion conditions, enabling adaptive operation that maintains both efficiency and reliability
3Device complexity
If point measurements are used in large-scale firing plants, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to non-representative data
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on a single point measurement, the system segments the measurement task across multiple locations within the firing chamber. Each measurement point captures local combustion characteristics, and the combination of these segmented measurements provides a comprehensive and representative picture of the overall combustion process
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from one-dimensional point measurements to multi-dimensional spatial measurements by distributing sensors throughout the firing chamber volume. This dimensional expansion captures the spatial distribution of combustion parameters, providing representative data that reflects the true three-dimensional combustion process
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a combustion process, in particular in a firing chamber of a fossil-fired steam generator, is provided. The method includes determining spatially resolved measuring values in the firing chamber. Spatially resolved measuring values are transformed into state variables that may be used for control engineering, and they are subsequently fed as actual values to control circuits. The changes in the controlled variables determined in the control circuits are divided among a plurality of actuators in a backward transformation considering an optimization target. A corresponding combustion system is also provided.