Gas Burner Sensor Drift Compensation via Periodic Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling gas burners lack precision due to sensor drift over time, leading to inconsistent control quality.

Innovation Solution

Switching off the heating device of the sensor at defined intervals during active control allows for calibration, using the measured value to adjust the setpoint and compensate for drift, thereby improving control accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the heating device of the sensor remains continuously switched on during control operation, then the sensor provides continuous measurement signals for gas/air control, but sensor drift occurs over time leading to degraded control accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol qualityVSAvoidsensor accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device is switched off at defined time intervals during control operation to allow the sensor to cool down and eliminate drift effects. This periodic switching maintains measurement reliability while preventing accuracy degradation by resetting the sensor's thermal state at regular intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating device is switched off in advance before drift effects significantly impact measurement accuracy. By proactively resetting the sensor's thermal state before drift accumulates, the system maintains consistent control quality without waiting for accuracy to deteriorate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the heating device is switched off frequently for calibration, then sensor drift is compensated and control accuracy is maintained, but control operation interruptions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoidcontrol operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device is switched off for shorter durations than would be required for complete calibration cycles in traditional systems. This partial action approach provides sufficient drift compensation to maintain control accuracy while minimizing interruptions to control operation and gas burner productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than implementing lengthy calibration cycles, the system uses frequent, brief intervals where the heating device is switched off. This periodic approach maintains measurement precision through regular drift compensation while keeping control operation interruptions minimal and productivity high.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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

This method enhances control precision and maintains consistently good control quality by compensating for sensor drift, resulting in a more precise gas/air mixture delivery.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor having a heating device positioned between two temperature-sensitive measuring devices. When the regulation is active, the heating device of the sensor is switched on, so that when the sensor is flown through, depending on the direction of flow, one measuring device is heated by the heating device more than the other measuring device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the sensor having a heating device positioned between two temperature-sensitive measuring devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentEP1944549B1Method for controlling a gas burner
Publication Date: 2015.07.15 HONEYWELL TECHNOLOGIES SARL
  • EP1944549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1944549B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1944549B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method involves supplying gas flow and a combustion air flow to a gas burner via a gas pipeline (10) and a combustion air pipe line (12), respectively. An electronic measuring signal for controlling a burner is used by a sensor (16). A heating device (23) attached to the sensor is switched off in a definite time interval for a definite time space during active controlling of the gas burner, opening of a gas valve (11) and operation of a blower (13). A determined measuring value of the sensor is used to implement calibration and controlling in the context of reference value adjustment.