Multi-wavelength Flame Scanner with Dynamic Prism Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flame scanners are limited to scanning light in a fixed wavelength range, which is inadequate for furnaces with combustion processes producing flames across multiple wavelength ranges, leading to instability and inefficiency in monitoring and controlling combustion processes.
Innovation Solution
A multi-wavelength flame scanning system that uses a sensor and a prism to refract light, iteratively determining the threshold intensity across various wavelength ranges and revising the position of the sensor and prism to capture light across multiple wavelength ranges, enabling the detection of flame parameters and stability monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional flame scanner scans light in a fixed wavelength range, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and reliability of flame monitoring deteriorate when combustion processes produce flames across multiple wavelength ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a tunable wavelength scanning system where the flame scanner can dynamically adjust its operating wavelength range based on the specific combustion process being monitored. This allows the device to adapt to different flame characteristics (UV, visible, or infrared ranges) rather than being fixed, thereby improving measurement precision across diverse combustion scenarios while maintaining manageable device complexity through controlled adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the flame scanner by allowing adjustment of the wavelength range being scanned. By modifying the wavelength parameter according to the combustion process requirements, the system achieves accurate flame intensity measurements across multiple wavelength ranges without requiring completely separate scanning devices for each range
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional flame scanner uses a fixed wavelength range, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different combustion processes and wavelength ranges deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal flame scanning system that can handle multiple wavelength ranges (UV, visible, and infrared) within a single device architecture. The scanner is designed to be multi-functional, capable of monitoring different types of combustion processes by adjusting its wavelength range, thereby achieving high adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity
3Reliability
If a flame scanner monitors only a fixed wavelength range, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of combustion process monitoring deteriorates when flame wavelength ranges change over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow the flame scanner to monitor combustion processes reliably by adjusting to changing flame characteristics. The scanner can detect variations in flame wavelength ranges over time and respond accordingly, maintaining accurate monitoring across different operating conditions while the automated nature of this adjustment preserves ease of operation
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 approach enhances the reliability and accuracy of flame monitoring, improving system performance and stability by capturing intensity variations across multiple wavelength ranges, thus addressing the limitations of conventional scanners.
Implementation Method 1
scanning, using a sensor, a first wavelength range of refracted light emitted from a flame
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described herein. One method includes scanning, using a sensor, a first wavelength range of refracted light emitted from a flame, revising a position of a prism and/or the sensor based on the scan of the first wavelength range, and scanning, using the sensor after revising the position of the prism and/or the sensor, a second wavelength range of refracted light emitted from the flame.