UV Flame Sensor Discharge Counting for Voltage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flame detection systems using UV sensors are affected by changes in supply voltage, making it difficult to accurately detect abrupt changes in UV rays from a flame and determine the flame level reliably.
Innovation Solution
A flame detection system that includes a UV sensor, an application voltage generation unit, a discharge detection unit, a discharge count unit, a discharge probability calculation unit, and a UV intensity determination unit, which calculates discharge probability and determines UV intensity based on the number of discharges per unit time, allowing for responsive detection of flame changes while being less affected by supply voltage fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If discharge current is integrated by using a filter to convert to voltage output, then the discharge current is smoothed, but the time constant on the rising edge and falling edge of the flame voltage becomes larger, resulting in slow response time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional integration circuit (electrical/mechanical system) with a digital counting system. Instead of integrating discharge current through RC circuits which introduce time constants, the system counts the number of discharge occurrences within a fixed time period. This substitution of electrical integration with digital counting eliminates the time constant delay while preserving the smoothing effect through statistical counting over multiple cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a counter as an intermediary between the discharge detection and voltage output stages. The counter accumulates discharge events over a predetermined time period and converts them to a proportional voltage signal. This intermediary counting mechanism serves as a mediator that smooths the output without introducing the large time constants associated with traditional RC integration circuits.
2Quantity of substance
If the discharge current is integrated and converted to voltage output, then the flame voltage can be displayed, but it is not possible to grasp an abrupt change in UV rays from the flame due to the long time constant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the continuous integration process with discrete event counting. By counting the number of discharge occurrences within a fixed time window and converting this count to a voltage signal, the system preserves abrupt changes in UV radiation intensity. The discrete counting approach captures sudden changes in discharge frequency without the smoothing delay inherent in continuous RC integration, thereby preventing information loss about abrupt flame changes.
3Ease of operation
If a voltage is applied to the flame sensor from commercial supply voltage, then the sensor can operate, but the discharge current changes depending on the level of the supply voltage, affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces voltage-proportional current measurement with a frequency/count-based measurement system. By counting the number of discharge events within a fixed time period and converting this count to a voltage signal, the system becomes independent of supply voltage fluctuations. The counting mechanism measures discharge frequency rather than current magnitude, eliminating the direct dependence on supply voltage level and thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining 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
Enables highly responsive detection of flame levels and changes in UV output with minimal impact from supply voltage variations, improving the accuracy and reliability of flame detection.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet (UV) sensor is known. In an existing UV sensor using a discharge principle, a discharge occurs when an electrode thereof is exposed to UV rays from a flame
Data Source
AI summary
A flame detection system includes: a UV sensor that serves as a flame sensor detecting a UV ray generated by a flame; an application voltage generation unit that applies a driving voltage to the UV sensor; a discharge detection unit that detects a discharge in the UV sensor; a discharge count unit that counts the number of detected discharges; a discharge probability calculation unit that calculates a discharge probability on the basis of the number of discharges counted by the discharge count unit and the number of times the driving voltage is applied; a UV intensity determination unit that determines an intensity of the UV ray on the basis of the discharge probability; and a determination result output unit that outputs the intensity of the UV ray determined by the UV intensity determination unit via display or communication.