SYSTEM USING OVER FIRE ZONE SENSORS AND DATA ANALYSIS

• US 20090214993A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Incorporated (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group Incorporated (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Inventors: Li, Paul, Flynn, Thomas J., Fuller, Timothy A., Bailey, Ralph T.
• Application Number:
  US12/036,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20090214993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 431/13
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/082 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A system for analyzing the quality of combustion in the vicinity of the over fire zone of a combustion system includes at least one lens assembly mounted to a wall of the combustion system in the vicinity of the over fire zone. One or more photo-detectors are used to measure the intensity of light emitted in the over fire zone. A data acquisition system is connected to the photo-detector assembly via a communication link and includes an analog-to-digital converter and data buffering device for converting the light signals to digital signals. A computer analyzes the digital signals with linear and nonlinear signal analysis techniques.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing combustion quality in a vicinity of an over fire zone of a combustion system comprising:

at least one lens assembly mounted to a wall of the combustion system in the vicinity of the over fire zone;

a photo-detector assembly arranged to measure the intensity of light emitted in the over fire zone;

a first communication link between the lens assembly and a photo detector assembly,

a data acquisition system connected to the photo-detector assembly via a second communication link, comprising an analog-to-digital converter and data buffering device for converting said light signals to digital signals; and

a means for analyzing the digital signals, connected to said data acquisition system via a third communication link.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the lens assembly comprises a scanner mounting fixture mounted on a wall of said combustion system, an articulating scanner mounting attached to the scanner mounting fixture, and a lens attached to the articulating scanner mounting.

3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising a drive mechanism attached to the articulating scanner mounting for adjustment of the position of said articulating scanner mounting.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the lens assembly is mounted in a slot in the wall between crowns of adjacent tubes.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein Silicon photo-detectors are used to measure the intensity of light emitted in the over-fire zone.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein Germanium photo-detectors are used to measure the intensity of light emitted in the over-fire zone.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein two photo-detector assemblies are simultaneously used to detect two light signals split from a light signal originating from a single measurement location.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said two photo-detector assemblies are Silicon and Germanium.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lens assemblies are mounted on opposite walls of said combustion system.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication link between at least one lens assembly and said photo-detector assembly is fiber optic.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said second communication link between said data acquisition system and said photo-detector assembly is a ribbon cable.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication link is a ethernet cable.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication link is a wireless communications connection.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for analyzing is a computer.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for analyzing employs a combination of linear and non-linear analysis techniques as algorithms to analyze said digital signals.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said linear analysis techniques include standard statistics selected from the group consisting of average, root means square, skewness, kurtosis, power spectrum analysis, and cluster analysis.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein said nonlinear analysis techniques are selected from the group consisting of correlation dimension, entropy, temporal irreversibility, symbol sequence analysis, and mutual information.

18. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional lens assembly arranged at alternate location of said combustion system, a second data acquisition system connected to said additional lens assembly via a fourth communication link and to said means for analyzing via a fifth communication link.

19. A method for analyzing the quality of combustion in a vicinity of the over fire zone of a combustion system comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal representative of combustion conditions in the vicinity of the over fire zone; and

analyzing said signal to determine combustion intensity and quality in the vicinity of the over fire zone.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the signal is analyzed by a combination of linear and non-linear analysis techniques as algorithms.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said linear analysis techniques include standard statistics selected from the group consisting of average, root mean square, skewness, kurtosis, power spectrum analysis, and cluster analysis.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein said nonlinear analysis techniques are selected from the group consisting of correlation dimension, entropy, temporal irreversibility, symbol sequence analysis, and mutual information.