Method and device for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber

• US 6,551,094 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Fastnacht, Felix, Merklein, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): CLARKE, SARA SACHIE
• Application Number:
  US09/803,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20010019814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 431/2, 431/12, 431/76, 431/79, 110/185, 110/191, 700/274, 250/554, 250/339.15, 73/233.1, 73/233.3, 356/315, 356/417, 702/23, 702/26, 702/28, 702/29, 702/30, 374/31, 374/36, 374/110, 374/141
• US Class Current: 431/2
• CPC Class Codes: F23M 11/045 by observing the flame
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/16 burner temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2229/20 Camera viewing
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/003 using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties F23N5/02, F23N5/18 - F23N5/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/082 using electronic means

Abstract

A method for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber includes measuring a spatial distribution of at least one parameter characteristic of a combustion by monitoring a flame in the combustion chamber. The at least one parameter allows a conclusion concerning a soot charge in the combustion chamber during operation and the at least one parameter is a temperature and/or a carbon monoxide content. The soot charge is determined based on the measuring step and by using a comparison with given conversion curves. A device for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber, the method which comprises:

measuring a spatial distribution of at least one parameter characteristic of a combustion by monitoring a flame in a combustion chamber, the at least one parameter allowing a conclusion concerning a soot charge in the combustion chamber during operation and the at least one parameter being at least one of a temperature and a carbon monoxide content; and

determining the soot charge based on the measuring step and by using a comparison with given conversion curves.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

setting a permissible range having at least one of a lower limit and an upper limit for measured values of the at least one parameter characteristic of the combustion; and

disregarding measured values outside the permissible range for the step of determining the soot charge.

3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises determining a local soot formation rate from a spatial distribution of at least one of the temperature and the carbon monoxide content.

4. The method according to claim 3, which comprises calculating the local soot formation rate by using a conversion curve which has been determined by experiments.

5. The method according to claim 3, which comprises summing the local soot formation rate in a measuring zone.

6. The method according to claim 5, which comprises averaging the local soot formation rate subsequent to the summing step.

7. The method according to claim 5, which comprises determining the soot charge on the basis of the local soot formation rate using a calibration factor prior to the summing step.

8. The method according to claim 7, which comprises providing the calibration factor as a variable calibration factor.

9. The method according to claim 8, which comprises providing the variable calibration factor as a function of at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a measured value and a combustion air fed to the flame.

10. The method according to claim 5, which comprises determining the soot charge on the basis of the local soot formation rate using a calibration factor subsequent to the summing step.

11. The method according to claim 3, which comprises summing the local soot formation rate during a given time interval.

12. The method according to claim 11, which comprises providing the given time interval as a variable time interval.

13. The method according to claim 11, which comprises averaging the local soot formation rate subsequent to the summing step.

14. The method according to claim 6, which comprises determining the soot charge on the basis of the local soot formation rate using a calibration factor prior to the summing step.

15. The method according to claim 14, which comprises providing the calibration factor as a variable calibration factor.

16. The method according to claim 15, which comprises providing the variable calibration factor as a function of at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a measured value and a combustion air fed to the flame.

17. The method according to claim 11, which comprises determining the soot charge on the basis of the local soot formation rate using a calibration factor subsequent to the summing step.

18. The method according to claim 1, which comprises measuring the temperature and the carbon monoxide content as two measured values and determining the soot charge on the basis of the two measured values.

19. A device for determining a soot charge in a combustion chamber, comprising:

at least one sensor for measuring a spatial distribution of at least one parameter characteristic of a combustion by monitoring a flame in a combustion chamber, the at least one parameter allowing a conclusion concerning a soot charge in the combustion chamber and the at least one parameter being at least one of a temperature and a carbon monoxide content; and

data processing device operatively connected to said at least one sensor, said data processing device determining a soot formation rate based on the spatial distribution of the at least one parameter and based on a comparison with given conversion curves.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said at least one sensor is a CCD camera.

21. In combination with a combustion chamber having a soot charge during operation, a device for determining the soot charge, comprising:

at least one sensor configured for measuring a spatial distribution of at least one of a temperature and a carbon monoxide content in the combustion chamber by monitoring a flame in the combustion chamber; and

a data processing device operatively connected to said at least one sensor, said data processing device determining a soot formation rate based on the spatial distribution of the at least one of the temperature and the carbon monoxide content and based on a comparison with given conversion curves.