Flame Sensor

• US 6,756,593 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kokusai Gijutsu Kaihatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kokusai Gijutsu Kaihatsu Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakauchi, Shunsaku, Hirasawa, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Gagliardi, Albert
• Application Number:
  US10/106,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 250/339.15
• US Class Current: 250/339.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0014 for sensing the radiation from gases, flames
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/602 using selective, monochromatic or bandpass filtering

Abstract

A flame sensor comprises a filter which blocks light in an infrared ray region, a filter which blocks stray light, a narrow band filter which passes only light of a band corresponding to a line spectrum of carbonic acid gas resonance radiation generated by a flame, and a broad band filter which passes light of a band which is broader than the band corresponding to the line spectrum, and a plurality of light reception elements which convert lights passing through the narrow and broad band filters to electric signals, the flame sensor judging flame when a difference between intensities of the electric signals is equal to or more than a predetermined value and a ratio between the intensities of the electric signals is within a predetermined range, by assuming that transmission band widths of the narrow and broad band filters are equal, is provided.

Claims

1. A flame sensor comprising:

a narrow band filter for transmitting only light of a band corresponding to a line spectrum of carbonic acid gas resonance radiation generated by a flame;

a broad band filter for transmitting light of a band which includes the band corresponding to the line spectrum and which is broader than the band corresponding to the line spectrum;

a first light reception element for converting light transmitted through the narrow band filter to a first electric signal;

a second light reception element for converting light transmitted through the broad band filter to a second electric signal; and

a judging section performed by one of (A)-(C);

(A) converting a value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal to a first value obtained by assuming that the light is transmitted through a band which is the same as the band of the broad band filter;

(B) converting a value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal to a second value obtained by assuming that the light is transmitted through a band which is the same as the band of the narrow band filter;

or

(C) converting the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal to third and fourth values which are values per unit transmission band, and

in a case of the (A), if a difference between the first value and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a ratio between the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is within a predetermined range, the judging section judging that there is flame;

in a case of the (B), if a difference between the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and the second value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a ratio between the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is within a predetermined range, the judging section judging that there is flame;

in a case of the (C), if a difference between the third value and the fourth value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a ratio between the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is within a predetermined range, the judging section judging that there is a flame.

2. A flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal is a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at a range shorter than a predetermined range which is referenced by a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at the predetermined range.

3. A flame sensor according to claim 2, wherein the moving average value is calculated on the basis of the flicker component of light from the flame included in electric signal.

4. A flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first value is obtained such that the value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal is converted on the basis of a ratio of a band width of the broad band filter with respect to a band width of the narrow band filter;

and

the second value is obtained such that the value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal is converted on the basis of a ratio of the band width of the narrow band fitter with respect to the band width of the broad band filter.

5. A flame sensor comprising:

a first blocking filter for blocking light in an infrared ray region;

a second blocking filter which is disposed at a light transmitted side of the first blocking filter so as to block stray light;

a narrow band filter which is disposed at a light transmitted side of the second blocking filter and which transmits only light of a band corresponding to a line spectrum of carbonic acid gas resonance radiation generated by a flame;

a broad band filter which is disposed at the light transmitted side of the second blocking filter and which transmits light of a band which includes the band corresponding to the line spectrum and which is broader than the band corresponding to the line spectrum;

a first light reception element for converting light transmitted through the narrow band filter to a first electric signal; and

a second light reception element for converting light transmitted through the broad band filter to a second electric signal.

6. A flame sensor according to claim 5, wherein the first blocking filter, the second blocking and the narrow band filter is formed by a thin plate made of one of silicon and germanium and the broad band filter is formed by a thin plate made of sapphire.

7. A flame sensor according to claim 6 further comprising a judging section for determining whether or not

a difference obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal from a value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal is within a predetermined range, with the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal being obtained by assuming that a transmission band width of the broad band filter and a transmission band width of the narrow band filter are equal to each other.

8. A flame sensor according to claim 7, wherein the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signals at a range shorter than a predetermined range which is referenced by a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at the predetermined range.

9. A flame sensor according to claim 5 further comprising a judging section for determining whether or not

a difference obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal from a value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and

a ratio between the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal is within a predetermined range, with the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal being obtained by assuming that a transmission band width of the broad band filter and a transmission band width of the narrow band filter are equal to each other.

10. A flame sensor according to claim 9, wherein the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal is a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at a range shorter than a predetermined range which is referenced by a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at the predetermined range.

11. A flame sensor comprising:

a first filter having a predetermined band for transmitting light, a blocking band for blocking only light of a band corresponding to a line spectrum of carbonic acid gas resonance radiation generated by a flame being formed within the predetermined band;

a second filter having a band width substantially the same as that of the predetermined band for transmitting light of a band including the band corresponding to the line spectrum;

a first light reception element for converting light transmitted through the first filter to a first electric signal;

a second light reception element for converting light transmitted through the second filter to a second electric signal; and

a judging section performed by one of (A)-(C)

(A) converting an intensity difference between a value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal and a value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal to a first value obtained by assuming that the light is transmitted through a band which is the same as the band of the second band filter,

(B) converting the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal to the second value obtained by assuming that the light is transmitted through a band which is the same as the blocking band, or

(C) converting the intensity difference and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal to third and fourth values which are values per unit transmission band, and

in a case of the (A), if a difference between the first value and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a ratio between the intensity difference and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is within a predetermined range, the judging section judging that there is flame,

in a case of the (B), if a difference between the intensity difference and the second value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a ratio between the intensity difference and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is within a predetermined range, the judging section judging that there is flame,

in a case of the (C), if a difference between the third value and the fourth value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and a ratio between the intensity difference and the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is within a predetermined range, the judging section judging that there is flame.

12. A flame sensor according to claim 11, wherein the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal is a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at a range shorter than a predetermined range which is referenced by a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at the predetermined range.

13. A flame sensor according to claim 11, wherein the first value is obtained such that the intensity difference is converted on the basis of a ratio of a band width of the second band filter with respect to a band width of the blocking band;

and

the second value is obtained such that the value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal is converted on the basis of a ratio of the band width of the blocking band with respect to the band width of the second band filter.

14. A flame sensor comprising:

a first blocking filter for blocking light in an infrared ray region;

a second blocking filter which is disposed at a light transmitted side of the first blocking filter so as to block stray light;

a first filter having a predetermined band for transmitting light, a blocking band for blocking only light of a band corresponding to a line spectrum of carbonic acid gas resonance radiation generated by a flame being formed within the predetermined band;

a second filter having a band width substantially the same as that of the predetermined band, for transmitting light of a band including the band corresponding to the line spectrum;

a first light reception element for converting light transmitted through the first band filter to a first electric signal; and

a second light reception element for converting light transmitted through the second band filter to a second electric signal.

15. A flame sensor according to claim 14, wherein the first blocking filter, the second blocking filter and the narrow band filter is formed by a thin plate made of one of silicon and germanium and the broad band fitter is formed by a thin plate made of sapphire.

16. A flame sensor according to claim 15, further comprising a judging section for determining whether or not

a difference obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to an intensity of the second electric signal from a difference which is obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal from the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and

a ratio between the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and said difference is within a predetermined range, with the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal being obtained by assuming that a blocking band width of the first filter and a transmission band width of the second filter are equal to each other.

17. A flame sensor according to claim 16, wherein the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal is a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at a range shorter than a predetermined range which is referenced by a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at the predetermined range.

18. A flame sensor according to claim 14, further comprising a judging section for determining whether or not

a difference obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to an intensity of the electric signal from a difference which is obtained by subtracting a value corresponding to an intensity of the first electric signal from the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and

a ratio between the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal and said difference Is within a predetermined range, with the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal being obtained by assuming that a blocking band width of the first filter and a transmission band width of the second filter are equal to each other.

19. A flame sensor according to claim 18, wherein the value corresponding to the intensity of the second electric signal and the value corresponding to the intensity of the first electric signal is a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at a range shorter than a predetermined range which is referenced by a moving average value of intensities of electric signals at the predetermined range.