Method and apparatus for detecting combustion instability in continuous combustion systems
First Claim
1. A system for detecting combustion instability in a continuous combustion system having a combustion region comprising:
- at least one retractable igniter having at least one electrode, the at least one retractable igniter positioned at a location in the continuous combustion system such that the at least one electrode is exposed to gases in the combustion region; and
a controller coupled to the at least one electrode, the controller capable of receiving from the at least one electrode a combustion ionization signal and detecting an oscillation in the combustion ionization signal indicative of the occurrence of combustion instability.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to sense the onset of combustion stability is presented. An electrode is positioned in a turbine combustion chamber such that the electrode is exposed to gases in the combustion chamber. The electrode may be integrated with an igniter. A control module applies a voltage potential to the electrode and detects a combustion ionization signal and determines if there is an oscillation in the combustion ionization signal indicative of the occurrence of combustion stability or the onset of combustion instability. The control module broadcasts a notice if the parameters indicate the combustion process is at the onset of combustion instability or broadcasts an alarm signal if the parameters indicate the combustion process is instable. Combustion parameters are adjusted to drive the combustion process towards stability.
75 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for detecting combustion instability in a continuous combustion system having a combustion region comprising:
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at least one retractable igniter having at least one electrode, the at least one retractable igniter positioned at a location in the continuous combustion system such that the at least one electrode is exposed to gases in the combustion region; and a controller coupled to the at least one electrode, the controller capable of receiving from the at least one electrode a combustion ionization signal and detecting an oscillation in the combustion ionization signal indicative of the occurrence of combustion instability. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for detecting combustion instability in a continuous combustion system having a combustion region comprising:
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at least one retractable igniter having at least one electrode, the at least one retractable igniter positioned at a location such that the at least one electrode is exposed to gases in the combustion region, the at least one retractable igniter being retractable during operation of the continuous combustion system; and a controller coupled to the at least one electrode, the controller capable of receiving from the at least one electrode a combustion ionization signal and detecting an oscillation in the combustion ionization signal indicative of the occurrence of combustion instability. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for detecting combustion instability in a lean premix gas turbine having a combustion chamber and an electrode positioned in the combustion chamber at a location such that the electrode is exposed to combustion gases containing free ions in the combustion chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a voltage to the electrode during the combustion process; determining parameters of a current flowing between the electrode and at least one wall of the combustion chamber of the lean premix gas turbine; determining if the parameters indicate the combustion process is one of at the onset of combustion instability or is unstable; adjusting at least one combustion system parameter if the parameters indicate the combustion process is one of at the onset of combustion instability or is unstable. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification