Method and system for real time reporting of boiler adjustment using emission sensor data mapping

• US 7,277,777 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Stephens, Craig Gordon, Draxton, Dean E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr.; Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US11/276,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/28, 700 44- 45, 700/54, 700/83, 700/274, 702/30, 702/32, 702/128, 702/179, 702/182
• US Class Current: 700/274
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/06 Sampling
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/08 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2231/20 Warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/003 using detectors sensitive to combustion gas properties F23N5/02, F23N5/18 - F23N5/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0062 concerning the measuring method or the display, e.g. intermittent measurement or digital display

Abstract

A method to adjust a boiler having a flue gas duct including: sensing flue gas emissions in the gas duct with a plurality of emission sensors arranged in an array; generating a multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured from the emission sensor; adjusting the boiler to modify the distribution of flue gases in the gas duct; generating a subsequent multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured subsequent to the boiler adjustment, and repeating these steps until the graphical depiction displays an acceptable plot of flue gas emissions.

Claims

1. A method to adjust a boiler having a flue gas duct comprising:

a. sensing flue gas emissions in the gas duct with a plurality of emission sensors arranged in an array;

b. generating a multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured from the emission sensors;

c. adjusting the boiler to modify the distribution of flue gases in the gas duct;

d. generating a subsequent multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured subsequent to the boiler adjustment, and

e. repeating steps (c) and (d) until the graphical depiction displays an acceptable plot of flue gas emissions.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the acceptable plot shows reduced gradients in the flue gas emissions.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the acceptable plot has minimized gradients in the flue gas emissions.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the acceptable plot shows smooth gradients in the flue gas emissions.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein a portable computer generates the multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured from emission sensors sensing flue gas sensors.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein sensing flue gas emissions is performed by a plurality of emissions sensors arranged in the gas duct.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot of data represented the sensed flue gas emissions.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot of flue gas emissions which is updated periodically to provide a real-time representation to the display.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein the contour plot is updated at least every ten seconds.

10. A method as in claim 8 wherein the contour plot is updated at least every second.

11. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated periodically, and said method further comprises a calculation of an average sensor measurement that is displayed in conjunction with the graphical representation.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein the sensed flue gas emissions are selected from a group consisting of CO, 0₂ and temperature.

13. A method to adjust a boiler having a flue gas duct comprising:

a. sensing the combustor condition using a sensor array in a gas path of the combustor;

b. generating data from the sensor array representative of the combustor condition at a plurality of positions in the gas path;

c. transmitting the generated data to a computer system proximate to a control interface for the combustor;

d. generating a graphical representation of the showing combustion product conditions in the gas path;

e. displaying the graphical representation on the computer system;

f. adjusting combustion controls at the control interface to change the combustor conditions;

g. repeating steps (a) to (f) to acquire a sequence of graphical depictions of the combustion product conditions over a period of time, and

h. evaluating each sequential graphical depiction and determining whether an acceptable depiction of flue gas emissions is achieved.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot.

15. A method as in claim 13 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated periodically.

16. A method as in claim 13 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated at least every ten seconds.

17. A method as in claim 13 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated periodically, and said method further comprises a calculation of an average sensor measurement that is displayed in conjunction with the graphical representation.

18. A method as in claim 13 wherein the combustor condition is selected from a group consisting of CO, 0₂ and temperature.

19. A system for adjusting a combustor for a boiler based on a presentation of a changing combustor condition comprising:

a sensor grid located in the combustion, said grid sensing the combustor condition in real time using a sensor array in a gas path of the combustor and generating data representative of the combustor condition at a plurality of positions in the gas path;

a network for communicating electronic data;

a computer system coupled to the network and further comprising a controller and a display, wherein said controller receives the generated data and generates a graphical representation of the real time showing combustor conditions in the gas path, and said graphical representation is presented on said display, and

the computer system including a user interface to receive manual control inputs and the controller generating an output of combustor control signals wherein the combustor control signals adjust the combustor.

20. A system as in claim 19 wherein said computer system is proximate to controls for said combustion system.