Patent ID: 7197880
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: F01D,F23N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to monitor and control the combustion process in a combustion system to prevent lean blowoff, the apparatus comprising: a combustion system comprising a combustion nozzle in fluid communication with a combustion chamber; a fuel supply in communication with said combustion nozzle; an oxidant supply in communication with said combustion nozzle; means for igniting the fuel and oxidant thereby initiating the combustion process producing hydrocarbon ions and electrons; a sensor in communication with said combustion system and the hydrocarbon ions and/or electrons produced by the combustion process; a control circuit connected to said sensor generating and measuring a signal in response to the concentration of hydrocarbon ions and/or electrons within the combustion chamber produced by combustion and determining the number of times the concentration of hydrocarbon ions and/or electrons within the combustion chamber falls below a pre-selected value within a predetermined time interval; and mechanism responsive to said control circuit for adjusting the ratio of fuel to oxidant in response to the signal to prevent lean blowoff.