Patent ID: 6468069
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: F23N

Abstract:
A meth providing improved combustion control by scanning a combustion chamber, having air flow and fuel flow directed thereto, and by scanning combustion exhaust gases exiting the combustion chamber to maintain the combustion process in a region about specified set points of parameters comprising the acts of:(a) directing a first imaging device at the combustion process in the combustion chamber; (b) activating the first imaging device to view the combustion process and generate an imaging output signal that varies in accordance with variations in the combustion process; (c) directing a second imaging device at the combustion exhaust gasses downstream of the combustion chamber; (d) activating the second imaging device to view the combustion exhaust gasses and generate an imaging output signal that varies in accordance with variations in the combustion exhaust gasses; (e) operating additional sensors to monitor other parameters of the combustion process and to generate sensor outputs that vary in accordance with variations in the combustion process; (f) inputting the output signal from the first and from the second imaging devices to a computer processor having at least a part thereof configured as a neural network; (g) operating the neural network to process the output signals and to generate a combustion classification signal defining a parameter of the combustion process; (h) inputting the combustion classification signal and the sensor outputs to a decision analysis computer having at least a part thereof configured as a fuzzy logic controller with associated fuzzy inference rules defining combustion control actions depending on various combinations of sensor outputs and flame grade classification; (i) inputting a region of combustion parameters about specified set points of the combustion parameters; (j) operating the decision analysis computer to: (i) analyze the combustion classification signal and sensor outputs in accordance with the fuzzy inference rules to determine appropriate combustion control actions to maintain the combustion process depending on various combinations of the sensor outputs and combustion classification signals in the region of combustion parameters; and (ii) generate combustion control signals defining adjustments of the air flow to the combustion process; (k) continuing to operate the decision analysis computer to analyze the combustion classification signal and sensor outputs in accordance with the fuzzy inference rules to determine that adjustments to the air flow resulted in maintaining the combustion process; and (l) applying the combustion control signals to adjust fuel flow in the event that adjustments to airflow resulted in failure to maintain the combustion process in the region about specified set points of the combustion parameters.