Patent ID: 8219247
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: B01J,F23N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a furnace having a plurality of burners, each of the plurality of burners having flow rates associated therewith, the furnace containing a plurality of process tubes, the method comprising: (a) selecting target temperature criterion for the plurality of process tubes; (b) measuring first temperature information comprising data for each of the plurality of process tubes at a first operating condition wherein the first temperature information for the plurality of process tubes is measured by: (c) providing an estimate of a mathematical function characterizing a relationship between burner flow rate changes for two or more of the plurality of burners and individual temperature changes for at least a portion of the plurality of process tubes; (d) calculating a first target flow rate solution set having solutions for the two or more of the plurality of burners consistent with conforming temperatures of the plurality of process tubes to the target temperature criterion for the plurality of process tubes using the estimate of the mathematical function and the first temperature information for the plurality of process tubes; and (e) adjusting a first valve upstream of at least one of the two or more of the plurality of burners to change at least one of the flow rates of the two or more of the plurality of burners in accordance with the first target flow rate solution set wherein the first valve is not upstream of all burners of the furnace.