Patent ID: 6522994
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: F22B,F23N,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for quantifying the operation of a fossil-fueled thermal system having a heat exchangers/combustion region producing combustion products, the method comprising the steps of:before on-line operation, the steps of obtaining reference fuel characteristics, and developing explicit mathematical models of the combustion process involving at least stoichiometric balances; and thereafter operating on-line, the step of operating on-line including the steps of measuring a set of measurable operating parameters, including at least effluent concentrations of O2 and CO2, these measurements being made at a location downstream of the heat exchangers/combustion region of the thermal system, obtaining an effluent concentration of H2O, if reference fuel characteristics indicate fuel water is not predictable, as an obtained effluent H2O, obtaining an indicated Air/Fuel ratio, if reference fuel characteristics indicate fuel ash is not predictable, as an obtained Air/Fuel ratio, obtaining an ambient concentration of O2, obtaining an air pre-heater leakage factor, and calculating a complete As-Fired fuel chemistry, including fuel water and fuel ash, as a function of the reference fuel characteristics, explicit mathematical models of the combustion process, the set of measurable operating parameters, the obtained effluent H2O, the obtained Air/Fuel ratio, the ambient concentration of O2, and the air pre-heater leakage factor.