Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of presenting a changing combustor condition 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, andg. repeating steps (a) to (d) to accjuire a sequence of graphical representations of the combustion product conditions over a period of time. 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot. 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated periodically to provide a real-time representation to the display. 4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated at least every ten seconds. 5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated at least every second. 6. 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. 7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted periodically in near real-time. 8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the data is transmitted through a network connection. 9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the combustor condition is selected from a group consisting of CO, O2 and temperature. 10. A method of presenting a changing combustor condition comprising:a. sensing the combustor condition in near real time 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 in near real-time to a computer system, where the computer system is at a location proximate to a control interface for the boiler;d. generating a graphical representation of the near real time showing combustor conditions in the gas path;e. displaying the graphical representation in near real time on the computer system;f. repeating steps (a) to (d) periodically to acquire generated data form the sensor array at a plurality of different times, andg. displaying a sequence of graphical representations of combustor conditions at each of the different times. 11. A method as in claim 10 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot. 12. A method as in claim 10 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated periodically. 13. A method as in claim 10 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated at least every ten seconds. 14. A method as in claim 10 wherein the graphical representation is a contour plot which is updated at least every second. 15. A method as in claim 10 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. 16. A method as in claim 10 wherein the data is transmitted through a network connection. 17. A method as in claim 10 wherein the combustor condition is selected from a group consisting of CO, O2 and temperature. 18. A system for collecting and presenting a changing combustor condition in a boiler comprising:a sensor grid located in a combustion product gas path in the boiler, said grid sensing the combustor condition in real time using a sensor array in the gas path and generating data representative of the combustor condition at a plurality of positions in the gas path and at a plurality of different times;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 representations of the real time showing combustor conditions in the gas path and of a sequence of prior combustor conditions in the gas path, and said graphical representation is presented on said display. 19. A system as in claim 18 wherein said computer system is proximate to controls for said combustion system. 20. A system as in claim 18 wherein said graphical representation is a contour plot.