Patent ID: 7637735

Claim:
A method for regulating combustion in an installation in which the combustion converts material and forms at least one flame body, the method comprising: determining state variables that describe a state of a system in the installation, wherein the determining of the state variables comprises using at least one observation device that images the flame body, and using other sensors; evaluating the state variables in a computer; operating in a setpoint control mode; and at least occasionally changing over from the operating in the setpoint control mode to operating in a disturbance control mode, whereby the method comprises operating in the disturbance control mode, wherein the changing over comprises operating in the disturbance control mode while not operating in the setpoint control mode, each of the operating in the setpoint control mode and the operating in the disturbance control mode comprises selecting actions for controlling one or more adjustment devices for adjusting at least one of supplying air to the combustion and supplying the material to the combustion, wherein the selecting of the actions, which are for controlling the one or more adjustment devices, is responsive to the evaluating of the state variables, the operating in the setpoint control mode comprises carrying out the selecting of the actions, which are for controlling the one or more adjustment devices, in a manner that is for achieving at least one optimal setpoint value for at least one of the state variables, stability of the combustion, or any combination thereof, and the operating in the disturbance control mode comprises carrying out the selecting of the actions, which are for controlling the one or more adjustment devices, in a manner that is for achieving a value of the at least one of the state variables that deviates from the optimal setpoint value for the at least one of the state variables by approaching at least one state in the system at which the value of the at least one of the state variables deviates in a targeted manner within predetermined limits from the optimal setpoint value for the at least one of the state variables.