Abstract: Information relating to combustion conditions within a fossil-fueled boiler that includes a plurality of burners adapted to produce flames combining to form a fireball is provided by acquiring data relating to the physical and temperature characteristics of the fireball with at least one imaging camera having optical and temperature measuring capabilities; receiving, storing and processing data received from the camera to provide data representative of the NO.sub.x content of the hot gases produced by the fireball; and transmitting the processed data from the processor to a monitor for display. Transmitted, processed data may include current, historical and target information relating to the physical appearance and temperature profile of the fireball.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling and providing guidance in reducing the level of NO.sub.x emissions based on controllable combustion parameters and model calculations while maintaining satisfactory plant performance and not causing other harmful consequences to the furnace. To implement such a system, boiler control values of flow, pressure, temperature, valve and damper positions in addition to emission sensors for data associated with the production of NO.sub.x, O.sub.2, CO, unburned carbon and fuel. This information is received from standard sensors located throughout a boiler which are connected either to a distributed control system (DCS), or another data acquisition system which is time coordinated with the DCS. The DCS passes this information to a computing device which then processes the information by model based optimization simulation programs, also referred to as the NO.sub.x Emissions Advisor.

Abstract: The temperatures of the primary carrier gas supplied to a coal pulverizer and the fuel stream discharged from the pulverizer are controlled to keep the fuel stream temperature within a predetermined safe and efficient operating range regardless of the rate at which coal is fed to the pulverizer. A carrier gas temperature versus coal feed schedule is established and used for temperature control. If fuel stream temperature departs from the predetermined operating range, the established schedule is automatically corrected.

Abstract: A control system for a pulverized coal fired boiler provided with a pulverized coal producing equipment including a coal feeding section, a milling section and a classifying section and an adjuster for adjusting a coaling rate thereof, and a pulverized coal burning equipment for burning the pulverized coal supplied from the pulverized coal producing equipment includes an estimation apparatus for estimating a coaling rate of coal out form the pulverized coal producing equipment, and an apparatus for operating the adjuster to adjust a coaling rate of coal supplied from the pulverized coal producing equipment to the pulverized coal burning equipment on the basis of an estimation of the estimation apparatus. The estimation is conducted by calculation of mathematical models which are obtained with taking the physical mechanism in the pulverized coal producing equipment and simulate a heat input with higher accuracy.

Abstract: An automatic stoker boiler has a heat transfer compartment above a combustion chamber which is divided by a horizontal partition inclined upwardly from the rear end of the boiler towards but terminating short of the front end thereof to provide a restricted port between the thus established upper and lower portions. An endless link belt establishes the lower portion of the combustion chamber and hot gas conduits extend from the upper portion through the heat transfer compartment to the exhaust and which is provided with a draft inducing fan and adjustable damper. Underfire air under the control of an adjustable damper is introduced into the lower portion of the combustion chamber upwardly through the belt and air jets are delivered into the combustion chamber through the front end both above and below the port. A standby fluid fuel burner is located in the rear end of the upper chamber portion.

Abstract: Three burners are supplied with pulverized fuel entrained in air from a splitter and are brought to combustion under optimum conditions by adjustment of the secondary air flow to each. The rates of flow of primary and secondary air are determined and signals from these, and a representation of the total fuel supply are supplied to a computer by which the amount of fuel flowing to each burner is deduced from the ratio of the air supplied to the burners.

Abstract: This invention relates to the supervision of a combustion state of a combustion furnace. A flame formed concentrically with the direction of a fuel jetted from a burner being the center is measured from its side, and two oxidizing flame zones as high luminance zones are extracted. Using the shape parameters of the flame, an index for reducing NOx and unburnt components in ash are calculated and estimated so as to supervise the combustion state. The positions or centroids of the flames and the distance between the centroids are used as the shape parameters, and the flame shape is divided into two zones for easy display of each zone.

Abstract: A control circuit for a stoker-fed heating system is effective, whenever the primary sensing control (thermostat or aquastat) of the system calls for heat, to determine whether there is sufficient fire in the furnace to assure maintained combustion, and if this is not the case, to shut the system down until combustion is again assured.

Abstract: A control circuit for a solid fuel furnace which includes a combustion chamber, means for delivering solid fuel to the combustion chamber, and means for delivering combustion air to the combustion chamber, wherein the control circuit includes thermo-sensitive means responsive to a demand temperature and to a temperature related to furnace performance to control the fuel delivery means and the combustion air delivery means for maximum furnace efficiency, minimum fuel consumption and minimum soot and smoke formation. In addition, the control circuit includes "hold fire" circuit which is operable in response to combustion-related temperatures and during periods when the demand temperature is met to control the fuel delivery means and the combustion air delivery means to maintain combustion in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A fuel stream comprising a combustible pulverized material entrained in a carrier gas is formed and subsequently injected into a blast furnace with the hot blast air without any detrimental effect on the hot air blast and with minimum energy consumption. The volume flow rate and pressure of the carrier gas are controlled as functions of the furnace pressure and the pulverized material feed rate is simultaneously controlled as a function of the carrier gas pressure drop.

Abstract: Coal particles are discharged from a hopper into a common, vibrating feed pan which, in turn, distributes the particles evenly across the surface thereof and delivers the particles along the length thereof to a metering trough positioned below and along a longitudinal axis which extends across the discharge end of the pan. The metering trough divides the volume of coal particles into a plurality of equal batches, each of which, in turn, drops into a mixing device where the particles become airborne and are delivered into a feed conduit from whence they are fed to a furnace burner. By controlling the rate of vibration of the feed pan, variables such as moisture content of the coal and/or air, particle size and BTU content of the coal can be compensated for to maintain a desired temperature within the furnace.