Abstract: In an electronic ignition system for igniting a plurality of gas burners by means of a plurality of electrodes, each one being mounted adjacent with each burner for producing sparks for the ignition of each burner. A spark generating circuit connected with the electrodes in order to produce the sparks for igniting each burner. And a power source connected to the spark generating circuit. A flame sensor circuit is connected to the spark generating circuit and at least one electrode, which in a first period and once the spark generating circuit has been activated for igniting each electrode, the flame sensor circuit is operated to detect the absence of flame on the burner by means of said electrode, and once that the burner has been ignited, the electrode and flame sensor circuit are operated for sensing the presence of flame on the burner.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring fuel combustion status in a burner such as a boiler and a gasifier with high accuracy, high reliability and fast response are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a series of fiber optic flame monitors that are installed next to each nozzle inside said burner to determine temperature, flame flash frequency and the burned fuel particle density. In terms of a master controller and a group of on-line controllers, the optimized combustion of the burner is approached by monitoring the combustion status of each nozzle and regulating the discharges of air or oxygen and fuel to each nozzle, in accordance with the comparison of the data detected by flame monitors and optimal data.

Abstract: A gas burner operation monitoring apparatus for enabling convenient diagnosis of gas burner and control problems. The invention is a temporarily attached device that collects and stores information concerning the key functions indicative of a gas burner's operation. If a fault occurs, the apparatus generates a signal to indicate to a downstream microprocessor, if such is connected, that a problem has occurred. This eliminates the need for the technician to randomly replace parts until the problem is located. The system monitors the status of the thermostat or aquastat; the presence and the level of voltage being sent to the main gas valve; the pressure of gas at the inlet and outlet of the main gas valve and either the temperature on the outside of the vent stack pipe or the presence and quality of flame at the main gas burner. The device also provides a signal in the event of a fault that can be connected to a downstream microprocessor that, in turn, can activate various warning devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that optimize the combustion process in various reactors, furnaces, and internal combustion engines. Video cameras are used to evaluate the combustion flame grade. Depending on the desired form, standard or special video devices, or beam scanning devices, are used to image the combustion flame and by-products. The video device generates and outputs image signals during various phases of, and at various locations in, the combustion process. Other forms of sensors monitor and generate data signals defining selected parameters of the combustion process, such as air flow, fuel flow, turbulence, exhaust and inlet valve openings, etc. In a preferred form, a neural networks initially processes the image data and characterizes the combustion flame. A fuzzy logic controller and associated fuzzy logic rule base analyzes the image data from the neural network, along with other sensor information.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has a series of control and operating components which, with electrical power being supplied to the water heater circuitry via a power switch, are electrically actuatable in a predetermined sequence to supply combustion heat to water contained in a tank portion of the water heater to return the temperature of the water to a heated setpoint temperature in response to the water temperature falling below such setpoint temperature. LED diagnostic indicating lights are wired into the water heater circuitry in a manner such that each indicating light is associated with a different one of the electrically coupled components. As the components are sequentially actuated during a water heating cycle, the LED lights are successively illuminated.

Abstract: An apparatus 9 for diagnosing failures in the combustion system to be installed in the regenerator of an absorption chiller is adapted to automatically prepare quantitative diagnosis data from a plurality of items of measurement data. The apparatus comprises an abnormality degree calculating circuit 2 for calculating degrees of abnormality serving as indexes for discriminating failures, from different items of data obtained by a combustion system control unit 1, a binary conversion circuit 4 for converting the abnormality degrees obtained from the circuit 2 to binary data representing "normal" or "abnormal," a condition judging circuit 5 for discriminating types of states of failures from the binary data by driving a diagnosis knowledge base 7, and a diagnosis data calculating circuit 6 for calculating diagnosis data from the abnormality degrees and types of failure states by driving the base 7.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a gas-fired appliance which uses a thermoelectric device to develop power for recharging a primary energy source, such as a rechargeable battery. The present invention provides a reliable and efficient system for controlling and powering a temperature control system.

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 gas burner operation monitoring apparatus for enabling convenient diagnosis of gas burner and control problems. The invention is a temporarily attached device that collects and stores information concerning the key functions indicative of an gas burner's operation. If a fault occurs, the apparatus generates a signal to indicate to a downstream microprocessor, if such is connected, that a problem has occurred. This eliminates the need for the technician to randomly replace parts until the problem is located. The system monitors the status of the thermostat or aquastat; the presence and the level of voltage being sent to the main gas valve; the pressure of gas at the inlet and outlet of the main gas valve and either the temperature on the outside of the vent stack pipe or the presence and quality of flame at the main gas burner. The device also provides a signal in the event of a fault that can be connected to a downstream microprocessor that, in turn, can activate various warning devices.

Abstract: An oil burner operation monitoring apparatus for enabling convenient diagnosis of burner problems. The invention has two major components: a permanently mounted or integral data collection unit that is connected to key points in the oil burner and a portable data reading unit. The data collection unit records and stores information concerning the key functions indicative of an oil burner's operation. If a fault occurs, the apparatus generates a signal to indicate to a downstream microprocessor, if such is connected, that a problem has occurred. The oil burner technician, using the portable data reading unit, connects to the data collection unit accessing the stored information in the data collection unit concerning the reason for the problem. This eliminates the need for the technician to randomly replace parts until the problem is located.

Abstract: A gas vent and burner monitoring system for monitoring a gas burner vent appliance. The system includes an alarm, a first sensor proximate the burner and a second sensor proximate the draft hood. Each sensor detects the occurrence of an event and the respective sensor activates the alarm when the event occurs.

Abstract: An oil burner operation monitoring apparatus for enabling convenient diagnosis of burner problems. The device is connected to key points in the oil burner. The device records and stores information concerning the key functions indicative of an oil burner's operation. If a fault occurs, the apparatus generates a signal to indicate to a downstream microprocessor, if such is connected, that a problem has occurred. The oil burner technician can access the invention for the information concerning the reason for the problem. This eliminates the need for the technician to randomly replace parts until the problem is located. The system monitors the status of the thermostat; the presence and the level of voltage powering the ignition transformer and temperature on the outside of the vent stack pipe. The device also provides a signal in the event of a fault that can be connected to a downstream microprocessor that, in turn, can activate various warning devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of analyzing a burner flame comprises accumulating raw data such as radiate energy from the burner flame. A power spectrum and mutual information curve are generated from the raw data. A multi-dimensional attractor is also generated using the raw data which is analyzed in comparison to random data to determine whether the raw data is chaotic in nature. If the raw data is chaotic in nature, a Lyapunov exponent, Kolmogorov entropy or cross section of a chaotic attractor can be utilized as a measure of the quality of the flame and further used to control one or more parameters of the burner to adjust the flame.

Abstract: To provide a combustion apparatus and a controlling method therefor which are capable of preventing the flame-out and backfire of the flame of a premix burner and the increase of the NOx concentration attributable to the change of the calorific value of the fuel, the amount of air supplied to the premix burner is so controlled as to achieve a low NOx within the range in which the premix burner effects a stable combustion in accordance with the calorie of the fuel supplied to the combustion apparatus, and a change of the output of the combustion apparatus attributable to this control of the amount of air is compensated by the control of the amount of the fuel supplied to the diffusion burner.

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: Disclosed is an integrated imaging sensor/neural network controller for combustion control systems. The controller uses electronic imaging sensing of chemiluminescence from a combustion system, combined with neural network image processing, to sensitively identify and control a complex combustion system. The imaging system used is not adversely affected by the normal emissions variations caused by changes in burner load and flame position. By incorporating neural networks to learn emission patterns associated with combustor performance, control using image technology is fast enough to be used in a real time, closed loop control system. This advance in sensing and control strategy allows use of the spatial distribution of important parameters in the combustion system in identifying the overall operation condition of a given combustor and in formulating a control response accorded to a pre-determined control model.

Abstract: A burner control system periodically tests for and detects an out of range signal level from a flame sensor in the burner. When the system is in standby operation where no flame is present, the control system checks whether the flame signal level is within an abnormal range defined by a low margin level and a threshold level. When the system is in an operational phase where flame is expected, the system checks whether the flame signal level is within an abnormal range defined by a high margin level and the threshold level. Should either check detect the flame signal within an abnormal range, a signal is provided indicating this abnormal condition. Preferably, the abnormal condition is used to control the flashing of an indicator light, fast during standby phase if the flame signal level is too close to the threshold level and more slowly if the flame signal level is too close to the threshold level while flame is present. It is also possible to use two different lights for the indicators.

Abstract: A control device for a combustion apparatus, which can detect failure of components and a method for controlling the combustion apparatus are disclosed. More particularly to a control device and a method for a combustion apparatus utilizing fuzzy logic reasoning in order to maintain accurate temperature control are disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for a burner is disclosed which detects oxygen concentration in a room using an oxygen sensor, to thereby supply an abnormality detecting signal to at least one of an alarm and a combustion reducing device to actuate it when oxygen concentration is lowered below a predetermined set value. A first comparing device and a reference value storing device are used to cause maximum oxygen concentration detected to be stored as an oxygen concentration reference value in the storing device. A second comparing device compares the deviation between the oxygen concentration reference value and a detected oxygen concentration value with an abnormality judging reference value, to thereby generate the abnormality detecting signal when the deviation is larger than the reference value. The control system is capable of effectively detecting a low oxygen concentration condition without being affected by an ambient temperature.

Abstract: A microprocessor control determines, in the course of initiating a heating cycle, whether the blower is operating in the continuous mode, and if it is, the control prompts the blower to be turned off prior to the ignitor being turned on. In this way, the blower and ignitor are never on at the same time and the instantaneous total current draw is limited to thereby reduce the occurrence of burned out fuses or circuit breaker trips.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing fuel and air to a furnace. The furnace includes a plurality of burner assemblies, each with its own air valve for controlling the flow of combustion air therethrough. A sensing instrument for each burner assembly senses a condition reflecting the individual performance of that particular, separate burner assembly. A controller is coupled with the sensing instruments and with the air valves of the burner assemblies for controlling each individual air valve in response to the performance reflecting condition sensed by each sensing instrument. This results in individual control of the performance of each burner assembly of the set of burner assemblies feeding fuel and air to the furnace.

Abstract: Method for the control of a burner equipped with an injector nozzle, said method comprising the steps of continuously during combustion optically monitoring the flame of the burner; subjecting the light from the burner to spectral analysis for determining the instantaneous value of the air factor in the combustion gases, and controlling the supply of fuel and/or combustion air to the burner in dependence of said instantaneous value of the air factor. The method is characterized in that light emitted from the central portion of the flame which penetrates through the nozzle opening through which fuel is injected into the combustion chamber is picked up in a point situated in the immediate vicinity of, behind and axially with said nozzle opening, said light being further conducted out of the nozzle for being subjected to spectral analysis.

Abstract: A carburetion type burning apparatus having a carburetion chamber for evaporating liquid fuel which comprises a timer for counting time from the initiation of burning operation, an ion current detecting device for measuring an ion current (if) at the time after a predetermined time counted by said timer in which the ion current in flames is stabilized, a judging device for judging existence or non-existence of an abnormal burning state by comparing the measured ion current (if) and a predetermined threshold value of ion current which causes abnormal burning condition, and an alarming device for generating an alarm when said judging device provides judgment of abnormal condition.

Abstract: A safety device for a pot-type oil burner is disclosed which is capable of efficiently and rapidly detecting the decrease of oxygen concentration in a room due to combustion to provide a warning and/or stop the combustion by sensing the decrease in temperature of a bottom portion of a pot. The safety device includes a thermo-sensitive device arranged on the outer surface of the bottom portion of the pot which is apart from the bottom region of the pot in which occurs the vaporization of fuel oil supplied to the pot.

Abstract: A liquid fuel combustion device which includes a fuel tank, a combustion section which includes an inner and an outer flame cylinder and an outer cylinder surrounding the flame cylinders, and a wick having one end in the fuel tank for being immersed in the liquid fuel therein and the other end disposed between the flame cylinders so as to draw fuel to the other end. Structure is also provided for guiding air through the combustion section to provide oxygen to support combustion between the flame cylinders of fuel evaporated from the wick such that the heat produced by the combustion serves to evaporate the fuel from the other end of the wick. Detector elements are provided for respectively detecting the temperature of the exhaust gas from the combustion section and the temperature of the air guided to the combustion section by the guide structure.

Abstract: A burner of wick type is disclosed which secures user safety by stopping combustion through an oxygen depletion protection function in the event of an oxygen depletion. When tar is accumulated in the wick, the wick is burnt to clean the tar with the liquid fuel supply cut off, thus burning out the liquid fuel contained in the wick. In the process, the combustion temporarily becomes unstable and a great amount of carbon monoxide is generated, resulting in a state similar to oxygen depletion. In a burner with an oxygen depletion protection function, the combustion is stopped during the wick cleaning, with the result that most of the tar accumulated in the wick remains unburnt, adversely affecting both the fuel absorption characteristic and service life of the wick. This invention is such that the oxygen depletion protection function is not operated during the wick cleaning.

Abstract: A flame safeguard sequencer incorporates an interlock checking means that verifies the proper status of the start or preignition interlocks in the burner system and the run interlocks of the burner system. In the event that an interlock opens during a period of time when it should not be open, the system can limit the operation of the sequence to a short time period (typically 30 seconds) to allow the interlock to reestablish a normal running state. If the correct state is reestablished, the system continues normal operation. If the correct state is not reestablished, the system is shut down on safety and a coded fault-hold indicator advises a serviceman of where to find the problem.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a load drive control element check circuit for checking whether or not conduction and non-conduction troubles take place in a load controlling switching element at the final output stage of a control device, which is required for safety, such as a combustion control circuit.

Abstract: An oil burner having an atomizing nozzle receptive of a supply of oil through an oil tube therein and receptive of a supply of air under pressure through an air tube therein for atomizing the oil, includes an oil shut-off valve device which is responsive to the pressure of the air in the air tube for normally preventing the passage of oil from the oil tube to the nozzle until the air pressure rises above a given value and for shutting off the passage of oil from the oil tube to the nozzle when the air pressure falls below a given value.

Abstract: A microprocessor based controller for regulating the position of a stack damper in a combustion furnace by feedback control adjusting damper position in view of an operator input target value of excess oxygen and an actual monitored excess oxygen value. A feedforward control overrides the feedback control for a time period initiated by the feedforward control responding to process variables indicating increase in combustion demand.

Abstract: The smoking elimination guidance system of the invention, which is preferably incorporated in a cigarette lighter, includes a timer which is responsive to each operation of the cigarette lighter automatically to initiate a new predetermined timing period during which only a single cigarette is to be smoked. Indicator means visible on the outside of the cigarette lighter indicate to the user when the end of the current timing period is reached. Timing period modifying means are provided for automatically at various times progressively increasing the timing period initiated by the operation of the cigarette lighter, such as by a predetermined fixed percentage. Before the timer starts into operation, a smoking elimination program suitable to the user is selected automatically during a measurement period when the user's cigarette smoking rate is determined.

Abstract: A timer circuit arrangement for use with a digital combustion control system functions to check failure of a safety timer which stops the combustion operation in the event that ignition is not completed within a predetermined time. The arrangement has a simple circuit which checks the safety timer in advance of initiation thereof. A pre-purge timer, which determines a predetermined time for feeding only combustion air into the combustion chamber for purge thereof in advance of the combustion, and the safety timer are built with a unitary construction. A series connection of flip-flop circuits is provided for carrying out frequency division of clock pulses to obtain predetermined times, and the flip-flop circuits for the safety timer are constituted by at least a part of the flip-flop circuits for the pre-purge timer so that the pre-purge may continue infinitely when the safety timer become out of order, thereby preventing the operation for combustion and ensuring safety of operation.

Abstract: A flare monitoring apparatus for detecting the generation of black smoke in a flare, the excessiveness of a flare and extinguishment of a flare based on the ratio and/or difference between an emissive power of infrared radiation emitted from a flare at a wave length at which a peak of the emissive power due to a resonance infrared radiation of a specified gas contained in a flue gas exists and an emissive power of infrared radiation emitted from the flare at another wave length at which a peak of the emissive power due to a resonance radiation does not exist. The apparatus produces an alarm and automatically controls the state of the flare upon the detection of the abnormality of the flare.

Abstract: A combustion control system applicable universally to various types of combustion apparatus operating with different control timing and different fuel is disclosed. The combustion control system includes a data selector circuit, a control circuit, and a control timer circuit using a counter as timing means. The data selector circuit includes a circuit section for providing pre-purge timing and another circuit section for providing ignition timing as required. The control circuit includes an R-S flip-flop controlled by the pre-purge timing produced by the data selector circuit section.

Abstract: A purge control system for flare gas stacks is described in which provisions are made for start up, steady state or transient purge gas control, and for failure of the purge gas supply, and also takes into account variable windspeed at or near the top of the stack, flow or non-flow of purge gas and waste gas in the stack, ambient temperature and temperature of the advancing gaseous medium in the stack, oxygen content of the gas at a predetermined location in the stack, the system including provisions for pilot burner gas supply and ignition with protection against pilot burner operation under undesired conditions, an indicating panel being employed to advise the operator of the prevailing operating conditions so that, if desired, appropriate action can be taken by the operator.

Abstract: A multiple pilot system is shown for ignition of waste gas from a flare burner, provisions being made to reduce or limit the pilots for ignition at the most effective location as determined by the wind direction and further, if desired by the wind velocity, the reduction in the number of pilots effecting substantial savings of combustible gas. Provision is made for emergency supply of gas to the pilots as desired.