Abstract: A control system for a multiple burner furnace has a programmable processor interfaced to hardware input and output circuitry associated with the furnace. The programmed processor provides a number of operating modules including a polling module, a startup module, a run module, and an alarm module. The processor and the associated hardware are interlocked in such a fashion that safe operation of the furnace is assured. For example, watchdog timers driven from the processor are interlocked with flame sensing hardware to control the main fuel valve and prevent fuel from flowing to the furnace in the event of either hardware or software malfunction. The safety features are equivalent to or better than a hardwired dedicated control system, while providing additional program-related flexibility and functionality.

Abstract: A self diagnostic system for a flame detector. The system produces an optical determinant signal from an analog determinant signal that has a controllable amplitude and frequency. The system detects the optical determinant signal and the optical signal from the flame and processes both signals to thereby continuously monitor the flame while also continuously analyzing the operating status of the flame detector.

Abstract: An oil flame monitoring system has an ultraviolet flame detector 1 and an infra red Flicker flame detector 2. The UV flame detector views a region 11 of the flame 5 known as the primary combustion zone which is situated about 1 to 2 metres downstream of a fuel atomizer 4. The IR Flicker flame detector 2 views a region 3 of the flame 5 inside the fuel oil spray just downstream of the fuel atomizer 4. A programmable logic controller processes the outputs of the two detectors 1, 2 and provides information about the position of the flame front and the quality of the flame.

Abstract: Combustion in a boiler burner is controlled through use of flame spectroscopy in order to achieve low NO.sub.x emissions in the exhaust. By monitoring the combustion flame in the boiler burner to determine intensity of ultraviolet spectral lines, and dynamically adjusting the fuel/air ratio of the fuel mixture such that this intensity remains below a predetermined level associated with a desired low level of NO.sub.x emissions, the boiler burner produces significantly reduced NO.sub.x emissions in its exhaust but at a sufficiently high combustion flame temperature to avoid any undue risk of flame-out, thereby assuring stable, safe and reliable operation.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting whether the level of an electrical signal having a preselected polarity is above a preselected value, is powered by DC of the opposite polarity. This prevents current leakage within the detector circuit from simulating the level of the electrical signal. Such a circuit is particularly suited for detecting the current level provided by a flame sensor in a combustion control system. The preferred embodiment has a capacitor which is charged by the circuit and then discharged by the electrical signal. The time required to discharge the capacitor to a preselected level indicates the level of the electrical signal. A second embodiment uses a comparator in a feedback loop which allows sensing the level of a voltage outside of the voltage range defined by the comparator's power supply.

Abstract: Combustion facilities includes a combustion apparatus having a burner, a fuel control valve disposed along a fuel feeding pipe, a air control valve disposed along an air feeding pipe. An optical sensor detects radiated light originating in combustion flame of the burner, and converts it into a first electric signal. The first electric signal is a composite signal consisting essentially of an intensity signal element reflective of the intensity of the detected light and an oscillation signal element reflective of fluctuation of the turbulent combustion flame caused by the air feeding to the burner. A sensor amplifier, which is connected to the optical sensor, extracts both the oscillation signal element and an intensity factor representative of a real intensity of the radiated light originated in only the combustion flame, from the first electric signal, and generates a second electric signal by dividing the oscillation signal element by the intensity factor.

Abstract: A burner comprises a plurality of nozzles used to introduce a reactive mixture of hydrocarbon fuel and an oxidizing gas into a reaction chamber where synthesis gas is produced. A pyrometer connected to the nozzles senses the temperature of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic control system for controlling the operation of an oil burner heating system. The control system comprises a relay circuit having first and second relays. When the relays are closed, an external power source is connected to an igniter and motor. The control system also comprises a relay contact monitor configured to detect whether the relays contacts are welded. The control system also comprises a relay control circuit adapted to energize the relays in response to the call for heat from the thermostat and a signal from the relay contact monitor indicative that the relay contacts are not welded. The relays are configured such that only one relay will open or close with power across its contacts. The control system further comprises an improved flame sense monitor adapted to quickly output signals indicative of flame or no flame when such conditions are present with sensitivity hysteresis and a feature to adjust such hysteresis.

Abstract: An improved electronic measuring system which not only determines the amount of fuel oil consumed by a home, office, or factory heating system, but also detects leaks in underground fuel storage tanks, errors in oil deliveries, heating system problems such as clogged nozzles, lines, filters, etc. and declining heating system efficiencies. The measuring system consists of an electromagnetic counter, printed circuit board with electronics, transformer, and dipswitches which are located in an enclosed housing. The device calculates fuel consumption rate via a mathematical algorithm based on burner nozzle size, fuel pump pressure, and burner flame-on time. Errors in count are avoided by using the burner's photo-optic cell output, and maintaining constant power to the electronics.

Abstract: A combustion control system for a burner having an analog circuit unit which includes a photosensor for detecting combustion flame of the burner, an amplifier for amplifying a detection output from the photosensor, a rectifier for rectifying the amplified signal to a DC component, and an integrator for smoothing the rectified signal to obtain an oscillating power signal.

Abstract: A multi-stage, fail-safe fuel control circuit monitors a flame which emits photons and is supplied with fuel through a valve to a burner. The fuel control circuit includes a flame scanner adjacent the valve for generating a count signal including pulses provided at a rate proportional to the energy of the flame adjacent the burner. A timer provides at least one timing signal which periodically shifts between a first and second state. A capacitive pulse-height discriminator is coupled to the flame scanner and to the timer and measures the rate of the pulses in the count signal during the first state of the timing signal and generates a discriminator signal if the pulses exceed a desired rate during the first state. A capacitor discharge oscillator is coupled to the frequency discriminator and the timer charges a capacitor during the first state and provides an oscillating signal powered by the capacitor at a first frequency if the count discriminator signal is generated during the first state.

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 fuel/air control system for use in controlling the operation of a surface combustion burner includes a photodetector that provides electrical signal equivalents of burner flame emission to a controller. The controller simultaneously receives signals indicative of the fuel/air mixture. The controller fits the emission and fuel air mixture data to a fourth order polynomial. Thereafter, the mathematical inflection point is computed and the corresponding fuel/air mixture is determined. The controller then generates command signals to adjust and maintain the burner at the inflection point fuel/air mixture. Multiple burner control can also be achieved with the present fuel/air control system without the need to sample exhaust gas.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling total ignition delay time in a pulse combustor, and thus controlling the mixing characteristics of the combustion reactants and the combustion products in the combustor, the total ignition delay time is controlled by adjusting the inlet geometry of the inlet to the combustion chamber. The inlet geometry may be fixed or variable for controlling the mixing characteristics. A feedback loop may be employed to sense actual combustion characteristics, and, in response to the sensed combustion characteristics, the inlet geometry may be varied to obtain the total ignition delay time necessary to achieve the desired combustion characteristics. Various embodiments relate to the varying of the mass flow rate of reactants while holding the radius/velocity ratio constant.

Abstract: In a heating appliance employing a radiant burner, a method and apparatus for setting the ratio of gaseous fuel to air supplied to the burner to a desired value. With the gaseous fuel flow rate held constant, the air flow rate is controlled to maintain the fuel-to-air ratio at the desired value. The invention uses a sensor that measures the intensity of radiation emitted by the burner. A control device compares the measured intensity to a reference intensity and regulates the air flow rate such that the measured intensity is equal to the reference intensity. The burner emits radiation equal to the reference radiation intensity when it is burning a combustible gas supply containing the desired fuel-to-air ratio, so that by regulating the air flow rate to cause the burner to emit the reference radiant intensity, the fuel-to-air ratio will be at the desired value.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly for a baking furnace is described. It includes a burner tube having an open outer end and an open inner end, with the inner end being arranged to extend through an opening in a furnace wall. A connector is provided for connecting the burner tube to a fuel supply and an infra-red pyrometer is mounted at the outer end of the tube. The pyrometer is axially aligned with the burner tube such that in use the pyrometer is sighted axially through the burner tube and onto an internal furnace wall. This gas burner assembly is particularly useful for heating the flue of a ring furnace used in the production of carbon anodes in the aluminum industry.

Abstract: The presence of a flame from a burner is determined by analyzing the signal produced by a radiation sensor aimed at a burner. Specifically, a Fourier transformation is applied to the signal producing amplitude values for a spectrum of component frequencies produced by changes in the power of the flame over time. A logarithmic value is derived for each of the amplitude values. The degree of linearity of the distribution of the component frequency logarithmic amplitude values provides an indication of the flame presence. Several parameters, including integrated linear error, linearity regression correlation and slope difference, provide an indication of the degree of linearity. A plurality of values for each of these parameters are produced during an interval of time.

Abstract: A combustion control apparatus for a burner comprising a detector for detecting an ionic current in a flame from the burner or light power of the flame, which changes in accordance with a change of combustion condition of the flame, and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the detected ionic current or light power, and an electric circuit supplied with the signal output from the detector to generate an output for maintaining a predetermined combustion condition on the basis of a reference value previously set therein and deliver the output to a controller for fuel and air systems of the burner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to optimize the proportion of gaseous fuel and air supplied to a radiant burner employed in a heating appliance. With the flow rate of the gaseous fuel supply held constant, the flow rate of the air supply is adjusted to change the relative proportion of air and fuel in the mixture to attain an optimum value for burner combustion, i.e. a value where the proportion of air is slightly greater than the stoichiometric ratio. The invention employs a sensor to measure the intensity of the radiation emitted by the burner while the air supply to the burner is varied. From the measurements obtained, control parameters are derived which are then applied to set the air supply flow rate to a level that results in the optimum proportion of air and fuel in the mixture.

Abstract: A combustion control device capable of detecting a self-discharge state caused by a failure of an ultraviolet ray detecting tube by interrupting flames from a combustion mechanism to an ultraviolet ray detecting tube by opening and closing a shutter, integrating, by an integrating circuit, detection signals from this ultraviolet ray detecting tube only when the shutter is closed, comparing the result of this integration with a preset judgement level by use of a first judgement circuit, and determining a failure by comparing a result of this comparison with a preset failure judgement frequency by use of a second judgement circuit, thereby improving maintainability.

Abstract: A high output, narrow band thermally energized radiation source comprises a rare earth oxide radiator member that has a cross-sectional dimension in the range of five to thirty micrometers, the rare earth oxide radiator member, when heated to about 1700.degree. C., having a concentrated radiated flux over the 400-2500 nanometer wavelength range such that at least 50% of the radiated flux is within a spectral band that is less than 400 nanometers wide.

Abstract: This invention relates to an auxiliary heating system for vehicles which is intended for effective heating of vehicles by installing it together with a pre-existing vehicle heating system. This invention utilizes a modified boiler with an improved burner as a heat source instead of engine waste heat. In addition, the invention features various kinds of safety devices. The invention provides for increased efficiency in the heating of a vehicle and yet represents an inexpensive heating system. The invention also expands the scope of vehicles in which the above heating system can be installed by decreasing the weight and lessening the size of the boiler.

Abstract: A luminance cumulative integrating method in image processes comprises the steps of: storing the positions of all of the unit regions constituting at least one block region to be detected as position information into a plurality of memory areas whose readout order has been predetermined in one direction; storing the luminances at the respective positions of an optical image as luminance information corresponding to the position information; sequentially outputting the position information from the plurality of memory areas; taking out the luminance information corresponding to the position information from the luminance information stored; adding the luminance information; and thereby obtaining the block luminance of at least one block region.

Abstract: Burner operating air equivalence ratio is monitored and controlled by a method comprising measuring OH radical spectral emission intensity at a base of a flame while combustion is in progress at a burner, employing a linear relationship between the intensity and an actual burner operating air equivalence ratio to determine the ratio while combustion is in progress, comparing the determined ratio with a desired burner operating air equivalence ratio to determine the difference therebetween, and controlling the amount of air supplied to the burner on the basis of the difference.

Abstract: At various loads a fuel/air peak relationship is determined for the peak infrared radiation. A desired operating fuel/air ratio is determined as is the offset between the relationship and the ratio. Later recalibration of the control system is established by determining a new fuel/air peak relationship and applying the offset.

Abstract: A method and system for regulating and maintaining a predetermined desired fuel-air mixture for a fuel of interest as represented by a desired fuel number disclosed which utilizes a known relationship between the radiation intensity ratios of selected chemical species in the products of combustion and the fuel number as a basis to adjust the proportion of fuel within the fuel-air mixture to control at the desired fuel number.

Abstract: Embodiments of gas-fired appliances which generate sufficient electricity to be self-powered include water heaters, space heaters, air conditioning units, and electric power and steam cogeneration systems. In such apparatus, gas is burned in a porous ceramic surface combustion burner. The high temperature surface of the burner includes a narrow band quantum emitting substance such as a rare earth metal oxide and preferably ytterbium oxide. Relatively shorter wavelength radiation from this quantum emitting surface illuminates photovoltaic cells having an absorption spectrum matched to the emission spectrum of the burner surface for generating sufficient electricity for powering the appliance. An infrared absorbing filter removes relatively longer wavelength radiation which would otherwise heat the photovoltaic cells. The cells are cooled, preferably by a portion of the utility fluid heated by the appliance.

Abstract: A flame detector, for use with a photocell which produces a flame signal when the photocell is exposed to a flame, is used for detecting the presence of a flame. An input circuit is coupled to the photocell for receiving and buffering the flame signal. The buffered flame signal is filtered and amplified in a filter. An output circuit further amplifies the filtered flame signal providing an output flame signal. A switch is also used in the flame detector for substantially short circuiting the flame signal to a known value upon receiving a switch-close signal from either a test computer or from a hot refractory detection circuit. A flame-out condition is detected by the hot refractory detection circuit which generates an HRD signal causing the flame signal to be substantially short circuited to a known value thereby eliminating a false flame signal caused by hot refractory shimmering.

Abstract: The system utilizes a radiation sensing device which views an electrically heated emissive igniter to provide proof-of-ignitability detection of the igniter. Optimally a photovoltaic array may be employed to self-power the electronic circuitry and fuel intake valve to the burner of a combustion device. In one embodiment there is also provides a second emission device viewed by the first photovoltaic array or a second photovoltaic device which views a second emissive device which is thermally heated upon activation of the burner. The electronic signals generated by the second light sensing device can be used to prove ignition of the combustion gases. When the second light sensing device is a photovoltaic array, power may be generated for recharging a storage battery, which in turn, can be used to electrically heat the emissive igniter. In the simpler case where the second emissive device is powered by the gas flame, means are provided for turning off the igniter.

Abstract: In an infrared flame detector system an infrared photodetector is positioned to receive infrared radiation from the flame to be detected. The output of the infrared flame detector is amplified with a gain readily switchable between two different gain values. The amplified output signal is filtered by a programmable high pass filter, in which the corner frequency can be selected to have different values and is readily switchable between two different values to correspond with different fuels generating the flame being detected. The output of the programmable filter is full wave rectified to provide a DC signal level corresponding to the AC signal generated across the photodetector. This DC signal level is compared with a reference signal voltage selected to correspond with the signal voltage produced when no flame is present, to provide an indication of the presence or absence of a flame.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustor is ignited by a torch igniter. The ignition chamber of the torch igniter receives a swirled stream of air into which is injected atomized fuel. The mixture of fuel and air is ignited by a spark plug in the ignition chamber. The combustion products and igniter flame are exhausted from the ignition chamber through a gas passageway penetrating through the sidewall of the gas turbine combustor to ignite a flame in the combustor. The igniter flame and the combustion flame are detected by a U.V. detector looking through aligned igniter air inlet and igniter exhaust passageways into the combustor. A U.V. transmissive window is disposed in the air inlet passageway to isolate the detector from the pressure of the igniter and combustor. A swirler in the air inlet tubulation supplies a flow of air across the window to inhibit deposit of combustion products thereon.

Abstract: A fire detection system has a detector for sensing optical radiation from a spark or flame or hot spot and an optical waveguide comprising an elongate hollow tube, having an inlet end portion for placement in a hostile, hazardous environment, and having an outlet end portion for emitting light rays to the detector and for placement in a benign, non-hazardous environment, and having a reflective inner surface forming a passage for transmitting the optical radiation from the tube inlet end portion to the tube outlet end portion by successive internal reflections.The elongate hollow waveguide tube is sealed at the inlet end portion by a lens which admits the optical radiation to the tube; and at the outlet end typically by the detector. The sealed tube is filled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, which helps to maintain the reflective interior surface of the tube.

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: An apparatus (1) is disclosed for controlling oxidation of a fuel in an oxidation source (2,3). The apparatus includes photovoltaic means (5) for receiving electromagnetic radiation (6) from the oxidation source and for producing electric power having a given electric power magnitude. An oxidation control (8, 1A, 1B, 288, 325) is coupled to, and driven, by, the photovoltaic means for controlling the oxidation. The oxidation is adjusted when the electric power is less than the given electric power magnitude. Oxidation may also be adjusted when a hazardous gas is detected. The apparatus (1A) may be used to power various electronic circuits. The apparatus (1B) may also be used to maintain the efficiency of the combustion source. A novel arrangement (248) for operating a fuel control valve is also disclosed. An apparatus (418) for controlling a portable heater is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-powered control system for a gas-fired appliance having a pilot burner and a main burner includes an emissive surface in the flame of the pilot burner and a photovoltaic device for irradiation from the emissive surface for providing electrical power for the control system. Two normally closed electromagnetic latching valves are arranged in series between a source of fuel gas and the main burner with a connection to the pilot burner between the two valves. The first valve is latched open when the photovoltaic device is irradiated by the emissive surface and is unlatched to close when the device is not so irradiated. The second valve is unlatched to close when the main burner is not burning. A double acting solenoid or the like is used for sequentially opening the first and second valves for lighting the pilot and main burners. A safe, reliable control system is thereby provided without external electrical power. Similar principles are used for powering a safety flue damper and air flow fan.

Abstract: A monitor method for the combustion conditions in a furnace of a boiler having a plurality of burners is disclosed. The method includes the steps of detecting the flame intensity at a predetermined position of a flame, by using an optical fiber having as its view the predetermined position at the flame of each of the plurality of burners; judging if the combustion conditions of each burner are normal or not, based on if the flame intensity detected for each burner flame is within a predetermined normal level range; and displaying the judgement results. Preferably, an image fiber for obtaining a flame image indicating the combustion conditions is provided for at least one of the burners, and the normal level range is determined based on the flame image obtained by the image fiber.

Abstract: In a flame detector having an optical head, a plurality of light-taking optical fibers are arranged so as to provide different directions of fields of vision at their front ends. Therefore, the watching regions of burner flame has been widened, and even if the primary combustion zone moves back and forth with respect to the tip of the burner due to the change in load, the flame can be accurately detected providing high reliability. Junction optical fibers and wiring optical fibers are separately provided in addition to the light-taking optical fibers. Therefore, when one or more optical fibers are damaged, only the damaged optical fibers are required to be replaced with new ones providing cost reduction in maintenance. Two or more photosensitive elements having different sensitive wavelength regions are used. Therefore, various types of flames having various wavelengths can be effectively detected providing wider detection range when compared with conventional apparatus.

Abstract: A furnace system connected to a burner including a furnace for burning a fuel and air ejected from the burner into the furnace to produce a flame therein, and a combustion condition determining device for determining the conditions of combustion of the fuel in a zone of the flame extending along different strata thereof by collecting light in the flame at one point in the flame by moving such point. Signals outputted by the combustion condition determining device are utilized for monitoring or controlling the flame and controlling exhaust emission control devices for controlling exhaust emissions produced by the combustion of the fuel. Control of the conditions of combustion of the flame can be effected quickly with a high degree of precision by monitoring the flame.

Abstract: A flame monitor senses flame brightness and produces two signals corresponding to rapid brightness variations and average brightness. By comparing rapid signal variations to a fraction of the average a threshold ON-OFF signal representing normal flame operation is obtained that can be processed as a fail-safe indication and control. High and low limit thresholds can be set and compared with average brightness as a further condition of proper flame operation.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of measuring the shape of an injected substance and an automated apparatus for carrying out such a method. In the invention, an optical image of the injected substance, such as atomized fuel mist is projected on a photoelectric converter, and it is converted to video signal. The video signal is sampled at each picture element and the sampled data are memorized in a data memory unit and computed for obtaining a linear luminance distribution function, by determining a line to cut an optical image, then selecting line elements of a fixed length perpendicular to the cut line and computing an average luminance at the individual line elements. The linear luminance distribution function thus obtained stands for a sectional view of a shape of the injected substance mist. And judgment whether the shape is satisfactory or not can be executed on the basis of various shape factors extracted by use of the linear luminance distribution function.

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 fiber optics based optical emission line monitoring system is provided in which selected spectral emission lines, such as the sodium D-line emission in coal combustion, may be detected in the presence of interferring background or blackbody radiation with emissions much greater in intensity than that of the emission line being detected. A bifurcated fiber optic light guide is adapted at the end of one branch to view the combustion light which is guided to a first bandpass filter, adapted to the common trunk end of the fiber. A portion of the light is reflected back through the common trunk portion of the fiber to a second bandpass filter adapted to the end of the other branch of the fiber. The first filter bandpass is centered at a wavelength corresponding to the emission line to be detected with a bandwidth of about three nanometers (nm). The second filter is centered at the same wavelength but having a width of about 10 nm.

Abstract: An ignition burner for igniting fuel oxygen-containing gas mixture. The burner utilizes a central electrode and means for supplying the electrode with both a low velocity flow and a high velocity flow of combustible gases to the electrode to form a first flame. The first flame is surrounded by a plurality of nozzles that supply additional fuel and oxygen-containing gas to form a large ignition flame.

Abstract: A fail-safe, self-checking flame monitoring circuit is provided without the use of a mechanical shutter in which a photodetector provides a signal corresponding to flame intensity (including flicker), an amplifier amplifies the signal, the amplification is controlled by a negative feedback circuit in relation to the peak amplitude of the signal (including flicker) such that all frequencies down to DC are amplified equally, and all amplified signals are passed, without threshold, downstream for further processing.

Abstract: A gas burner of the air and combustible gas mixture type includes a flame control cell mounted away from the actual flame. The control cell, by being located away from the actual flame, can monitor the operating conditions of the flame and, in response thereto, controls the flow of air and gas, the firing of the lighting electrode and the regulating of the gas intake valve. The control cell is further protected from the flame and any possible backfires by a pressure differential existing between the injected air and combustible gas mixture.

Abstract: A system for minimizing combustion operation losses includes measuring a load index for the combustion operation which is proportional to the fuel demand or the output thereof, measuring an amount proportional to the air heating losses of the combustion operation and measuring an amount which is proportional to the fuel loss of the operation. The air heating loss is measured by multiplying a flue temperature by an amount of unburned oxygen in the flue gas. This quantity is multiplied by a cost factor for such air heating and the load index. The fuel loss is obtained by measuring an amount of by-product in the flue gas as well as the opacity of the flue gas. These are multiplied by appropriate cost factors which in the case of opacity is proportional to a fine that would be due for violating certain limits for the opacity. Minimum values are found for the fuel loss and air heating loss quantities, as air demand to the combustion operation is changed.

Abstract: In the combination of a high temperature combustion chamber which has a burner at the top, there is a radiant energy conduit that is associated with the burner so as to receive radiant energy from the interior of the combustion chamber. The burner introduces the constituents of a synthesis gas generation process. The radiant energy conduit is cooled by its association with the burner, and its purpose is for making temperature measurements inside the chamber.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for monitoring a condition and activating controls in response either to the non-existence of that condition or the failure of any component in the system, in which a preliminary fail-safe oscillation train derived from sensing the condition is converted into a steady state indication of that condition, and a secondary fail-safe oscillation train is generated in a fail-safe way from said steady state indication for further transmission downstream for control purposes. In the context of flame monitoring, means associated with the preliminary oscillation train are provided for discriminating between separate flames and for time delay purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus for reliably monitoring a flame of a post-mixed burner without significantly altering the flame characteristics by forming a small but intense signal within the burner which is unaffected by furnace conditions and which corresponds to the actual flame.

Abstract: A measurement of the amount of infrared radiation coming from the flame associated with a flare stack is utilized to manipulate the flow of steam to the flare stack so as to reduce the emission of smoke from the flare stack when a combustible waste gas containing hydrocarbons is being burned in the flare stack.