Controlling Or Proportioning Feed Patents (Class 431/12)
  • Patent number: 11668484
    Abstract: A device is configured to operate a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The device is further configured to determine that the amount of time to close a pressure switch exceeds a time threshold value. The device is further configured to receive an audio signal from a microphone while operating the HVAC system and to determine that an audio signature for a combustion air inducer is not present within the audio signal. The device is further configured to determine whether an audio signature for an integrated furnace controller is present within the audio signal. The device is further configured to determine a fault type based on the determination of whether the audio signature for the integrated furnace controller is present within the audio signal, to identify a component identifier for a component of the HVAC system associated with fault type, and to output a recommendation identifying the component identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Glenn William Kowald
  • Patent number: 11655993
    Abstract: A device is configured to operate a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The device is further configured to determine that the speed of a combustion air inducer exceeds a speed threshold value. The device is further configured to receive an audio signal from a microphone while operating the HVAC system and to determine an audio signature for the combustion air inducer is not present within the audio signal. The device is further configured to determine whether an audio signature for the integrated furnace controller is present within the audio signal. The device is further configured to determine a fault type based on the determination of whether the audio signature for the integrated furnace controller is present within the audio signal, to identify a component identifier for a component of the HVAC system that is associated with fault type, and to output a recommendation identifying the component identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Glenn William Kowald
  • Patent number: 11635220
    Abstract: A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes determining a first pressure in a conduit coupled to a draft inducer from signals output by a pressure transducer positioned to sense a pressure within the conduit with a motor of the draft inducer in a stopped condition. A first status of the pressure transducer is determined based at least in part on the first pressure. The motor of the draft inducer is controlled to increase a speed of the motor from the stopped condition in response to a call for heat when the first status does not indicate that the pressure transducer is unreliable, and the motor is maintained in a stopped condition when the first status indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: John F. Broker, Lily Wan, Bradley C. Zikes
  • Patent number: 11620553
    Abstract: A system for forecasting leaks in a fluid-delivery pipeline network. The system identifies a subsystem in the pipeline network that comprises a plurality of topologically connected stations. The system accesses historical temporal sensor measurements of a plurality of variables of the stations that are directly connected and generates a temporal causal dependency model for a first control variable at the first station in the subsystem, based on the plurality of time series of sensor measurements of a second variable of the first station, and temporal delay characteristics of the plurality of time series of sensor measurements of the second variable at the stations directly connected to the first station. The system automatically calculates a normal operating value of the first control variable at the first station and the deviations between actual measured values and the normal operating value and determines a threshold deviation that indicates a leak event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Utopus Insights, Inc.
    Inventors: Fook-Luen Heng, Jefferson Huang, Tarun Kumar, Rui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11619384
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion chamber is provided. The method includes introducing a fuel into the combustion chamber via a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle having an associated stoichiometry for an output end of the nozzle. The method further includes measuring the stoichiometry of each nozzle via one or more sensors to obtain stoichiometric data, and determining that at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of spectral line fluctuations derived from the stoichiometric data has exceeded a threshold. The method further includes adjusting the stoichiometry of at least one of the nozzles based at least in part on the stoichiometric data so as to maintain a flame stability of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Carl Bozzuto, Carl Neuschaefer
  • Patent number: 11608983
    Abstract: A gas burner system and corresponding methods include a gas burner through which an air-gas mixture is conducted; a variable-speed forced-air device that forces air through the gas burner; a control valve that controls a supply of gas for mixture with the air to thereby form the air-gas mixture; an electrode configured to ignite the air-gas mixture and produce a flame, wherein the electrode is further configured to measure an actual flame strength of the flame; a controller; and an input device for inputting a calibration command to the controller. Upon receipt of the calibration command, the controller is configured to automatically calibrate and save the target flame strength set point and thereafter automatically regulate a speed of the variable-speed forced-air device to cause the actual flame strength to achieve the target flame strength set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas James Colin Hunniford, Stuart C. Black, Philip Eadie
  • Patent number: 11598545
    Abstract: A device is configured to operate a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The device is further configured to determine that the amount of time to close a pressure switch exceeds a time threshold value. The device is further configured to receive an audio signal from a microphone while operating the HVAC system, to identify an audio signature for the combustion air inducer, and to determine the audio signature for the combustion air inducer is present within the audio signal. The device is further configured to determine a fault type based on the determination that the audio signature for the combustion air inducer is present within the audio signal, to identify a component identifier for a component of the HVAC system that is associated with fault type, and to output a recommendation identifying the component identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Glenn William Kowald
  • Patent number: 11573022
    Abstract: A device configured to operate a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and to receive an audio signal from a microphone while operating HVAC system. The device is further configured to generate a representation of the audio signal, to compare one or more audio signatures to the representation of the audio signal, and to determine that an audio signature from among the one or more audio signatures is not present within the representation of the audio signal. The device is further configured to determine a fault type that is associated with the audio signature that is not present within the representation of the audio signal, to identify a component identifier for a component of the HVAC system that is associated with fault type, and to output the component identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Payam Delgoshaei, Sridhar Venkatesh, Glenn William Kowald, Eric Berg, Janathkumar Manohararaj, Jeffrey Fontenault
  • Patent number: 11525754
    Abstract: The system can include installing a gas meter in a gas supply net. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a level of pressure within the gas meter. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a flow rate level within the gas meter. The gas meter determines where a leak exists based on the flow rate level and the level of pressure. The system may also include determining, by the gas meter, a location of the leak, and whether the leak is upstream or downstream from the gas meter. The location of the leak is determined by the level of the pressure and the flow rate level. The system can also include a head end configured at a set position. The gas meter can inform the head end of the location of the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Christian Lampe-Juergens, Ralf Schroeder genannt Berghegger, Andreas Wuchrer, Tobias Meimberg, Norbert Flerlage, Guido Temme
  • Patent number: 11506126
    Abstract: A system mounted on a skid for use in fracturing operations is disclosed along with an associated method. The system includes a line heater on the skid to enable heating of fuel to be used with a turbine generator and includes one or more pressure regulators coupled to the line heater to enable adjustment of a pressure associated with the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Hinderliter, Jared Oehring
  • Patent number: 11434825
    Abstract: A method, control unit and rotating machine for determining a fuel split setting value for adjusting a fuel split setting for a combustion device, the fuel split setting defining a relation between main fuel and pilot fuel. The method includes: retrieving a first information item correlated to heating value of supplied main fuel; retrieving a second information item correlated to combustor operating condition; retrieving at least one third information item representing stability of combustion; selecting a predefined pair of minimum and maximum boundary curves for the fuel split setting from a plurality of predefined pairs based on the first and second information items, the minimum and maximum boundary curves defining a band of fuel split settings permitted for a range of second information item values; determining the fuel split setting value within the selected pair of minimum and maximum boundary curves based on the third information item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Varkey Alexander, Kexin Liu, Victoria Sanderson
  • Patent number: 11428407
    Abstract: A combustion air proving (CAP) system for a burner assembly having a burner for providing heated air to a location, a controller, and a back plate, where outside air is fed to the burner via a conduit. The CAP system, is connected to an inlet of the system. An outlet of the system is connected to the burner via the back plate. A damper within the system is translatable between open and closed positions for allowing and blocking air flow, respectively. A sensor measures an air flow parameter of air flow to the burner. The sensor communicates with the controller, which shuts down the burner if the parameter measured by the sensor meets a predetermined threshold value. An assembly installer may test for proper sensor and controller functions by translating the damper to the closed position and blocking outside air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cowles Operating Company
    Inventors: Charles Feldman, John Dunleavey
  • Patent number: 11366089
    Abstract: An analysis condition adjusting device of a fuel analyzer includes a first NOx computing unit for calculating a reference NOx estimation value using a previously obtained first industrial analysis value of a fuel sample, a second NOx computing unit for calculating a plurality of varied NOx estimation value by varying a value of each of components of the first industrial analysis value, a NOx error computing unit for computing an error as a NOx error between the reference NOx estimation value and each of the varied NOx estimation values, an analysis error tolerance range setting unit for setting an analysis error tolerance range of each of the components based on a value variation amount of each of the components, the value variation amount being defined such that the NOx error is within a tolerance range, and an analysis condition adjusting unit for adjusting an analysis condition of a fuel analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Ohashi, Toshihiko Setoguchi, Junji Imada, Atsushi Tanaka, Keigo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11319916
    Abstract: A heater comprises a combustion chamber and a jacket extending about the combustion chamber. There is a fan having an output which communicates with the combustion chamber to provide combustion air. There is also a fuel delivery system having a variable delivery rate. A burner assembly is connected to the combustion chamber. The burner assembly has a burner mounted thereon adjacent the combustion chamber. The burner receives fuel from the fuel delivery system. There is an exhaust system extending from the combustion chamber. An oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust system to detect oxygen content of exhaust gases. There is a control system operatively coupled to the oxygen sensor and the fuel delivery system. The control system controls the delivery rate of the fuel delivery system according to the oxygen content of the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MARINE CANADA ACQUISITION INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Strang, Bruce Wilnechenko, Korbin Thomas, Daine Strankman
  • Patent number: 11280520
    Abstract: In a gas hot water heater, changes of the signal output of an A/F sensor are calibrated in the atmosphere, in which the A/F sensor detects an oxygen concentration in a combustion tube. The gas supplied via a gas supply pipe is injected, together with in-taken air, into a combustion tube, which is incorporated in a hot water supply tank, via an injection unit. A proportional valve controls a combustion state in the combustion tube based on the detected oxygen concentration to thereby heat water supplied in the hot water supply tank. A purging process is performed to supply air into the combustion tube, at a timing between an extinguishment operation first performed after the ignition the gas mixture in the combustion tube and a re-ignition operation. Changes of signal output characteristics of the A/F sensor are subject to the calibration after the purging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Takahiro Miyajima
  • Patent number: 11215359
    Abstract: A combustion system includes a premix blower system and the premix blower system includes an additional air inlet with an adjustable opening which includes an additional reversibly pluggable air intake. The adjustable opening of the additional air inlet can be opened at higher elevations to compensate for thinner air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ryosuke Umemura, Takashi Nozaki, Yoshiki Semba
  • Patent number: 11170217
    Abstract: A method for predicting conditions associated with a coal stock pile is described. The method includes collecting aerial data for a site including one or more coal stock piles. Using the aerial data, the method includes performing localization of the site to identify boundaries of the coal stock piles and extracting multi-spectral features. The method also includes obtaining additional data associated with the coal stock piles from at least one data source and merging the aerial data with the additional data. Using the merged data and the extracted multi-spectral features, the method includes analyzing a status of the coal stock piles by a prediction module to predict at least one of an impending combustion event or a severe condition associated with the coal stock piles. In response to the predicted at least one impending combustion event or severe condition, the method includes implementing a response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Bhushan Gurmukhdas Jagyasi, Abhijeet Chowdhary, Ramaa Gopal Varma Vegesna, Nasiruddin Mohammad, Pallavi S. Gawade, Urvi Suresh Shah, Abhishek Kumar Jaiswal, Akash Manikrao Jadhav, Bolaka Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 11143399
    Abstract: The premixing device includes a first and a second venturi having a pressure reducing portion for air, and a gas supply passage for supplying fuel gas to the venturis, and generates air-fuel mixture by mixing fuel gas with air flowing in the venturi by using a fan and supplies the air-fuel mixture to a burner. A first and a second nozzles for reducing pressure of fuel gas are disposed in the gas supply passage, and the first and the second nozzles are formed in the same nozzle shape as the pressure reducing portion of the first and the second venturis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: PALOMA CO., LTD
    Inventor: Koki Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 11073281
    Abstract: Methods and systems for programming and controlling a control system of a gas valve assembly. The methods and systems include programming a control system in an automated manner to establish an air-fuel ratio based at least in part on a burner firing rate. The established air-fuel ratio may be configured to facilitate meeting a combustion constituent set point of combustion constituents in the combustion exhaust. The methods and systems include controlling operation of a combustion appliance based on closed-loop control techniques and utilizing feedback from a sensor measuring combustion constituents in exhaust from a combustion chamber in the combustion appliance. The combustion constituents on which control of the combustion appliance may be determined include oxygen and/or carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Frederick Hazzard, Glenn Bergum, Bernard Graham
  • Patent number: 11041621
    Abstract: An auxiliary burner for an electric furnace capable of increasing and homogenizing the heating effect of iron scrap by suitably and efficiently burning solid fuel along with gas fuel. Auxiliary burner 100 for an electric furnace comprises a solid fuel injection tube 1, a gas fuel injection tube 2, and a combustion-supporting gas injection tube 3 in the stated order from the center side, all arranged coaxially, and is characterized in that: a combustion-supporting gas flow path 30 of the 10 combustion-supporting gas injection tube 3 is provided with a plurality of swirl vanes 4 for swirling the combustion-supporting gas, and the angle ? formed between the swirl vanes 4 and the burner axis is 5° or more and 45° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignees: JFE STEEL CORPORATION, CHUGAIRO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sumito Ozawa, Koichi Tsutsumi, Yoshihiro Miwa, Ikuhiro Sumi, Kenichi Tomozawa, Takayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 10890123
    Abstract: A means of detecting the in-situ fuel-to-air-ratio (FAR) in a combustor or flame zone using a Fourier-based flame ionization probe is presented. The use of multiple excitation frequencies and its detection at certain frequencies or combinations of harmonics of those excitation frequencies, namely, the inter-modulation distortion, provides a novel means of extracting a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) FAR measurement in a combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Intellihot, Inc.
    Inventors: Sridhar Deivasigamani, Sivaprasad Akasam, Quang-Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10865985
    Abstract: A method for operating a combustion chamber is provided. The method includes obtaining a carbon monoxide reading at an exit of the combustion chamber via a carbon monoxide sensor, and deriving an oxygen set point trim based at least in part on the carbon monoxide reading and a carbon monoxide set point via a controller. The method further includes determining a stability status of the combustion chamber via a combustion stability sensor, and adjusting an oxygen set point of the combustion chamber with the oxygen set point trim based at least in part on the stability status via the controller. The oxygen set point defines a desired oxygen level at the exit of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Shizhong Yang, Robert Frederick Murphy, Jilin Tu, Xiaoleinmn Shi, Dayu Huang
  • Patent number: 10830443
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for tuning combustion dynamics in a combustor. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a method includes providing, via at least one sensor, combustion dynamics amplitude data associated with a combustor. Method may allow monitoring, by an equipment controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the combustion dynamics amplitude data. The method may allow detecting at least one change in acoustic pressure amplitude associated with combustion in the combustor. In response to detecting the change in the acoustic pressure amplitude, the method proceeds with determining a fuel split change to at least two fuel circuits configured to supply fuel to the combustor, and applying the fuel split change to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Akilezkrishnamurthy Arthanari, Mihir Lal, James Harper, Douglas Edward Dean, Abhijit Prabhakar Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 10782018
    Abstract: A gas burner assembly and a method of operating the same are provided. The gas burner assembly includes fuel valve for providing a flow of fuel and an air pump for providing a flow of air into a boost fuel chamber prior to combustion. The method includes obtaining a predetermined cold start airflow schedule and modifying the cold start airflow schedule if the operating history of the gas burner assembly indicates that the temperature of the gas burner assembly is elevated, e.g., not cold. Specifically, the warmer the gas burner assembly, the more the airflow is increased relative to the cold start airflow schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Patent number: 10753613
    Abstract: A combustor includes a shell that at least partially defines a combustion chamber and a grommet mounted in the shell. The grommet has a body that defines a passage through the grommet that is operable to communicate air from outside the combustion chamber into the combustion chamber. The body carries a first surface, an opposite, second surface and a third surface that defines the passage and joins the first surface and the second surface. The third surface includes a bevel surface with respect to at least one of the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Crisen McKenzie, Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10591165
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle body having a rearward end and a front end with an outer tube which extends from the rearward end to the front end and has radial openings for a first fuel in the region of the front end, and an inner tube which is arranged concentrically to the outer tube and which opens in the region of the front end into a nozzle head, which has additional openings for a second fuel, wherein, in the region of the front end, the inner tube is guided in the outer tube by two fits which are arranged axially between the radial openings and the additional openings, and wherein the first fit closest to the radial openings is configured as a circumferential web around the inner tube, and wherein the second fit is configured with at least one interruption on the perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Beck, Andreas Böttcher, Christopher Grandt, Thomas Hauser, Patrick Lapp, Stefan Reich
  • Patent number: 10551055
    Abstract: A gas mixer includes at least one outlet pipe and a base having an inlet portion and a mixing portion. The inlet portion has an air inlet, at least one gas inlet, and an air path. The air path communicates with the air inlet and the at least one gas inlet, and has an exit. The mixing portion has a mixing chamber communicating with the exit. The outlet pipe is engaged with the mixing portion of the base, and extends into the mixing chamber. The exit of the air path corresponds to a body of the outlet pipe. Therefore, air and gas can be effectively premixed and outputted to a burner, whereby to accurately control the air-fuel ratio to enhance the combustion efficiency of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GRAND MATE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chung-Chin Huang, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang, Yen-Jen Yeh, Wei-Long Chen, Kuan-Chou Lin, Tang-Yuan Luo
  • Patent number: 10520186
    Abstract: A method for determining an change in an operating condition of a gas burner appliance. In some instances, a calibration of a gas/air mixture may be performed when the combustion quality of the gas burner appliance diminishes. This may be accomplished by adjusting a throttle position of a throttle valve that throttles the gas to the gas burner appliance. After calibration has been performed, a throttle position of the throttle valve is determined, and based on the throttle position determined after calibration, a change of an operating condition of the gas burner appliance is detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies Sarl
    Inventors: Gerwin Langius, Piet Blaauwwiekel, Frank Van Prooijen, Erwin Kupers
  • Patent number: 10378764
    Abstract: A system for boiler control is provided. The system includes supply units to provide supplies of combustion materials for combustion thereof, a vessel coupled to the supply units in which the combustion materials are combusted, a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor disposed at an outlet of the vessel to sense a quantity of exhaust CO output from the vessel as a product of combustion therein and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the supply units and the sensor and configured to issue a main servo command and a pulse servo command to one or more of the supply units to control operations of the one or more supply units in accordance with the sensed quantity of the exhaust CO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christoph Haugstetter
  • Patent number: 10352562
    Abstract: The present disclosure deals with the measurement of flows of a fluid in a combustion device. In particular embodiments, the teachings may be employed in the measurement of flows of fluids such as air in the presence of turbulence. For example, a combustion device may include: a burner; a side duct; and a feed duct. The side duct may include a mass flow sensor and a flow resistance element. The mass flow sensor detects a mass flow through the side duct. The flow resistance element subdivides the side duct. A connector of the feed duct comprises a Pitot probe. A first section of the Pitot probe projects into the feed duct and a sub area facing towards the outlet of the feed duct of the first section of the Pitot probe comprises the inlet of the Pitot probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rainer Lochschmied, Mike Schmanau, Bernd Schmiederer
  • Patent number: 10260746
    Abstract: The present disclosure deals with the measurement of flows of a fluid in a combustion device. For example, a combustion device may include a burner; a combustion chamber; a side duct; and a feed duct with a connector for the side duct including a mass flow sensor and a flow resistance element. The side duct and the feed duct have a fluid connection to one another. The mass flow sensor senses a mass flow through the side duct. The resistance element subdivides the side duct and includes an admittance surface. There is an outer area. The mass flow sensor projects into the side duct. The outlet of the side duct lets the fluid flow out of the side duct directly into the combustion chamber or directly into the outer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rainer Lochschmied, Mike Schmanau, Bernd Schmiederer
  • Patent number: 10234143
    Abstract: A method for operating a forced aspiration gas cooking appliance is provided. The method includes connecting the forced aspiration gas cooking appliance to a network and establishing a location of the forced aspiration gas cooking appliance based at least in part on a location characteristic of the network. An altitude of the forced aspiration gas cooking appliance is determined based at least in part on the location of the forced aspiration gas cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Patent number: 10232310
    Abstract: A multi-function duct for a dry scrubber system useful for processing a gas stream, such as a flue gas stream produced by a fossil fuel fired boiler, a combustion process or the like, is provided. The multi-function duct is useful for a circulating dry scrubber (CDS) dry flue gas desulfurization (DFGD) system operable for dry or moistened reducing agent distribution into a flue gas stream flowing therethrough. As such, the distributed dry or moistened reducing agent reacts with acid gas in the flue gas to produce a dry reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Bennie Randolf Hubard, IV, Mark Albert Fiedler
  • Patent number: 10233835
    Abstract: This IGCC plant is provided with an ASU which separates oxygen gas and nitrogen gas from air, a coal gasification furnace which uses an oxidizing agent to gasify coal, and a gas turbine which is driven by the combustion gas resulting from burning a gas generated by means of the coal gasification furnace. This IGCC plant control device (50) is provided with an air separation amount determination unit (52) which determines the production amount of nitrogen gas produced by the ASU depending on the operating load of the IGCC plant, and supplies to the coal gasification furnace the entire amount of oxygen gas generated as a byproduct in response to the determined nitrogen gas production amount. By this means, the IGCC plant can minimize blow-off of oxygen gas produced from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Tamura, Takashi Fujii, Takanori Tsutsumi, Takashi Kijima
  • Patent number: 10228139
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine during flight operation of the gas turbine engine in an aircraft may include measuring a gas temperature downstream of the combustor using a plurality of temperature measurement devices circumferentially disposed about an engine centerline and varying the output of at least one fuel injector in a first direction and the output of at least another fuel injector in a second direction, while maintaining a thrust output of the gas turbine engine during the flight operation. A gas turbine engine may include temperature measurement devices circumferentially disposed about an engine centerline and a system configured for varying the output of at least one fuel injector in a first direction and the output of at least another fuel injector in a second direction, while maintaining a power output of the gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Cummings, III
  • Patent number: 10190772
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dual fuel ignition device and a work method thereof, wherein the ignition device can output electric potential according to the opposite in-series connection of two thermocouples in a high-heating value gas igniting end and a low-heating value gas igniting end and the heating condition of the thermocouples, and can control the switching on or off of a control valve on a gas flow according to the effective heat electric potential generated by the thermocouples in the process of ignition, so as to avoid the danger condition that the main burner generates high fire caused by the misoperation of the gas appliance, therefore, the safe use can be guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG FUERJ ELECTRIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Jianfu Luo, Xueqing Zhao
  • Patent number: 10139106
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a burner, the burner including a control board with a first control unit and a first memory, which stores first values of operating parameters of the burner, and a display device, which displays one or more items of data relating to the functioning of the burner, the display device including a second memory, which stores second values of operating parameters of the burner, each first and second operating parameters being capable of being changed over time. The method includes setting for each operating parameter at least one first value in the first memory, and at least one second value in the second memory; comparing, for each operating parameter, a corresponding first value and second value; if the first value and the second value are different, changing one of the first or second values, so that the first and second values are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIT S.P.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Vendramini
  • Patent number: 9995225
    Abstract: Present invention optimizes utilization of different fuels in various single and multi-fueled engines. The fuel system and optimization controller links fuel properties (physical, reactionary, combustion etc.) to on-board computer systems during the refueling process. This link enables fuel and additive producers an opportunity to optimize combustion parameters of their proprietary fuel blends to increase performance, fuel efficiencies and reduce emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Optimus Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Colin N. Huwyler, David S. Rosenstraus
  • Patent number: 9995488
    Abstract: A combustion chamber including a first fuel injector and a second fuel injector, the first and second fuel injectors being arranged to inject fuel into a mainstream flow of air with the second fuel injector arranged downstream of the first fuel injector. A method of mixing fuel and air in a combustion chamber, including injecting fuel into a mainstream flow of air with a first fuel injector; injecting fuel into the mainstream flow of air with a second fuel injector, which is arranged downstream of the first fuel injector; injecting fuel into the mainstream flow with the first fuel injector such that the resulting mixture between the first and second fuel injectors has an equivalence ratio less than the lean flame stability limit; and injecting fuel into the mainstream flow with the second fuel injector such that a combustion zone is provided downstream of the second fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Stephen C. Harding
  • Patent number: 9958158
    Abstract: The burner preferably exclusively burns substantially explosible solid fuels and preferably has instant ON-OFF thermostat control, wastes no energy preheating the enclosure or external air supply, achieves stable combustion the moment the powder-air mix is ignited in our burner, is used in the upward vertical mode except for oil burner retrofits, burns a solid fuel in a single-phase regime as if it were a vaporized liquid or gas, is designed to complete combustion within the burner housing itself rather than in a large, high temperature furnace enclosure which it feeds, has an ultra-short residence time requirement, is a recycle consuming burner with self-contained management of initially unburned particles, is much smaller, simpler and lower cost, has a wider dynamic range/turndown ratio, is more efficient in combustion completeness and thermal efficiency, and operates with air-fuel mix approximately at the flame speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: James K. McKnight, Edward Bacorn, Ken W. White
  • Patent number: 9897315
    Abstract: A safety device against gas leaks for an apparatus having at least one gas tap or the like (1) includes control means (11), safety means (22) and detection means (12, 53), for detecting possible presence of gas in a surrounding environment. The detection means (12, 53) are in signal communication with the control means (11), which are configured for controlling the safety means (22) in function of detections earned out by the detection means (12, 53), in order to prevent or interrupt the inflow of combustible gas to a burner. The control means (11) and the safety means (22) belong to a first functional unit (A) of the device (A, B), which is coupled or configured for the coupling with a portion of the body (2) of the tap (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ELTEK S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Nebbia, Costanzo Gadini
  • Patent number: 9822707
    Abstract: A vent for use in a gaseous fuel supply circuit of a gas turbine is provided. The vent includes an inlet in flow communication with the gaseous fuel supply circuit, a first outlet in flow communication with the gaseous fuel supply circuit and configured to release gaseous fuel at atmospheric pressure, a first valve coupled between the inlet and the first outlet, wherein the first valve includes a second outlet configured to channel the gaseous fuel towards a combustion device. The system also includes a second valve coupled between the inlet and the second outlet, and a control device configured to selectively open and close the first and second valves based on a pressure of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yann Tapie, Cedric Vasselon, Olivier Schweiger, Olivier Chapuis
  • Patent number: 9765964
    Abstract: A system for boiler control is provided. The system includes supply units to provide supplies of combustion materials for combustion thereof, a vessel coupled to the supply units in which the combustion materials are combusted, a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor disposed at an outlet of the vessel to sense a quantity of exhaust CO output from the vessel as a product of combustion therein and a control unit. The control unit is coupled to the supply units and the sensor and configured to issue a main servo command and a pulse servo command to one or more of the supply units to control operations of the one or more supply units in accordance with the sensed quantity of the exhaust CO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: UTC FIRE & SECURITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christoph Haugstetter
  • Patent number: 9719682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for controlling a combustion reaction and the products thereof. One embodiment includes a combustion control system having an oxygenation stream substantially comprising oxygen and CO2 and having an oxygen to CO2 ratio, then mixing the oxygenation stream with a combustion fuel stream and combusting in a combustor to generate a combustion products stream having a temperature and a composition detected by a temperature sensor and an oxygen analyzer, respectively, the data from which are used to control the flow and composition of the oxygenation and combustion fuel streams. The system may also include a gas turbine with an expander and having a load and a load controller in a feedback arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Franklin F. Mittricker, Loren K. Starcher, Chad C. Rasmussen, Richard A. Huntington, Frank Hershkowitz
  • Patent number: 9714765
    Abstract: The invention provides a burner configured for use with a dryer for drying aggregates, the burner comprising: a burner chamber (3) is which is mounted a fuel-atomizing burner nozzle (3.32) and means for conveying fuel to the burner nozzle; means providing a flow of air through the burner chamber and into the combustion chamber; a combustion chamber (4) in which the fuel is burnt; the combustion chamber (4) having an opening at an upstream end thereof communicating with the burner chamber (3) and an opening at a downstream end thereof for passing combustion gases and heated air into a drying chamber of the dryer; the burner nozzle (3.32) being arranged to direct a flow of atomized fuel into the combustion chamber; a first airflow modifier device (3.11) mounted in or across the opening at the upstream end of the combustion chamber such that there is a gap constituting an air escape channel around a periphery of the first airflow modifier device, the first airflow modifier device (4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Inventor: Ian Brian Lewis
  • Patent number: 9476589
    Abstract: A method supplies reactants, including fuel gas, to burners that discharge the reactants into a furnace process chamber. In a stable flame mode of operation, stable flames are projected from the burners into the furnace process chamber. At a time when the furnace process chamber has a temperature at or above an autoignition temperature of the fuel gas, a diffuse combustion mode is initiated by supplying a selected burner with additional reactants, including reactants diverted from another burner, to blow off the stable flame at the selected burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: John N. Newby
  • Patent number: 9447966
    Abstract: A burner is provided. The burner includes an air compressor, an atomizing head having an air orifice, first and second fuel tanks, the first fuel tank being located at least partially below the atomizing head, and the second fuel tank being located at least partially above the atomizing head, a first fluid pathway connecting the air compressor to the air orifice of the atomizing head, a second fluid pathway having a first end configured to receive air from the air compressor, and a second end extending into the first fuel tank, a third fluid pathway connecting from the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank, and a fourth fluid pathway connecting the secondary fuel tank to a distribution point above the atomizing head. The second and third fluid pathway define at least a portion of a bubble pump. The burner is configured to use air from the air compressor to both (a) deliver fuel to the atomizing head, and (b) atomize the delivered fuel at the atomizing head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BABINGTON TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Robert S. Babington
  • Patent number: 9416965
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a burner for a furnace with the following features: a first feed for at least one fuel, preferably with a primary outlet for an oxidizing agent, preferably oxygen; a second feed, surrounding the first feed, with at least one secondary outlet for the oxidizing agent; a third feed, surrounding the second feed, with at least one enveloping jet outlet for the oxidizing agent, wherein the second feed and the third feed are designed such that a first velocity with which the oxidizing agent emerges from the at least one secondary outlet is greater than a second velocity with which the oxidizing agent emerges from the at least one enveloping jet outlet. The second feed thereby preferably enables a first volumetric flow of the oxidizing agent that is greater than or equal to a second volumetric flow of the oxidizing agent through the third feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Dietmar Wieck, Christian Windhovel
  • Patent number: 9393524
    Abstract: An engine exhaust treatment device is capable of combusting PM accumulated in a DPF or activating an exhaust purification catalyst even immediately after engine startup or at the time of light load operation. A combustible gas supply passage (8) communicates with an exhaust passage (4) on an upstream of a combustion catalyst (5). An air supply unit (9) and an ignition unit (10) are provided in this supply passage and interlocked with a control unit (11). Where a temperature of the exhaust is lower than a predetermined temperature, the control unit supplies air (12) to a combustible gas by the air supply unit (9) and causes ignition of the combustible gas by the ignition unit (10), so as to cause flame combustion of the combustible gas. The temperature of the exhaust (6) in the exhaust passage (4) is increased by heat of this flame combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Naito, Toshio Nakahira, Yoshikazu Takemoto, Takashi Onishi
  • Patent number: 9353945
    Abstract: A control system for an oxy-fuel combustion process is disclosed for use with a boiler or furnace which dynamically controls the flame temperature of each burner involved in the combustion process to dynamically maximize the flame temperature. The boiler or furnace used in conjunction with the combustion process in accordance with the present invention is configured with a radiant, i.e. line of sight, heat zone and a convective heat zone. By dynamically maximizing the flame temperature of the various burners within the boiler or furnace, the radiant heat transfer is optimized. By optimizing the radiant heat transfer within the boiler or furnace, the efficiency of the boiler or furnace is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Jupiter Oxygen Corporation
    Inventors: Dietrich M. Gross, Brian R. Patrick, Mark Schoenfield