Abstract: A gas monitor system to monitor combustable or flammable gases present in the exhaust flue of the monitored equipment and to adjust the damper on a real time basis as the system is operated to continuously adjust the concentration of combustible or flammable gases in the monitored equipment. The system also includes self-check calibration circuitry to regularly check that the system is in calibration and that the sensor element in the exhaust has not suffered from a sensitivity decrease. Calibration gas is fed to the sensor on a regular basis. If the calibration circuitry does not complete a proper timing cycle, the system is disabled indicating that the instrument is out of calibration or the sensor is defective.

Abstract: A regulation system for adjusting the influx of air to a combustion zone in which an off-gas and one or more auxiliary fuels are burned. Manifestations of the composition and mass flow rates of the various fuels flowing to the combustion zone are applied to the control system. The system accommodates the signals and determines the molar proportions of the fuel components. It further determines the molar flow rate of oxygen which is theoretically necessary for complete combustion. A representation of a desired amount of excess air is then factored in and a representation of the proportion of molecular oxygen which will appear in the combustion products for the desired excess air percentage. The latter factor is used to determine the setpoint in a control loop whereby the fuel/air ratio is maintained in accordance with an output from an oxygen-sensing transducer in the flue which receives the combustion products.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for detecting non-combusted fuel components in exhaust gases of a heating installation comprising a collector for collecting the non-combusted fuel components. The collector is provided with a probe serving to generate an electrical signal dependent upon the quantity of collected fuel components and with an electricaly operating element for the removal of the collected fuel components.

Abstract: A real time monitoring and control system for single or multi-fired combustion systems which permits adjustment of the air fuel ratio in the system for optimized efficiency and minimized pollution content in the exhaust gas, while providing safety control of the combustion process. The system includes a high sensitivity light sensor which is utilized to monitor the combustion flame and provide an electrical output proportional to flame temperature, that is utilized to control the air fuel ratio of the system. The wavelength sensitivity of the sensor is capable of selection, for example by selection of sensor type and/or use of appropriate filters, to monitor a predetermined range or region of the flame emission spectrum in order to enable correlation of the intensity of the emission spectrum of the type of fuel being utilized, i.e., oil or natural gas, with temperature and combustion efficiency.

Abstract: Fuel is burned in a primary combustion chamber with less than the air required for stoichiometric combustion so that the combustion gases have a high carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon content and the temperature of the gases is held below that at which significant nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.2) would be produced. The combustion gases are then passed through a secondary combustion zone in which more air is injected into the gas stream to oxidize the CO and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The secondary burner comprises a plurality of foraminous tubes through which secondary air is emitted. Combustion in the secondary zone is maintained at a temperature below that at which nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) will be produced in significant quantities.

Abstract: A combustion control system is operated based on the detection of smoke density. A photoelectric device measures the intensity of light directed through the smoke by a lamp in order to measure the smoke density. This measurement is employed to control fuel and/or air supply or the like. To provide a standard reference, light is directed from the lamp through an alternate path not affected by the smoke to the photoelectric device. A shutter mechanism alternately exposes the photoelectric device to light passing through or circumventing the smoke. The photoelectric measurement is compared with a standard and the comparison is used to adjust circuitry connected to the photoelectric device to stabilize the effects of the latter. A continuous monitoring of the adjustment is carried out to determine when an acceptable range of adjustment has been exceeded. A smoke density amplifier is employed to increase effectiveness.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the air ratio of a combustion process by adjustment of the fuel-air mixture as function of the air number, the air number of the exhaust gas being measured with a sensor which is particularly sensitive at an air number of a given magnitude, and the combustion process operating with an air ratio having an air number of a different magnitude out of the sensitivity range of the sensor which includes extracting a hot exhaust gas stream from a combustion process having an air ratio with an air number out of the given sensitivity range of a sensor changing the amount of air in the exhaust gas stream to provide an auxiliary gas stream having an air number in the sensitivity range of the sensor, measuring the air number of the auxiliary gas stream to detect the difference from the air number of the given magnitude, and controlling the air ratio of the combustion process to maintain the air number of the auxiliary gas stream at the given magnitude, and apparatus for carrying out

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas combustion device with a safety device including a combustible gas sensor which consists of an oxygen concentration cell comprising a calcined solid ion conductive electrolyte material and porous electrodes attached to both the major surfaces of the electrolyte material. The safety valve is operated in response to both outputs from the combustible gas sensor and from a pilot burner sensor including a thermocouple or the like. When the carbon monoxide content is increased, the safety valve is automatically closed, thereby interrupting the supply of gas and consequently preventing carbon monoxide poisoning and/or gas explosion.

Abstract: Combustion control is effected by the use of a smoke detector and by solid state devices for the detection and amplification of electrical signals produced by a photoelectric cell for the purpose of controlling a motor which in turn adjusts fuel and air supplies. The electrical circuits include triac switches effective for running a servo-mechanism or motor in one direction or the other according to the density of the smoke in a flue venting combustion products from a combustion chamber. Light emitting diodes may be connected to op-amps for purposes of indicating the type of control being effected. A smoke accumulating means is employed for amplifying the products of combustion to facilitate the detecting and measuring of the same.

Abstract: Inert gas is produced by the combustion of hydrocarbon fuel and air in a combustion chamber. The gaseous product of the combustion is cooled in a scrubbing chamber.The amount of inert gas produced is measured, and in accordance therewith the fuel-to-air ratio of the combustion is controlled discontinuously between set time intervals.