A method of monitoring a flame during gas combustion in a combustion chamber (10). A heating unit (1) has an evaluation unit, an extraction line (11) and a sensor (12). The sensor (12) is arranged in the extraction line (11) to detect thermal substance properties of the gas. Thus, it is determined if it is ambient air (B), a non-combusted fuel-air mixture (C) or particularly the hydrogen-air mixture, or a waste gas (A) generated during combustion. The sensor (12) transmits a recorded measured value to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit uses the measured value to determine whether ambient air (B), the non-combusted fuel-air mixture (C), or waste gas (A) is flowing through the extraction line (11) and thereby determines whether the flame is burning or extinguished.

The gross or net calorific value of a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas is determined by using a Raman photometer. A Raman radiation obtained following interaction of laser light with the fuel gas is limited by a bandpass filter to a wavenumber range of the C—H stretching vibrations of the hydrocarbons contained in the fuel gas around 2900 cm.sup.−1 and is supplied to a photomultiplier and integratively detected by the photomultiplier. The gross or net calorific value is determined from the output signal of the photomultiplier.

A burner appliance is disclosed. The burner appliance includes a byproduct sensor in an exhaust flue and/or a barometric pressure sensor to detect an environmental pressure at the burner appliance. By calculating concentrations of combustion byproducts in the exhaust with the byproduct sensor, a controller can adjust blower speed and/or fuel rate to modify combustion efficiency. By calculating the environmental pressure at the burner with the barometric pressure sensor, the controller can adjust blower speed and/or fuel rate to modify combustion efficiency. The barometric-pressure data can also be used to adjust blower speed control bands, thereby calibrating the control bands based on environmental pressure. The environmental pressure can be indicative of altitude and/or weather conditions. Methods of operating said burner appliance are also disclosed.

A burner includes a flame sensor configured to detect at least one of permittivity, capacitance, or resistance across a flame region. The permittivity, capacitance, or resistance is used to determine the presence or absence of the flame in a combustion system. A combustion system supports a combustion reaction. The combustion system utilizes a combustion sensor, and optionally a plasma generator to stabilize the combustion reaction. A controller receives sensor signals from the combustion sensor and controls the plasma generator to stabilize the combustion reaction responsive to the sensor signals. The plasma generator stabilizes the combustion reaction by generating a plasma.

A system for measuring a fuel-oxidant equivalence ratio includes at least one wall defining a gas volume including fuel and air. A gas ionization source is configured to cause a formation of ions in the gas. A power supply is configured to output a time-varying voltage. A first electrode is disposed in the gas volume, operatively coupled to the power supply, and configured to carry the time-varying voltage. A second electrode is arranged to operatively couple to a signal output by the first electrode after the signal passes through the gas volume. Characteristics of the received signal indicate the fuel-oxidant equivalence ratio.

A system for controlling a combustion appliance based on one or more localized environmental factors and an inlet/exhaust system enclosed within a single enclosure. The control system includes an electrically controlled fuel valve, coupled to a source of combustion appliance fuel, and responsive to a fuel valve control signal, for controlling the flow of fuel to the appliance. An air pressure detector is disposed in an area proximate the combustion appliance and configured for detecting negative air pressure in the proximate area and in response for providing a negative air pressure detection signal to a relay which will deactivate the fuel valve until negative air pressure is not present thereby preventing operation of the combustion appliance. Further, if negative air pressure is detected, the relay energizers a makeup air device to bring an outside air into the area near the combustion appliance.

A gas burner for use in low-oxygen environments in which the oxygen concentration is insufficient to ensure complete combustion. The burner includes a central air supply that is annularly surrounded by a gas supply, thereby preventing the fuel from burning out with a delay in places where burn-out is detrimental to a system or plant.

The present invention relates to a method of optimization for continuous combustion systems, which reduces fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and particulate matter. The operating principle is based on the introduction of small amounts of hydrogen in the fuel intake duct of the system, or preferably along the continuous burning chamber, with the aim of optimizing the burning of traditional fuels, improving the parameters of the combustion reaction, the effect of the process in question will increase the temperature of the walls of the chamber, ensuring re-ignition and a more complete combustion and consequently reducing the required fuel flow feed. This optimized combustion will increase the combustion efficiency and reduce its environmental impact.

Methods and systems for oxidizing gas are provided. An example regenerative oxidizer is provided that includes a combustion chamber to heat gas present in the combustion chamber. The regenerative oxidizer also includes a first heat exchange media bed and a second heat exchange media bed. Each of the first heat exchange media bed and the second heat exchange media bed are in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. The regenerative oxidizer further includes two burners disposed within the combustion chamber to provide a total heat input to the gas present in the combustion chamber. At least one of the two burners is independently adjustable based on the airflow direction.

The present disclosure provides a tuning system for tuning the operation of a gas turbine. The system comprises operational turbine controls for controlling operational control elements of the turbine, including at least one of turbine fuel distribution or the fuel temperature. The system also has a tuning controller communicating with the turbine controls. The tuning controller is configured to tune the operation of the turbine in accordance with the following steps: receiving operational data about the turbine, providing a hierarchy of tuning issues, determining whether sensed operational data is within predetermined operational limits and producing one or more indicators. If the operational data is not within predetermined operational limits, the tuning controller will rank the one or more indicators to determine dominant tuning concern, and tune the operation of the turbine based on dominant tuning concern. Also provided herein are a method and computer readable medium for tuning.