A method of measuring a temperature of a thermally-insulated, high temperature system. The method includes directing a first electromagnetic energy into the high temperature system so that the first electromagnetic energy may cause multi-photon ionization of a molecular or atomic species within the high temperature system. A second electromagnetic energy resulting from the multi-photon ionization is detected through a thermally-insulating wall of the high temperature system. The detected second electromagnetic energy is related to a temperature within the high temperature system.

Methods of autonomously controlling hydrocarbon burners described herein include capturing an image, for example from a video feed, of an operating burner; processing the image to form an image data set; capturing sensor data of the operating burner; forming a data set comprising the sensor data and the image data set; providing the data set to a machine learning model system; outputting, from the machine learning model system, an air control parameter of the burner; and applying the air control parameter to the burner.

A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of a combustor; and determining the health of a combustor. Also, a method of monitoring a combustor within a gas turbine engine system, comprising providing a gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine engine includes an autotuning system; selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of the combustor; and determining the health of the combustor; wherein said determining the health of a combustor comprises receiving real-time fuel gas temperature data from at least one thermocouple.

A gas burner assembly and a method of operating the same are provided. The gas burner assembly includes a gas burner and a fuel regulating device for providing a flow of fuel to the gas burner to heat a cooking utensil. The method is a closed loop cooking method that includes monitoring the temperature of the cooking utensil and adjusting the power output of the burner accordingly to drive the utensil temperature to a target cooking temperature or profile. However, the burner power is limited to a maximum fuel flow rate, e.g., to ensure safe operation and to prevent the flames from the gas burner from engulfing the sides of the cooking utensil.

A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions executable by one or more processors for selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of a combustor; and determining the health of a combustor. Also, a method of monitoring a combustor within a gas turbine engine system, comprising providing a gas turbine engine system, wherein the gas turbine engine includes an autotuning system; selecting infrequent or frequent autotuning of the combustor; and determining the health of the combustor; wherein said determining the health of a combustor comprises receiving real-time fuel gas temperature data from at least one thermocouple.

A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor section via a primary flowpath, a turbine section fluidly connected to the combustor via the primary flowpath, and a plurality of fuel injectors disposed within the combusto. The plurality of fuel injectors including at least one start fuel injector. Also included is a controller having a memory and processor. The memory stores instructions configured to cause the at least one start fuel injector to pulse fuel through the start injector nozzle, thereby preventing stagnant fuel in the start injector nozzle from exceed a coking temperature threshold.

An optical flame-sensor includes an optical circulator, an optical-fiber cavity, and a first optical sensor. The optical circulator includes a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port is configured to receive an optical signal. The second port is configured to output the optical signal received at the first port. The third port is configured to output the input to the second port. The optical-fiber cavity includes a cavity proximal-end optically coupled to the second port, and a mirror at a cavity distal-end, such that a cavity optical signal output by the optical-fiber cavity is the input to the second port. The first optical sensor is optically coupled to the third port to quantify the cavity optical signal.

A method of calibrating a furnace includes determining a first flame stabilization period for the furnace that avoids detachment of a flame from a burner within a burner box of the furnace, determining a second flame stabilization period that is longer than the first flame stabilization period and avoids emission of a combustion tone from the furnace, and configuring a controller of the same or another furnace to utilize a flame stabilization period that has a duration between the first and second flame stabilization periods. Each flame stabilization period commences upon ignition of a premixed mixture of air and fuel at the burner while an inducer fan operates within a first range of fan speeds, and terminates when the rotational speed of the inducer fan increases to a second range speeds that is greater than the entire first range.

Method for indirectly preheating a fluid upstream of a furnace, wherein the fluid is preheated by indirect heat exchange with fumes discharged from the furnace through a medium in a chamber, and wherein the flow rate of the medium in the chamber is adjusted on the basis of at least one of the following temperatures: the temperature of the discharged fumes, the temperature of the medium in the chamber, the temperature of the preheated fluid, and the temperature of the wall separating the discharged fumes from the medium in the chamber.

A sensor system for use in a gas turbine engine. The sensor system includes a reflective surface configured to reflect optical features corresponding to combustion in a combustion chamber that exit the combustion chamber via at least one opening therein. The sensor system further includes an optical sensor configured to receive the reflected optical features from the reflective surface.