Disclosed is a control system for controlling the feed of a solid fuel in a combustion process. The system includes a control unit which is adapted to communicate by way of a communications link in the system, to receive from online measuring instruments online measurement data regarding a fuel coming from a fuel reception unit, and to control a feeding unit for delivering the measured fuel into a fuel silo on the basis of its content model and measurement data.

The present application discloses a method of determining one or more fuel characteristics of an aviation fuel used for powering a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The method comprises: determining one or more performance parameters of the gas turbine engine during a first time period of operation of the gas turbine engine; and determining one or more fuel characteristics of the fuel based on the one or more performance parameters. A method of operating an aircraft, a fuel characteristic determination system, and an aircraft are also disclosed.

A method for the post-combustion of exhaust gases comprising carbon monoxide from metallurgical processes includes conditioning the exhaust gas prior to post-combustion by metering a combustion gas and/or one additional gas in feedback-controlled fashion. The feedback control depends on the composition of the exhaust gas dependent on the exhaust gas volume flow. A device for post-combustion of exhaust gas during vacuum treatment of liquid steel comprises a flare stack at an exhaust outlet, means for feeding combustion gas to the flare stack, means for feeding an inert gas into the exhaust gas channel of the vacuum pump, means for ascertaining the exhaust gas volume flow and/or for measuring the exhaust gas velocity within the exhaust gas channel, means for analyzing the exhaust gas composition, means for metering the combustion gas and the inert gas, and means for feedback control of the metering of the combustion gas and/or the inert gas dependent on the exhaust gas composition.

A method of delivering fuel to an engine during operation of the engine, that includes, sensing the speed of sound in the fuel, determining a density or property of the fuel, and based on that density or fuel property adjusting the flow rate of the fuel. Further, an established fuel profile or determined energy density value can also be used to adjust the flow rate of the fuel.

A method of identifying a fuel contained in a fuel tank of an aircraft and arranged to power a gas turbine engine of the aircraft is performed by processing circuitry of the aircraft and includes: obtaining at least one fuel characteristic of any fuel already present in the fuel tank prior to refuelling; determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel added to the fuel tank on refuelling; and calculating at least one fuel characteristic of the resultant fuel in the fuel tank after refuelling. The method may further controlling the propulsion system of the aircraft based on the calculated at least one fuel characteristic of the resultant fuel in the fuel tank after refuelling.

Emissions of NO.sub.X and/or CO are reduced at the stack by systems and methods wherein a primary fuel is thoroughly mixed with a specific range of excess combustion air. The primary fuel-air mixture is then discharged and anchored within a combustion chamber of a burner. Further, the systems and methods provide for dynamically controlling NO.sub.X content in emissions from a furnace by adjusting the flow of primary fuel and of a secondary stage fuel, and in some cases controlling the amount or placement of combustion air into the furnace.

Combustion heater control systems and methods that include dynamic safety settings. Current operating parameters of the combustion heater are sensed at a plurality of time intervals and converted into a time-varying signal. The time-varying signal is compared to a burner stability envelope indicating when a burner is likely to enter an unstable state. The unstable state may include huffing, flashback, and/or liftoff. When the burner is likely to enter an unstable state, the combustion heater is controlled to prevent the unstable state.

In an embodiment, a method of controlling flaring of a combustion gas including a flare gas, a supplemental fuel gas, and an assist gas is provided. Models estimating, based on flow rates and in-situ speed of sound measurements in the gases, net heating value of the combustion gas within a flare combustion zone, combustion efficiency of the combustion gas, and smoke yield of the combustion gas are maintained. The method also includes receiving measurements of the gas flow rates and determining set points for flow rates of the fuel gas and/or the assist gas based upon the models that achieve a target combustion efficiency. When a difference between a determined set point and its corresponding flow rate for the fuel gas and/or the assist gas is greater than a corresponding predetermined tolerance amount, that flow rate can be adjusted to reduce the determined difference below the predetermined tolerance amount.

Performance optimization of power plants is one of the major challenges. Several machine learning based techniques are available which are used for optimization of the power plants. Coal selection and blending is critical to ensuring optimum operation of thermal power plants. The present disclosure provides a system and method for optimum coal selection for the power plant and power plant optimization. The system mainly comprises two components. First, a coal usage advisory module providing coal usage and blending ratio advice to the operators based on the available coal. The optimization is with respect to the entire power plant operation including its components. And second, a performance optimization advisory module provides operation instruction for boiler, SCR, APH and other power plant equipment based on the implemented coal blend in real-time.

Emissions of NO.sub.X and/or CO are reduced at the stack by systems and methods wherein a primary fuel is thoroughly mixed with a specific range of excess combustion air. The primary fuel-air mixture is then discharged and anchored within a combustion chamber of a burner. Further, the systems and methods provide for dynamically controlling NO.sub.X content in emissions from a furnace by adjusting the flow of primary fuel and of a secondary stage fuel, and in some cases controlling the amount or placement of combustion air into the furnace.