System and method for operating a combustion chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11619384-B2
Application number	US-201715495243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2017
Priority date	Apr 24, 2017
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for operating a combustion chamber comprising:
a plurality of nozzles configured to introduce a fuel into the combustion chamber;
one or more sensors configured to obtain stoichiometric data via measuring a stoichiometry associated with an output end of at least one of the nozzles, wherein the one or more sensors are spectral analyzers that measure the stoichiometry directly at the at least one of the nozzles by analyzing the frequencies of the photons emitted by the combustion of primary air and the fuel introduced into the combustion chamber by the at least one of the nozzles; and
a controller in electronic communication with the nozzles and the one or more sensors;
wherein the controller is configured to:
determine that at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of spectral line fluctuations derived from the stoichiometric data has exceeded a threshold; and
adjust the stoichiometry associated with an output end 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;
wherein the threshold is a change in frequency and/or amplitude of the spectral line fluctuations of between about 20% to about 25% from a baseline frequency and/or amplitude.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber via the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a reduced load for the combustion chamber.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the reduced load is less than or equal to 20% of the maximum operating load.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frequency and the amplitude of the spectral line fluctuations are associated with the flame stability of the combustion chamber.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the stoichiometry associated with an output end of each of the nozzles such that the stoichiometries of each of the nozzles, including the air to fuel ratio of each of the nozzles, is substantially uniform with respect to each other.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a first amount of the fuel introduced into the combustion chamber via a first array of nozzles of the plurality of nozzles disposed within a first firing layer such that the first amount of the fuel is less than a second amount of the fuel introduced into the combustion chamber via a second array of nozzles of the plurality of nozzles disposed within a second firing layer, the second firing layer being positioned at a location spaced vertically and downstream from the first firing layer.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
an umbrella selective non-catalytic reducer in electronic communication with the controller and configured to reduce NOx emissions from the combustion chamber.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of nozzles include:
a first subset of nozzles arranged in a first firing layer, the first subset of nozzles in the first firing layer being configured to introduce a fuel into the combustion chamber;
a second subset of nozzles arranged in a second firing layer, the second subset of nozzles in the second firing layer being configured to introduce a fuel into the combustion chamber, the second firing layer being located vertically above the first firing layer; and
a third subset of nozzles arranged in a third firing layer, the third subset of nozzles being configured to introduce at least one of secondary air and/or overfire air into the combustion chamber, the third firing layer being located vertically above at least one of the first firing layer and the second firing layer; and

wherein the one or more sensors include a sensor associated with each of the nozzles of the first subset of nozzles, the second subset of nozzles and the third subset of nozzles.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flame stability sensor mounted adjacent to a top of the combustion chamber along a vertical axis of the combustion chamber and being configured to look down the vertical axis to monitor a flame stability of a fireball within the combustion chamber and below the flame stability sensor;
wherein the vertical axis of the combustion chamber is a central axis of the combustion chamber.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a carbon monoxide sensor located downstream of the combustion chamber and being configured to analyze an amount of carbon monoxide within a flue gas exiting the combustion chamber.

11. A system for operating a combustion chamber comprising:
a plurality of nozzles configured to introduce a fuel into the combustion chamber;
one or more sensors configured to obtain stoichiometric data via measuring a stoichiometry associated with an output end of at least one of the nozzles, wherein the one or more sensors are spectral analyzers that measure the stoichiometry at the at least one of the nozzles by analyzing the frequencies of the photons emitted by the combustion of primary air and the fuel introduced into the combustion chamber by the at least one of the nozzles;
a flame stability sensor mounted adjacent to a top of the combustion chamber along a central axis of the combustion chamber and being configured to look down the central axis to monitor a flame stability of a fireball within the combustion chamber and below the flame stability sensor; and
a controller in electronic communication with the nozzles and the one or more sensors;
wherein the controller is configured to:
determine that at least one of a frequency and an amplitude of spectral line fluctuations derived from the stoichiometric data has exceeded a threshold; and
adjust the stoichiometry associated with an output end 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;
wherein the threshold is a change in frequency and/or amplitude of the spectral line fluctuations of between about 20% to about 25% from a baseline frequency and/or amplitude.

Assignees

• General Electric Technology Gmbh

Inventors

• Bozzuto Carl
• Neuschaefer Carl

Classifications

• F23N2237/04

  at two or more different localities · CPC title

• F23N2237/02

  two or more burners · CPC title

• F23N2229/04

  sensitive to the colour of flames · CPC title

• F23C6/047

  with fuel supply in stages · CPC title

• F23C5/32

  to obtain rotating flames, i.e. flames moving helically or spirally · CPC title