Electrodynamic control in a burner system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191659-A9
Application number	US-201414206919-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Mar 12, 2014
Priority date	Apr 1, 2010
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A burner system and a retrofit flame control system for an existing burner system are disclosed. The burner system may include burner components, electrodynamic components, and a data interface. The data interface may receive a command for controlling the burner components and prepare a command for controlling the electrodynamic components at least partially based on the command for controlling the burner components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A burner system, comprising:
one or more burner components configured to control at least one of supply of fuel to a flame area or fuel mixture for forming the flame in the flame area; one or more electrodynamic components including one or more electrodes configured to control one or more characteristics of the flame; and a data interface configured to receive a first command for controlling the burner components and to prepare a second command for controlling at least one of the one or more electrodynamic components, the second command being at least partially based on the first command.

2 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the data interface is configured to access a lookup table containing information for preparing the second command at least partially based on the first command.

3 . The burner system of claim 2 , wherein the lookup table includes a database.

4 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the data interface is configured to send the second command to at least one of the one or more electrodynamic components.

5 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the data interface is configured to send the first command to at least one of the one or more burner components.

6 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the data interface is configured to prepare a third command that is the same as the first command and to send the third command to at least one of the one or more burner components.

7 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the burner components include one or more of a fuel source or a burner.

8 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the first command is received from a control system.

9 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more burner components include a fuel source and the first command is configured to control the fuel source and the second command is configured to control the one or more electrodes.

10 . The burner system of claim 1 , further comprising a single line for sending commands to the one or more burner components and to the one or more electrodynamic components.

11 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the data interface includes at least one input port and at least one output port, wherein the command to the fuel source is transmitted over a first output port and the command to the one or more electrodynamic control components is transmitted over a second output port.

12 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes of the one or more electrodynamic components include a charger configured to inject charge into a flame area.

13 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes are configured to generate an electric field and the one or more characteristics of the flame include a flame geometry.

14 . The burner system of claim 13 , wherein the flame geometry includes a flame height.

15 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the data interface is configured to perform at least one of route commands received from a control system, pass commands received from the control system, modify commands received from the control system, or generate additional commands at least partially based on received commands.

16 . A retrofit flame control system, comprising:
one or more electrodynamic components configured for integration with an existing burner system capable of producing a flame, the one or more electrodynamic components including:
one or more electrodes configured to generate an electric field for controlling one or more characteristics of the flame; and
one or more chargers configured to charge the flame;
a data interface configured to receive a first command for controlling the burner components and prepare a second command for controlling the one or more electrodynamic components, the second command being at least partially based on the first command.

17 . The retrofit flame control system of claim 16 , further comprising one or more of a fuel component control connected to the existing burner system or an electrodynamic component control connected to at least one of the one or more electrodynamic components or the fuel component control, and wherein the electrodynamic component control being configured to receive commands from the data interface.

18 . The retrofit flame control system of claim 17 , wherein:
the fuel component control is configured to identify and send commands intended for the existing burner system to one or more components of the existing burner system; and the electrodynamic component control is configured to identify and send commands intended for one or more of the electrodynamic components to the one or more of the electrodynamic components.

19 . The retrofit flame control system of claim 18 , wherein:
the fuel component control is further configured to identify and send commands intended for the one or more electrodynamic components to the electrodynamic component control; and the electrodynamic component control is configured to identify and send commands intended for the one or more components of the existing burner system to the fuel component control.

20 . A method for controlling a flame of a burner system, the method comprising:
receiving a first command from a control system, the first command including information for controlling one or more of a burner or a fuel source; preparing a second command at least partially based on the first command, the second command including information for controlling one or more electrodynamic components that include at least one of one or more electrodes or a charger; and transmitting the second command to the one or more electrodynamic components.

Assignees

• Clearsign Comb Corp

Inventors

• Wiklof Christopher A

Classifications

• F23N2229/12

  with flame rectification current detecting means · CPC title

• F23N1/002 Primary

  using electronic means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F23N5/123

  using electronic means · CPC title

• F23C99/001

  Applying electric means or magnetism to combustion (for combustion engines F02B51/04, F02M27/04) · CPC title

• F23N5/00

  Systems for controlling combustion (regulating fuel supply F23N1/00, regulating air supply or draught F23N3/00) · CPC title