Methods and systems for measuring and controlling the percent stoichiometric oxidant in an incinerator

Abstract

Methods and systems for measuring and controlling the percent stoichiometric oxidant in the pyrolyzing section of incinerators are provided. The methods and systems rely on measurements of the oxygen concentration and temperature of the gases within the pyrolysis section and mathematical relationships between these values and the percent stoichiometric oxidant.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for measuring the PSO in the pyrolyzing section of an incinerator comprising the steps of: 
 generating an electrical signal corresponding to oxygen concentration utilizing an oxygen sensor positioned to sense oxygen concentration in the gases within the pyrolyzing section;    generating an electrical signal corresponding to temperature utilizing a temperature sensor positioned to sense the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section; and    conducting said electrical signals to a processor for converting said electrical signals from said oxygen sensor and said temperature sensor to an estimate of the PSO using a mathematical relationship between the electrical signals and the PSO.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said oxygen sensor is selected from the group consisting of zirconia-based oxygen sensors, electrochemical sensors, micro-fuel sensors and paramagnetic sensors.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said oxygen sensor is a zirconia-based oxygen sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said temperature sensor is selected from the group consisting of thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, pyrometers and remote temperature devices.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said temperature sensor is a thermocouple.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b/[ 1+(( x+eT )/ c ) d ] 
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b ( x+eT )+ c ( x+eT ) 2   +d ( x+eT ) 3    
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         8 . A method for controlling the PSO in the pyrolyzing section of an incinerator comprising the steps of: 
 generating an electrical signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration in the gases within the pyrolyzing section;    generating an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section;    conducting said electrical signals corresponding to oxygen concentration and temperature to a processor for converting said signals to an estimate of the PSO using a mathematical relationship between the electrical signals and the PSO;    relaying said PSO estimate to a feedback controller for generating a flow control signal to adjust a process flow rate based on said PSO estimate, a pre-selected PSO value, and the process flow, wherein said process flow rate is selected from the group consisting of combustion air, oxidant and fuel flow rates; and    relaying said flow control signal to the corresponding flow control device.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the electrical signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration is generated by an oxygen sensor selected from the group consisting of zirconia based oxygen sensors, electrochemical sensors, microfuel sensors and paramagnetic sensors and positioned in the gases within the pyrolyzing section.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said oxygen sensor is a zirconia-based oxygen sensor.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the electrical signal corresponding to the temperature is generated by a temperature sensor selected from the group consisting of thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, pyrometers and remote temperature devices and positioned to sense the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b/[ 1+(( x+eT )/ c ) d ] 
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b ( x+eT )+ c ( x+eT ) 2   +d ( x+eT ) 3    
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         15 . A system for measuring the PSO in the pyrolyzing section of an incinerator comprising: 
 a means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to oxygen concentration in the gases within the pyrolyzing section;    a means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section; and    a device for converting said electrical signals corresponding to oxygen partial pressure and temperature to an estimate of the PSO using a mathematical relationship between the electrical signals and the PSO.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the electrical signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration is generated by an oxygen sensor selected from the group consisting of zirconia-based oxygen sensors, electrochemical sensors, microfuel sensors and paramagnetic sensors and positioned in the gases within the pyrolyzing section.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said oxygen sensor is a zirconia-based oxygen sensor.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the electrical signal corresponding to the temperature is generated by a temperature sensor selected from the group consisting of thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, pyrometers and remote temperature devices and positioned to sense the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b/[ 1+(( x+eT )/ c ) d ] 
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b ( x+eT )+ c ( x+eT ) 2   +d ( x+eT ) 3    
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         22 . A system for controlling the operation of an incinerator, said system comprising: 
 a means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration in the gases within the pyrolyzing section of the incinerator;    a means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section;    a device to convert the electrical signals corresponding to oxygen concentration and temperature to an estimate of the PSO using a mathematical relationship between the electrical signals and the PSO;    a means for generating a flow control signal to adjust a process flow rate based on the PSO estimate, a pre-selected PSO value, and the process flow, wherein said process flow rate is selected from the group consisting of combustion air, oxidant and fuel flow rates; and    a device to adjust the process flow rate corresponding to said control signal.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the electrical signal corresponding to the oxygen concentration is generated by an oxygen sensor selected from the group consisting of zirconia-based oxygen sensors, electrochemical sensors, microfuel sensors and paramagnetic sensors and positioned in the gases within the pyrolyzing section.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said oxygen sensor is a zirconia-based oxygen sensor.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the electrical signal corresponding to the temperature is generated by a temperature sensor selected from the group consisting of thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, pyrometers and remote temperature devices and positioned to sense the temperature of the gases within the pyrolyzing section.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b/[ 1+(( x+eT )/ c ) d ] 
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said mathematical relationship is:  
         PSO=a+b ( x+eT )+ c ( x+eT ) 2   +d ( x+eT ) 3    
       where x is the oxygen sensor output in millivolts, T is the temperature in ° F., and a through e are empirical constants.