Optical sensors for combustion control

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for providing optical sensors for combustion control. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling combustion parameters associated with a gas turbine combustor is provided. The method can include providing at least one optical path adjacent to a flame region in the combustor, detecting at least a portion of the light emission from the flame region within the at least one optical path, and controlling at least one of the combustion parameters based in part on the detected light emission.

1 . A method for controlling combustion parameters associated with a gas turbine combustor, the method comprising:
 providing at least one optical path adjacent to a flame region in the combustor;   detecting within the at least one optical path at least a portion of light emission from the flame region; and   controlling at least one of the combustion parameters based in part on the detected light emission.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting within the at least one optical path at least a portion of light emission from the flame region comprises selectively filtering the light emission to isolate spectral information associated with the light emission. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing at least one optical path adjacent to a flame region in the combustor comprises providing a lens operable to image at least a portion of the light emission from the flame region. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein providing at least one optical path adjacent to a flame region in the combustor comprises providing a moveable lens operable to variably adjust at least a field of view associated with the optical path. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting within the at least one optical path at least a portion of light emission from the flame region comprises filtering least a portion of the light with a first filter and detecting at least a portion of the first filtered light with at least one first photodetector. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein detecting within the at least one optical path at least a portion of light emission from the flame region comprises filtering least a portion of the light with a second filter and detecting at least a portion of the second filtered light with at least one second photodetector, wherein the second filter differs from the first filter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein controlling at least one of the combustion parameters is based in part on signals from the at least one first photodetector and the at least one second photodetector. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling at least one of the combustion parameters based in part on the detected light emission comprises controlling at least one of fuel flow rate, fuel flow distribution, air/fuel ratio, combustion flame oscillations, combustion flame extinction, heat release ratio, or flame temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing at least one optical path adjacent to a flame region in the combustor comprises providing a beam splitter to spatially separate optical paths. 
     
     
         10 . A system for controlling combustion parameters associated with a gas turbine combustor, the system comprising:
 at least one optical port adjacent to a flame region in the combustor;   one or more photodetectors in communication with the at least one optical port operable to detect at least a portion of light emission from the flame region; and   at least one control device operable to control one or more combustion parameters based at least in part on one or more signals from the one or more photodetectors.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more optical filters operable to isolate spectral information associated with the light emission.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one lens operable to image at least a portion of light emission from the flame region.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one lens comprises moveable lens operable to variably adjust at least a field of view associated with the optical path. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one first optical filter, wherein the at least one first optical filter is in communication with at least one first photodetector.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one second optical filter, wherein the at least one second optical filter is in communication with at least one second photodetector.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one control device is operable to control the one or more combustion parameters based at least in part on signals from the at least one first photodetector and the at least one second photodetector. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one control device operable to control one or more combustion parameters is operable to control at least one of fuel flow rate, fuel flow distribution, air/fuel ratio, combustion flame oscillations, combustion flame extinction, heat release ratio, or flame temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one beam splitter operable to spatially separate light emission from the flame region.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more photodetectors are responsive to at least a portion of the ultraviolet spectrum. 
     
     
         20 . A gas turbine comprising:
 a combustor;   at least one optical port adjacent to a flame region in the combustor;   one or more photodetectors in communication with the at least one optical port, and operable to detect at least a portion of light emission from the flame region; and   at least one control device operable to control one or more combustion parameters based at least in part on one or more signals from the one or more photodetectors.