Method for correcting the combustion settings of a set of combustion chambers and apparatus implementing the method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for real-time, continuous adjustment of a set of thermal combustion chambers ( 2, 2 i ) having similar characteristics supplied by the same combustive agent ( 8 ) and fuel ( 9 ) networks, according to which one of the chambers ( 2 i ) is used as a reference chamber, combustion parameters are measured ( 7 ) in the fumes output from the reference chamber, and the control parameters of all the chambers ( 2 ) are adjusted according to the combustion parameters measured at the output of the reference chamber ( 2 i ), in particular according to the ratio of combustive agent to fuel and/or the composition of the combustive agent and/or fuel.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for real-time and continuous control of a set of thermal combustion chambers ( 2 ,  2   r,    2   i ) having similar characteristics, supplied by the same combustion agent ( 8 ) and fuel ( 9 ) networks, the method comprising:
 using one of the chambers ( 2 ,  2   r,    2   i ) as a reference chamber;   measuring combustion parameters ( 7 ) in the fumes at an outlet of the reference chamber; and   adjusting control parameters of all the chambers according to the combustion parameters measured at the outlet of the reference chamber, in particular according to the ratio of combustion agent to fuel and/or the composition of combustion agent and/or fuel.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the combustion parameters measured in the fumes at the outlet of the reference chamber include at least a concentration of oxygen and/or a concentration of carbon dioxide and/or a concentration of carbon monoxide and/or a concentration of hydrogen and/or a rate of unburnt residues and/or a concentration of nitrogen oxides. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the level of excess air is determined according to the concentration of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the fumes at the outlet of the reference chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the lack of air is determined by the concentration of carbon monoxide or hydrogen or unburnt residues in the fumes at the outlet of the reference chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the control parameters of all the chambers are adjusted so as to obtain the desired level of excess air and/or rate of unburnt residues. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the control parameters of all the chambers are adjusted so as to obtain a desired lack of air. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the concentration of nitrogen oxides is regulated by adjusting the composition of the combustion agent and/or fuel, in particular by diluting with combustion products. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the thermal chambers comprise radiant tubes, one of the radiant tubes being a reference tube, and the other radiant tubes being supplied with proportions of gas which are different from those of the reference tube. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for implementing a method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising a set of thermal combustion chambers ( 2 ,  2   r,    2   i ) having similar characteristics, supplied by the same combustion agent ( 8 ) and fuel ( 9 ) networks, wherein:
 one of the chambers ( 2 ,  2   r,    2   i ) is used as a reference chamber,   means for measuring ( 7 ) the combustion parameters are installed at the outlet of the reference chamber to measure said combustion parameters in the fumes at the outlet,   control means (FCVc, FCVf) are provided to adjust the control parameters of the set of chambers according to the measures implemented at the outlet of the reference chamber, in particular according to the ratio of combustion agent to fuel and/or the composition of combustion agent and/or fuel.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the thermal chambers comprise radiant tubes, wherein a reference tube ( 2   r ) is supplied together with the other tubes, the control members (FCVc, FCVf) being placed on supply circuits ( 8 ,  9 ) common to all the tubes. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the thermal chambers comprise radiant tubes, wherein one of the radiant tubes is a reference tube ( 2   i ), and wherein the other radiant tubes are supplied separately from the reference tube ( 2   i ) and have different control members (FCVc, FCVf) from those (FCVci, FCVfi) of the reference tube ( 2   i ), on different supply circuits ( 8 ,  9 ,  8   i,    9   i ), the control members (FCVc, FCVf) of the tubes ( 2 ) being controlled such that said tubes ( 2 ) are supplied with the same proportions of gas as the reference tube ( 2   i ). 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the control members (FCVc, FCVf) of the radiant tubes ( 2 ) are controlled such that said tubes are supplied with proportions of gas which are different from those of the reference tube ( 2   i ), in particular with a different level of excess air.