Combustion Efficiency Control System with a Stoichiometric Controller for a Laminar Burner System

Abstract

A combustion efficiency control system includes an air flow sensor arrangement, a fuel controller unit, a burner output sensor module, and an operating unit. The air flow sensor arrangement including an upstream laminar flow control system and a downstream laminar flow control system and is communicatively coupled to a damper, a blower, and a flow conditioner. The air flow sensor arrangement measures laminar air flow and emits an efficiency signal that includes laminar air flow input values. An operating unit compares laminar air flow input values with combustion output values and a stoichiometric controller receives the comparison to generate an efficiency signal having a combination of air and fuel control data for the damper, the blower, the flow conditioner and the fuel controller unit, respectively. The stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting until cancelled.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A combustion efficiency control system for a laminar burner system, the laminar burner system delivering thermal energy to an energy consumption system coupled thereto, the combustion efficiency control system comprising:
 an air flow sensor arrangement, the air flow sensor arrangement including an upstream laminar flow control system, the air flow sensor arrangement communicatively coupled to a damper,
 the air flow sensor arrangement measuring laminar air flow and emitting an efficiency signal including laminar air flow input values; 
   a burner output sensor module, the burner output sensor module positioned adjacent to a burner system outlet,
 wherein the burner sensor module measures combustion energy output produced by laminar burner system;
 the burner output sensor module measuring combustion and emitting an efficiency signal including combustion energy output values; and 
 
   an operating unit, the operating unit includes a stoichiometric controller, the operating unit compares laminar air flow input values with combustion output values,
 the stoichiometric controller receives the comparison of laminar air flow with combustion output values to generate an efficiency signal having air control data for the damper,
 the stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting until such setting is cancelled. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion efficiency setting is defined as a setting relative to and including stoichiometric combustion. 
     
     
         3 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion efficiency setting includes a continuous stoichiometric combustion setting. 
     
     
         4 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 3  wherein the continuous stoichiometric combustion setting produces no amount of carbon emitted from the laminar burner system. 
     
     
         5 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the combustion efficiency setting includes a continuous adiabatic combustion setting. 
     
     
         6 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the stoichiometric controller generates an efficiency signal to control the damper, the damper receives the efficiency signal to produce a defined and reproducible laminar flow profile. 
     
     
         7 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the operating unit further includes an input/output interface communicatively coupled to the stoichiometric controller, the stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting received from the input/output interface until such setting is cancelled. 
     
     
         8 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the stoichiometric controller emits an efficiency signal having air control data for the damper, the stoichiometric controller, based on control instructions to the damper provided in the efficiency signal, maintains a combustion efficiency setting for generating an adiabatic flame temperature during a continuous combustion processes within the laminar burner system. 
     
     
         9 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the operating unit generates and the emitter/receiver emits an efficiency signal including laminar air flow control data, the efficiency signal received by a damper controller, and wherein
 the damper, via the damper controller, on receipt of the efficiency signal produces a defined, reproducible laminar air flow profile to the combustion manifold to control the supply of laminar air to the combustion manifold. 
 
     
     
         10 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  wherein the operating unit generates and the emitter/receiver emits an efficiency signal having fuel control data, and wherein the efficiency signal received by a fuel controller unit, to control the supply of fuel to the combustion manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  further including a laminar flow input/output sensor module, the laminar flow input/output sensor module positioned about the downstream laminar flow control system, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module measures the laminar air flow profile about the downstream laminar flow control system. 
     
     
         12 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 1  further including a system output sensor module, the system output sensor module is coupled to the energy consumption system outlet, and wherein the system output sensor module measures energy used by the energy consumption system to provide measurement data in an efficiency signal. 
     
     
         13 . A combustion efficiency control system for a laminar burner system, the laminar burner system delivering thermal energy to an energy consumption system coupled thereto, the combustion efficiency control system comprising:
 an air flow sensor arrangement, the air flow sensor arrangement including an upstream laminar flow control system and a downstream laminar flow control system, the air flow sensor arrangement communicatively coupled to a flow conditioner, the air flow sensor arrangement measuring laminar air flow and emitting an efficiency signal including laminar air flow input;   a burner output sensor module, the burner output sensor module positioned adjacent to a burner system outlet,
 wherein the burner sensor module measures combustion energy output produced by laminar burner system;
 the burner output sensor module measuring combustion and emitting an efficiency signal including combustion energy output values; and 
 
   an operating unit, the operating unit includes a stoichiometric controller,
 the operating unit compares laminar air flow input values with combustion output values, 
 the stoichiometric controller receives the comparison of laminar air flow input values with combustion output values to generate an efficiency signal having a combination of air control data for the flow conditioner and the fuel passageway,
 the stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting until such setting is cancelled. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  wherein the combustion efficiency setting is defined as a setting relative to and including stoichiometric combustion. 
     
     
         15 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  wherein the combustion efficiency setting includes a continuous stoichiometric combustion setting. 
     
     
         16 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 15  wherein the continuous stoichiometric combustion setting produces no amount of carbon emitted from the laminar burner system. 
     
     
         17 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  wherein the combustion efficiency setting includes a continuous adiabatic combustion setting. 
     
     
         18 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  wherein the stoichiometric controller generates an efficiency signal to control the flow conditioner, the flow conditioner receives the efficiency signal to produce a defined and reproducible laminar flow profile to maintain the selected combustion efficiency setting. 
     
     
         19 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  wherein the operating unit further includes an input/output interface communicatively coupled to the stoichiometric controller, and wherein the stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting received from the input/output interface until such setting is cancelled. 
     
     
         20 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 14  wherein the operating unit generates and the emitter/receiver emits an efficiency signal having fuel control data, and wherein the efficiency signal received by a fuel controller unit, to control the supply of fuel to the combustion manifold. 
     
     
         21 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  further including a laminar flow input/output sensor module, the laminar flow input/output sensor module positioned about the downstream laminar flow control system, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module measures the laminar air flow profile about the downstream laminar flow control system. 
     
     
         22 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 13  further including a system output sensor module, the system output sensor module is coupled to the energy consumption system outlet, and wherein the system output sensor module measures energy used by the energy consumption system to provide measurement data in an efficiency signal. 
     
     
         23 . A combustion efficiency control system for a laminar burner system, the laminar burner system delivering thermal energy to an energy consumption system coupled thereto, the combustion efficiency control system comprising:
 an air flow sensor arrangement, the air flow sensor arrangement including an upstream laminar flow control system and a downstream laminar flow control system, the air flow sensor arrangement communicatively coupled to a damper, a blower, and a flow conditioner, the air flow sensor arrangement measuring laminar air flow and emitting an efficiency signal including laminar air flow input values;   a fuel controller unit, the fuel controller unit communicatively coupled to the fuel passageway,
 the fuel controller unit measuring fuel flow and emitting an efficiency signal including fuel flow input values; 
   a burner output sensor module, the burner output sensor module positioned adjacent to a burner system outlet,
 wherein the burner sensor module measures combustion energy output produced by laminar burner system;
 the burner output sensor module emitting an efficiency signal including combustion energy output values; and 
 
   an operating unit, the operating unit includes a stoichiometric controller, the operating unit compares laminar air flow and fuel flow input values with combustion output values, the stoichiometric controller receives the comparison of laminar air flow and fuel flow input values with combustion output values to generate an efficiency signal having a combination of air and fuel control data for the damper, the blower, the flow conditioner and the fuel controller unit, respectively,
 the stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting until such setting is cancelled. 
   
     
     
         24 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the combustion efficiency setting is defined as a setting relative to stoichiometric combustion. 
     
     
         25 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the combustion efficiency setting includes a continuous stoichiometric combustion setting. 
     
     
         26 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 25  wherein the continuous stoichiometric combustion setting produces no amount of carbon emitted from the laminar burner system. 
     
     
         27 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the combustion efficiency setting includes a continuous adiabatic combustion setting. 
     
     
         28 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the stoichiometric controller generates an efficiency signal to control the flow conditioner, the flow conditioner receives the efficiency signal to produce a defined and reproducible laminar flow profile. 
     
     
         29 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the operating unit further includes an input/output interface communicatively coupled to the stoichiometric controller, and wherein the stoichiometric controller maintains a selected combustion efficiency setting received from the input/output interface until such setting is cancelled. 
     
     
         30 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the stoichiometric controller emits an efficiency signal having air control data for the a flow conditioner, and wherein the stoichiometric controller, based on control instructions to the damper provided in the efficiency signal, maintains a combustion efficiency setting for generating an adiabatic flame temperature during a continuous combustion processes within the laminar burner system. 
     
     
         31 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the operating unit generates and the emitter/receiver emits an efficiency signal including laminar air flow control data, the efficiency signal received by a flow conditioner, and wherein the flow conditioner on receipt of the efficiency signal produces a defined, reproducible laminar air flow profile to the combustion manifold to control the supply of laminar air to the combustion manifold. 
     
     
         32 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  wherein the operating unit generates and the emitter/receiver emits an efficiency signal having fuel control data, and wherein the efficiency signal is received by a fuel controller unit, to control the supply of fuel to the combustion manifold. 
     
     
         33 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  further including a laminar flow input/output sensor module including a laminar flow input/output sensor module positioned about the downstream laminar flow control system, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module measures the laminar air flow profile about the downstream laminar flow control system. 
     
     
         34 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 23  further including a system output sensor module, the system output sensor module is coupled to the energy consumption system outlet, and wherein the system output sensor module measures energy used by the energy consumption system to provide measurement data in an efficiency signal. 
     
     
         35 . A combustion efficiency control system comprising:
 a laminar air delivery system, the laminar air delivery system including a blower;   an air flow sensor arrangement,
 the air flow sensor arrangement including an upstream laminar flow control system and a downstream laminar flow control system, the upstream laminar flow control system includes an air delivery controller and an air delivery sensor communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, the air delivery controller is electrically coupled to a blower, the downstream flow control system includes a flow conditioner and a laminar flow input/output sensor module communicatively coupled to the flow conditioner, 
 the air flow sensor arrangement measures laminar air flow and emits an efficiency signal,
 the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of an air delivery stream along an air delivery line by adjusting the blower,
 the flow conditioner receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of the laminar air flow stream along a combustion manifold and, optionally, along a supply input module of the laminar air delivery stream by adjusting the flow conditioner; and 
 
 
   a combustion manifold, the combustion manifold in fluid communication with the laminar air delivery system;
 the laminar air delivery system, via the airflow sensor arrangement, provides a laminar air intake stream with a controlled flow to the combustion manifold,
 the combustion manifold includes 
 an air-fuel mixing chamber system, the air-fuel mixing chamber system in fluid communication with the laminar air delivery system, and
 includes a mixing chamber and an injector device extending within the mixing chamber, 
 whereby fuel exits the injector device to mix with the laminar air intake stream with a controlled flow traveling along the air-fuel mixing chamber to define a first combustion stream, and 
 
 a stoichiometric combustion unit, the stoichiometric combustion unit in fluid communication with the supply input module and with the air-fuel mixing chamber system, and
 includes a staging passageway and a stoichiometric unit body, whereby the laminar air intake stream traveling along the staging passageway passes through the first combustion stream within the stoichiometric unit body to define a second combustion stream. 
 
 
   
     
     
         36 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 35  wherein the laminar air delivery system includes a damper, the damper in fluid communication with the blower. 
     
     
         37 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 36  wherein the damper is communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, and wherein the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the laminar air flow profile by adjusting the damper. 
     
     
         38 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 37  wherein the damper is electrically coupled to the blower and communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, and wherein the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of the laminar air intake stream by adjusting the damper. 
     
     
         39 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 37  wherein the damper is electrically coupled to the blower and communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, and wherein the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of the laminar air intake stream by adjusting the blower. 
     
     
         40 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 35  wherein the damper is communicatively coupled to the laminar flow input/output sensor, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module receives the efficiency signal to control the laminar air flow stream by adjusting the damper. 
     
     
         41 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 35  wherein the flow conditioner is communicatively coupled to the laminar flow input/output sensor, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module receives the efficiency signal to control the laminar air flow stream by adjusting the flow conditioner. 
     
     
         42 . A combustion efficiency control system comprising:
 a laminar air delivery system, the laminar air delivery system including a blower;   an air flow sensor arrangement,
 the air flow sensor arrangement including an upstream laminar flow control system and a downstream laminar flow control system, the upstream laminar flow control system includes an air delivery controller and an air delivery sensor communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, the air delivery controller is electrically coupled to the blower, the downstream flow control system includes a flow conditioner and a laminar flow input/output sensor module communicatively coupled to the flow conditioner, 
 the air flow sensor arrangement measures laminar air flow and emits an efficiency signal,
 the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of an air delivery stream along an air delivery line by adjusting the blower,
 the flow conditioner receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of the laminar air flow stream along a combustion manifold; and 
 
 
   a combustion manifold, the combustion manifold in fluid communication with the laminar air delivery system;
 the laminar air delivery system, via the airflow sensor arrangement, provides a laminar air intake stream with a controlled flow to the combustion manifold,
 the combustion manifold includes 
 an air-fuel mixing chamber system, the air-fuel mixing chamber system in fluid communication with the laminar air delivery system, and
 includes a mixing chamber and an injector device extending within the mixing chamber, 
 whereby fuel exits the injector device to mix with the laminar air intake stream with a controlled flow traveling along the air-fuel mixing chamber to define a first combustion stream, and 
 
 a stoichiometric combustion unit, the stoichiometric combustion unit in fluid communication with the supply input module and with the air-fuel mixing chamber system, and
 includes a staging passageway and a stoichiometric unit body, whereby the laminar air intake stream traveling along the staging passageway passes through the first combustion stream within the stoichiometric unit body to define a second combustion stream. 
 
 
   
     
     
         43 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 42  wherein the laminar air delivery system includes a damper, the damper in fluid communication with the blower. 
     
     
         44 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 43  wherein the damper communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, and wherein the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the laminar air flow profile by adjusting the damper. 
     
     
         45 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 44  wherein the damper is electrically coupled to the blower and communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, and wherein the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of the laminar air intake stream by adjusting the damper. 
     
     
         46 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 44  wherein the damper is electrically coupled to the blower and communicatively coupled to the air delivery controller, and wherein the air delivery controller receives the efficiency signal to control the flow of the laminar air intake stream by adjusting the blower. 
     
     
         47 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 42  wherein the damper is communicatively coupled to the laminar flow input/output sensor, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module receives the efficiency signal to control the laminar air flow stream by adjusting the damper. 
     
     
         48 . The combustion efficiency control system according to  claim 42  wherein the flow conditioner is communicatively coupled to the laminar flow input/output sensor, and wherein the laminar flow input/output sensor module receives the efficiency signal to control the laminar air flow profile by adjusting the flow conditioner.