General Electric Company

Leo R Lombardo

Frederick Louis Glesius

Donald Albert Schneider

Carl C Petersen

Michael Charles Spalding

Robert Jett

Fred Yu-Feng Chou

Jeffrey Louis Johanning

Greggory A Schneider

Jiyuan Liu

A flame sensor apparatus is provided including a sensor for sensing specific characteristics of a flame within a combustion chamber. The sensor includes a silicon carbide photodiode, and the sensor is spaced a distance from the combustion chamber. In addition, a fiber optic cable assembly extends between the sensor and the combustion chamber. The fiber optic cable can convey the specific characteristics of the flame from the combustion chamber to the sensor. The fiber optic cable assembly is included as part of a sealed array filled with an inert gas. In addition, a method of sensing specific characteristics of a flame is also provided.

Flame sensor

An ultra violet light sterilizing apparatus includes in one embodiment a fluid chamber, at least one ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light into the fluid chamber, and at least one ultraviolet light sensor that includes a photodiode. The photodiode is a silicon carbide photodiode, a gallium nitride photodiode, or an aluminum gallium nitride photodiode. Each UV light sensor includes a sealed outer housing having an optically transparent window. The photodiode is located inside the housing adjacent the transparent window. Each UV light sensor also includes a signal amplification unit that includes an amplifier mounted on a printed circuit board located inside the housing. The UV sterilization apparatus also includes a controller configured to receive, as input, a signal from each ultraviolet light sensor. The controller compares the input signal to a desired UV light intensity and outputs a control signal to each ultraviolet light source to adjust the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted from each ultraviolet light source.

Optical sensing and control of ultraviolet fluid treatment dynamics

An ultra violet light sterilizing apparatus utilizing a silicon carbide (SiC) photodiode sensor is described. The ultraviolet light fluid sterilization apparatus includes a fluid chamber, at least one ultraviolet light source configured to emit ultraviolet light into the fluid chamber, and at least one ultraviolet light sensor that includes a silicon carbide photodiode. Each UV light sensor includes a sealed outer housing having an optically transparent window. A silicon carbide photodiode is located inside the housing adjacent the transparent window. Each UV light sensor also includes a signal amplification unit that includes an amplifier mounted on a printed circuit board located inside the housing. The UV sterilization apparatus also includes a controller configured to receive, as input, a signal from each ultraviolet light sensor. The controller compares the input signal to a desired UV light intensity and outputs a control signal to each ultraviolet light source to adjust the intensity of the ultraviolet light emitted from each ultraviolet light source.

The present invention provides a flame sensor having dynamic sensitivity adjustment, wherein the sensitivity of the flame detector can be adjusted by varying the gain of a signal conditioning circuit associated with the flame detector. The flame detector includes a photodiode, such as, for example, a silicon carbide (SiC) photodiode, that, when exposed to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of from about 190-400 nanometers, and preferably within the ultraviolet range. The photodiode generates a photocurrent proportional to the ultraviolet light intensity to which it is exposed. The output of the photodiode is processed and amplified by signal conditioning circuitry to produce a signal indicative of the presence of a flame. Moreover, a cutoff wavelength for silicon carbide photodiodes is preferably in the range of about 400 nanometers, which renders the photodiode 'blind' to potentially interfering blackbody radiation from the walls of the turbine.

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Lyndhurst, OH, United States of America

Leo R Lombardo