Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Rainer Lochschmied

Bernd Schmiederer

Mike Schmanau

Martin Wetzel

Armin Wiegand

Thomas Gnoss

Volker Schmid

Thomas Born

Michael Heger

Holger Holfelder

Anton Pallek

Wilfried Hangauer

Harald Hauter

The present disclosure deals with the detection of a blockage in the air-supply duct or flue of a burner assembly. In some embodiments, a method or system may detect blockages in the form of coverings and with burner assemblies to burn fossil fuels. For example, a control device may generate: a first air-control signal; a fuel-control signal by adjusting the actual values of the ionization current to the ionization-current setpoint; a setpoint increased by a specified amount from the ionization-current setpoint; and a changed fuel-control signal by adjusting the actual values of the ionization current to the increased setpoint in the case of a first air-control signal. The control device may evaluate the changed fuel-control signal generated based on the increased setpoint by comparing it with a specified maximum value and based on the evaluation, to detect a blockage. The control device may recognize the blockage based on the evaluation if the fuel-control signal generated using the increased setpoint exceeds the specified maximum value.

Detecting blockage of a duct of a burner assembly

The present disclosure deals with the regulation of fluid flows in the presence of turbulence. The teachings thereof may be embodied in regulating a fluid in a combustion device. For example, a method for regulating a burner device may include: requesting a flow of a fluid through a feed duct; assigning the requested flow to a setting of a first actuator; transmitting a first signal to set the first actuator; generating a mass flow signal representing an actual flow through the side duct; correlating the second signal to an actual value of the flow through the side duct; correlating the requested flow through the feed duct to a required flow through the side duct; generating a regulation signal with the regulator for the second actuator as a function of the actual value of the flow through the side duct and the requested value of the flow through the side duct; and transmitting the generated regulation signal to the second actuator.

Regulating turbulent flows

An example control unit may include: a processor; an output device; a valve element; an actuator; and a sensor for the position of the valve element. The valve cycles and the processor records a first signal to measure a position of the valve element. The valve cycles and the processor records a second signal to measure a position of the valve element. The processor calculates a degree of wear based on the first value and the second value and the second number of valve cycles. The processor compares the degree of wear to a predefined threshold value and generates an output signal if the degree of wear exceeds the predefined threshold value.

Determining and accounting for wear on a valve

The present disclosure deals with the measurement of flows of a fluid in a combustion device. In particular embodiments, the teachings may be employed in the measurement of flows of fluids such as air in the presence of turbulence. For example, a combustion device may include: a burner; a side duct; and a feed duct. The side duct may include a mass flow sensor and a flow resistance element. The mass flow sensor detects a mass flow through the side duct. The flow resistance element subdivides the side duct. A connector of the feed duct comprises a Pitot probe. A first section of the Pitot probe projects into the feed duct and a sub area facing towards the outlet of the feed duct of the first section of the Pitot probe comprises the inlet of the Pitot probe.

Combustion device with a side duct for measuring turbulent flows

The present disclosure deals with the measurement of flows of a fluid in a combustion device. For example, a combustion device may include a burner; a combustion chamber; a side duct; and a feed duct with a connector for the side duct including a mass flow sensor and a flow resistance element. The side duct and the feed duct have a fluid connection to one another. The mass flow sensor senses a mass flow through the side duct. The resistance element subdivides the side duct and includes an admittance surface. There is an outer area. The mass flow sensor projects into the side duct. The outlet of the side duct lets the fluid flow out of the side duct directly into the combustion chamber or directly into the outer area.

A method is disclosed for diagnosing a valve assembly having valve members serially arranged along a flow channel of the valve assembly connecting at least one inlet and at least one outlet of the valve assembly. All of the serially arranged valve members of the valve assembly are opended to allow fluid to flow through the flow channel. The flow of fluid through the flow channel is measured by at least one sensor. At least one of the valve members is openend, and at least one sensor checks for fluid leakage caused by at least one faulted valve member. The at least one sensor may include a flow sensor, e.g., a mass flow sensor.

Valve operation and diagnosis

A control facility is provided for a burner system having a burner, actuators with which the supply of fuel and air to the burner is set, and an ionization electrode arranged in the flame zone. The control facility is equipped with a flame amplifier at the ionization electrode to generate an ionization signal and a positioning facility which, in control operation, positions a first actuator and regulates a second actuator by using a corresponding target value for the ionization signal. The positioning facility carries out a control operation in a first test step, it shifts the actuators toward a supply ratio corresponding to an air coefficient above the stoichiometric value of &#x3bb;=1 and in so doing captures the ionization signal in a second test step, and it calculates a target value from this and from stored data in a third test step. Correction of drift therefore takes place.

Control facility for a burner system

A grounded burner, actuators adjusting the supply of fuel and air to the burner, an ionization electrode in the flame region, a flame amplifier at the ionization electrode generating an ionization signal, and a final control device are included in a burner system. During air ratio control mode, the final control device sets a first actuator and adjusts a second actuator. During voltage control mode a voltage regulator controls the AC voltage source using the AC voltage measured by the voltmeter, in conjunction with an ionization current amplifier. The voltmeter is connected in parallel with a sequence of the ionization electrode, the flame region, the burner and the input of the ionization current amplifier. The voltage regulator is connected to the voltmeter such that, during voltage control mode, the time-averaged current caused by the voltmeter through the connection is less than 5% of the time-averaged current through the ionization electrode.

Growing community of inventors

Rheinstetten-Forchheim, Germany

Rainer Lochschmied