Dean E Draxton

US Patent:

6386755, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Jan 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/462325

Inventors:

Dean E. Draxton - Park City UT
Richard E. Hogle - Olympia WA
George Kychakoff - Maple Valley WA

Assignee:

Combustion Specialists, Inc. - Maple Valley WA

International Classification:

G01K 1122

US Classification:

374117, 374118

Abstract:

An acoustic pyrometer measures the average gas temperature across a wide space of known distance, especially turbulent, high temperature gas loaded with caustic particulates. It includes an acoustic signal generator that generates a high amplitude acoustic signal with a short rise time and a detector positioned adjacent the signal generator that detects the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator and generates a first electrical signal corresponding in time to the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator. A receiver, positioned across the space from the signal generator, receives acoustic signals from the space and generates electrical signals corresponding to amplitude and frequency of the acoustic signals received in the receiver. A signal processor processes the electrical signals from the receiver to distinguish the onset of the acoustic signal from background noise in the space as detected in the receiver, and processes the electrical signals from the receiver to produce a distinct differentiation between background noise and the onset of the acoustic signal in the receiver. The signal processor then compares the time of the onset of the acoustic signal in the receiver with the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator to determine the transit time of the acoustic signal to traverse the space, and also calculates the temperature of the gas in the space based on the transit time.

US Patent:

6726358, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Dec 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/020106

Inventors:

Dean E. Draxton - Park City UT
Richard E. Hogle - Olympia WA
George Kychakoff - Maple Valley WA

Assignee:

Combustion Specialists, Inc. - Maple Valley WA

International Classification:

G01K 1122

US Classification:

374115, 374117, 374118

Abstract:

An acoustic pyrometer measures the average gas temperature across a wide space of known distance, especially turbulent, high temperature gas loaded with caustic particulates. It includes an acoustic signal generator that generates a high amplitude acoustic signal with a short rise time and a detector positioned adjacent the signal generator that detects the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator and generates a first electrical signal corresponding in time to the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator. A receiver, positioned across the space from the signal generator, receives acoustic signals from the space and generates electrical signals corresponding to amplitude and frequency of the acoustic signals received in the receiver. A signal processor processes the electrical signals from the receiver to distinguish the onset of the acoustic signal from background noise in the space as detected in the receiver, and processes the electrical signals from the receiver to produce a distinct differentiation between background noise and the onset of the acoustic signal in the receiver. The signal processor then compares the time of the onset of the acoustic signal in the receiver with the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator to determine the transit time of the acoustic signal to traverse the space, and also calculates the temperature of the gas in the space based on the transit time.

US Patent:

6834992, Dec 28, 2004

Filed:

Sep 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/657460

Inventors:

Dean E. Draxton - Park City UT
Richard E. Hogle - Olympia WA
George Kychakoff - Maple Valley WA

Assignee:

Combustion Specialists, Inc. - Maple Valley WA

International Classification:

G01K 1122

US Classification:

374115, 374117, 374118, 181142, 367140

Abstract:

An acoustic pyrometer measures the average gas temperature across a wide space of known distance, especially turbulent, high temperature gas loaded with caustic particulates. It includes an acoustic signal generator that generates a high amplitude acoustic signal with a short rise time and a detector positioned adjacent the signal generator that detects the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator and generates a first electrical signal corresponding in time to the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator. A receiver, positioned across the space from the signal generator, receives acoustic signals from the space and generates electrical signals corresponding to amplitude and frequency of the acoustic signals received in the receiver. A signal processor processes the electrical signals from the receiver to distinguish the onset of the acoustic signal from background noise in the space as detected in the receiver, and processes the electrical signals from the receiver to produce a distinct differentiation between background noise and the onset of the acoustic signal in the receiver. The signal processor then compares the time of the onset of the acoustic signal in the receiver with the onset of the acoustic signal in the signal generator to determine the transit time of the acoustic signal to traverse the space, and also calculates the temperature of the gas in the space based on the transit time.

US Patent:

7010461, Mar 7, 2006

Filed:

Feb 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/773286

Inventors:

Dean Draxton - Park City UT, US
Craig Gordon Stephens - Gardnerville NE, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G06F 11/30
G06F 15/00
G21C 17/00

US Classification:

702182, 702132

Abstract:

A method for displaying a changing combustor condition including: sensing the combustor condition in real time using a sensor array in a gas path of the combustor; generating data from the sensor array representative of the combustor condition at a plurality of positions in the gas path; transmitting the generated data to a computer system proximate to a controller for the combustor; generating a graphical representation of the real time showing combustor conditions in the gas path, and displaying the graphical representation in real time on the computer system.

US Patent:

7277777, Oct 2, 2007

Filed:

Mar 6, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/276564

Inventors:

Dean E. Draxton - Park City UT, US
Craig Gordon Stephens - Gardnerville NV, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G05B 11/01
G05B 13/02
G05B 15/00
G06F 19/00
G06M 11/04

US Classification:

700274, 700 17, 700 28, 700 44, 700 45, 700 54, 700 83, 702 30, 702 32, 702128, 702179, 702182

Abstract:

A method to adjust a boiler having a flue gas duct including: sensing flue gas emissions in the gas duct with a plurality of emission sensors arranged in an array; generating a multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured from the emission sensor; adjusting the boiler to modify the distribution of flue gases in the gas duct; generating a subsequent multidimensional graphical depiction of the flue gas emissions by plotting sensor data captured subsequent to the boiler adjustment, and repeating these steps until the graphical depiction displays an acceptable plot of flue gas emissions.

US Patent:

7865271, Jan 4, 2011

Filed:

Nov 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/591844

Inventors:

Michael Booth - Norcross GA, US
Dean Draxton - Park City UT, US
Roy Payne - Mission Viejo CA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

G05D 7/00

US Classification:

700282, 700287, 700299, 431 12, 702182, 110347

Abstract:

A system for reducing fouling and improving efficiency in a coal-fired power plant that may include: 1) an analyzer grid, the analyzer grid including a plurality of sensors that measure gas characteristics through an approximate cross section of a flow through a boiler of the coal-fired power plant; 2) a plurality of air injectors with enhanced controllability; 3) means for analyzing the measurements of the gas characteristics; and 4) means for controlling the air injectors with enhanced controllability. The analysis of the measurements of the gas characteristics may include analyzing the measurements to determine zones of non-homogeneous flow.