C7961E,F DYNAMIC SELF-CHECK ULTRAVIOLET FLAME DETECTOR
5 65-0267-09
In most installations, the detector needs to respond to the pilot 
flame alone, then the pilot and main burner flame together, and 
finally the main burner flame alone. The detector must meet all 
sighting requirements that apply:
• Pilot flame alone—the smallest pilot flame that can be 
detected must be capable of reliably igniting the main 
burner.
• Pilot and main burner flame together—the detector must 
sight the junction of both flames.
• Main burner flame alone—the detector must sight the most 
stable part of the flame for all firing rates.
Screening Effects
Smoke, oil mist, dirt and dust are masking agents that 
attenuate the ultraviolet radiation that the flame emits. If they 
absorb too much radiation, the amount of ultraviolet radiation 
reaching the detector is reduced. The flame signal can then 
become too low to hold in the flame relay, resulting in burner 
shutdown.
The problem can be eliminated by diluting the contaminants. A 
strong flow of air through the sight pipe will clear a viewing path 
through the attenuating material. Refer to the Sight Pipe 
Ventilation section.
It is also desirable to sight the detector at an area containing 
fewer masking agents such as near the burner nozzle or near 
the entrance of the combustion air. Increasing the viewing area 
of the detector by shortening the sight pipe or by increasing the 
diameter of the sight pipe also reduces the attenuating effects 
of masking agents.
Multiburner Requirements
(Flame Discrimination)
In addition to meeting the requirements for a single burner, a 
multiburner installation requires discrimination between flames. 
Flame discrimination can be defined as locating all flame 
detectors so that each detector responds only to the flame of 
the burner it is supervising.
In multiple burner systems, not every detector can be 
positioned so its line-of-sight does not intercept flames from 
other burners. For example, this situation occurs in front-fired 
boiler-furnaces having more than one row of burners, or in 
multilevel opposed-fired furnaces where the burners face each 
other.
When planning such an installation, locate each flame detector 
so that it has the best possible view of the first 30 percent 
closest to the burner nozzle (the flame root) it is supervising, 
and the worst possible view of all other flames.
Fig. 4 illustrates a critical detector application problem that 
requires flame discrimination. Flame discrimination is 
accomplished for Detector A by repositioning it until the flame 
relay (in the flame safeguard control) does not respond to 
Flame B. Note that Detector A is aimed at the first 30 percent 
of Flame A where the ultraviolet radiation is most intense. It 
sights the tip of Flame B, but it is not aimed at the first 30 
percent of Flame B where UV is intense. Detector A is 
repositioned to assure maximum response to Flame A while 
rejecting Flame B. Similarly, Detector B is positioned to assure 
maximum response to Flame B while rejecting Flame A.
If you reposition a detector and still cannot achieve flame 
discrimination, try reducing the viewing area by increasing the 
length or decreasing the diameter of the sight pipe, or adding 
an orifice plate.
Fig. 4. Example of flame discrimination
problem (opposed fired burners).
Install the Sight Pipe (Fig. 5)
After you have determined the location and sighting angle, 
select the sight pipe. A black iron pipe with a diameter of at 
least 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) is recommended. Do not use stainless 
steel or galvanized pipe because they reflect ultraviolet 
radiation internally and complicate aiming the pipe.
Sight pipes with diameters 2 to 3 in. (51 to 76 mm) produce 
better results for horizontal rotary burners, which require wide 
viewing angles. A wide viewing angle can also be obtained by 
using a short sight pipe.
Fig. 5. Typical mounting of C7961.
Prepare Hole in Combustion 
Chamber Wall 
Cut or drill a hole of the proper diameter for the sight pipe in the 
wall of the combustion chamber at the selected location. Flare 
the hole to leave room for small adjustments of the sighting 
angle. The taper of the hole should be about 1 in. for every 3 in. 
(25 mm for every 76 mm) of wall thickness.
DETECTOR A
FLAME A
FLAME B
DETECTOR B
1
1
BLACK IRON SIGHT
PIPE (1-1/2 TO 3 IN.
[38 TO 76 MM] DIA.)
REDUCER
REFRACTORY
FLARED
HOLE
TEMPORARY
TACK WELD
COMBUSTION
CHAMBER WALL
IF VENTILATION OF THE SIGHT PIPE IS REQUIRED, ADD PIPE
TEE, PERFORATED NIPPLE, OR OTHER SUITABLE DEVICE
FOR VENTILATION.
M10125A