Systems and methods for improving operation of pulse combustors
AssigneeNorth American Wave Engine Corporation
InventorDaanish Maqbool
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pulse combustor system for reducing noise and/or vibration levels. The system includes a pulse combustor including a combustion chamber, an inlet pipe, an exhaust pipe, and a first fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber. The pulse combustor has a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes. The system includes at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure inside the fuel combustor and/or a at least one fluid velocity sensor for measuring fluid velocity at the inlet pipe or at the exhaust pipe. A controller adjusts a rate of fuel supply to the pulse combustor if the measured pressure and/or the measured velocity is above a predetermined threshold value to reduce excitation of the one or more additional oscillation modes.
Claims25
A pulse combustor system, comprising:
- a first pulse combustor, comprising a combustion chamber, an inlet pipe, an exhaust pipe, and a first fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber at a fuel supply rate, wherein the first pulse combustor has a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes;
- and a combination of:
- at least one pressure sensor for measuring a pressure inside the first pulse combustor, wherein if the pressure is above a predetermined pressure value, the at least one pressure sensor sends a signal to a controller to adjust the fuel supply rate to the first pulse combustor to reduce excitation of the one or more additional oscillation modes;
- and
- a first fluid velocity sensor disposed at the inlet pipe at a pressure node for measuring a first fluid velocity at the inlet pipe and a second fluid velocity sensor disposed at the exhaust pipe at a pressure node for measuring a second fluid velocity at the exhaust pipe, wherein if the first fluid velocity and/or the second fluid velocity is above a predetermined fluid velocity value, the first and/or the second fluid velocity sensor sends another signal to the controller to adjust the fuel supply rate to the first pulse combustor to reduce excitation of the one or more additional oscillation modes.
A pulse combustor system, comprising:
- a first pulse combustor, comprising a combustion chamber, an inlet pipe, an exhaust pipe, and a first fuel injector for injecting, fuel into the combustion chamber at a fuel supply rate, wherein the first pulse combustor has a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes;
- a first resonator attached to the first pulse combustor, the first resonator having dimensions selected such that a first resonant frequency of the first resonator corresponds to a first frequency of a first oscillation mode of the one or more additional oscillation modes, wherein the first resonator reduces excitation of the first oscillation mode;
- and
- a first fluid velocity sensor disposed at the inlet pipe at a pressure node for measuring a first fluid velocity at the inlet pipe and a second fluid velocity sensor disposed at the exhaust pipe at a pressure node for measuring a second fluid velocity at the exhaust pipe, a controller to adjust the fuel supply rate based on a signal from the first or second fluid velocity sensor.
A pulse combustor system, comprising:
- a first pulse combustor, comprising a first combustion chamber, a first inlet pipe, a first exhaust pipe, and a first fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber;
- a second pulse combustor, comprising a second combustion chamber, a second inlet pipe, a second exhaust pipe, and a second fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, the first pulse combustor and the second pulse combustor having a fundamental oscillation mode and one or more additional oscillation modes when operated in isolation;
- a tube connecting the first pulse combustor combustion chamber to the second pulse combustor combustion chamber, wherein the tube has a length that is less than or equal to ⅛th of a wavelength of the fundamental oscillation mode;
- and
- a first fluid velocity sensor disposed at the first inlet pipe at a pressure node for measuring a first fluid velocity at the first inlet pipe and a second fluid velocity sensor disposed at the first exhaust pipe at a pressure node for measuring a second fluid velocity at the first exhaust pipe, a controller to adjust a fuel supply rate based on a signal from the first or second fluid velocity sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.