Selectable dilution low NOx burner
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDouglas W. Karkow, James K. Dansie, Jesse Dumas, Donald Kendrick, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A burner supporting primary and secondary combustion reactions may include a primary combustion reaction actuator configured to select a location of the secondary combustion reaction. A burner may include a perforated flame holder structure configured to support a secondary combustion reaction above a partial premixing region. The secondary flame support location may be selected as a function of a turndown parameter. Selection logic may be of arbitrary complexity.
Claims62
A combustion system, comprising:
- a primary fuel source configured to support a primary combustion reaction;
- a secondary fuel source configured to support a secondary combustion reaction;
- a bluff body positioned adjacent to the secondary fuel source;
- a perforated flame holder positioned farther from the secondary fuel source than is the bluff body;
- and
- a combustion reaction actuator configured to selectively cause either the bluff body or the perforated flame holder to hold the secondary combustion reaction by controlling exposure of a flow of a secondary fuel to the primary combustion reaction, the perforated flame holder being positioned to be at least partially immersed in the secondary combustion reaction when the secondary combustion reaction is held by the bluff body;
- wherein the combustion reaction actuator includes a primary combustion reaction control valve.
A combustion system, comprising:
- a primary fuel source configured to support a primary combustion reaction;
- a secondary fuel source configured to support a secondary combustion reaction;
- a bluff body positioned adjacent to the secondary fuel source;
- a perforated flame holder positioned farther from the secondary fuel source than is the bluff body;
- and
- a combustion reaction actuator configured to selectively cause either the bluff body or the perforated flame holder to hold the secondary combustion reaction by controlling exposure of a flow of the secondary fuel to the primary combustion reaction, the perforated flame holder being positioned to be at least partially immersed in the secondary combustion reaction when the secondary combustion reaction is held by the bluff body;
- wherein the perforated flame holder is a reticulated ceramic perforated flame holder.
A method for operating a combustion system, comprising:
- supporting a primary combustion reaction proximate to a bluff body;
- outputting a secondary fuel stream to impinge on the bluff body;
- holding a secondary combustion reaction of the secondary fuel stream with the bluff body by igniting the secondary fuel stream with the primary combustion reaction;
- and
- holding the secondary combustion reaction with a perforated flame holder positioned downstream of the secondary fuel stream from the bluff body by transferring the secondary combustion reaction from the bluff body to the perforated flame holder by removing or reducing an effectiveness of the primary combustion reaction as an ignition source by electrically actuating the primary combustion reaction;
- and
- diluting the secondary fuel stream in a region between the bluff body and the perforated flame holder.
A method for operating a combustion system, comprising:
- supporting a primary combustion reaction proximate to a bluff body;
- outputting a secondary fuel stream to impinge on the bluff body;
- holding a secondary combustion reaction of the secondary fuel stream with the bluff body by igniting the secondary fuel stream with the primary combustion reaction;
- and
- holding the secondary combustion reaction with a perforated flame holder positioned downstream of the secondary fuel stream from the bluff body by transferring the secondary combustion reaction from the bluff body to the perforated flame holder by removing or reducing an effectiveness of the primary combustion reaction as an ignition source by electrically actuating the primary combustion reaction;
- wherein the perforated flame holder is a reticulated ceramic perforated flame holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.