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US 12,135,127 B2Granted
Aluminium combustion for heat generation
AssigneeSaab AB
InventorDaniel Nilsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a heat generating arrangement and a method for generation of heat to be used in a heat consumer. The heat generating arrangement uses combustion of aluminium and hydrogen to raise the temperature of superheated steam inside the heat generating arrangement. The heat in the superheated steam can thereafter be used in a heat consumer, such as a heat exchanger.
Claims23
A heat generating arrangement for generating heat for use in a heat consumer, wherein the heat generating arrangement comprises:
- a heating apparatus arranged to receive aluminium and superheated steam, wherein the heating apparatus is arranged to be heated by superheated steam having a heating arrangement temperature and arranged to melt the aluminium inside the heating apparatus to form liquid aluminium,
- an atomizer arranged at an outer end of the heating apparatus arranged to atomize the liquid aluminium at the outer end of the apparatus by using superheated steam exiting the heating apparatus as the atomizer;
- a reactor connected to the outer end of the heating apparatus in which the liquid atomized aluminium is arranged to react with the superheated steam exiting the heating apparatus to produce aluminium oxide, hydrogen and heat, thereby increasing the temperature of the superheated steam that is not consumed by the reaction with the liquid atomized aluminium in the reactor to a reactor temperature;
- a combustion chamber connected to the reactor and to the heating apparatus arranged to receive superheated steam having the reactor temperature and hydrogen, wherein oxygen or air is provided to the combustion chamber from an external oxygen source, an external air supply or from the atmosphere, wherein the heat consumer is arranged in direct connection to the combustion chamber, where:
- either the hydrogen is spontaneously combusted inside the combustion chamber to increase the temperature of the superheated steam to a heat consumer temperature, where the superheated steam having the heat consumer temperature exchanges heat with a heat exchange medium within the heat consumer, lowering the temperature of the superheated steam to the heating arrangement temperature,
- or the hydrogen is spontaneously combusted inside the combustion chamber to provide high temperature exhausts to the heat consumer and where superheated steam is continuously added to the heat generating arrangement,
- wherein a bypass connection is arranged between the reactor and the heating apparatus, allowing superheated steam to bypass the combustion chamber.
4 more elements
A method for generation of heat for use in a heat consumer in a heat generating arrangement comprising a heating apparatus, a reactor and a combustion chamber, the method comprises:
- providing aluminium to the heating apparatus;
- providing superheated steam having a heating arrangement temperature into the heating apparatus by means of a pump;
- melting the aluminium into liquid aluminium by heating the heating apparatus with the superheated steam having the heating arrangement temperature;
- atomizing the liquid aluminium with the superheated steam exiting the heating apparatus in an atomizer on the heating apparatus;
- reacting the liquid atomized aluminium with the superheated steam exiting the heating apparatus to produce aluminium oxide, hydrogen and heat, thereby increasing the temperature of the superheated steam in the reactor that is not consumed by the reaction with the liquid atomized aluminium and/or an inert gas to a reactor temperature;
- separating the aluminium oxide from the superheated steam and hydrogen and either;
- transporting the superheated steam and/or the inert gas having the reactor temperature and hydrogen to the combustion chamber which is in direct connection to the heat consumer;
- providing oxygen or air to the combustion chamber from an external oxygen source, an external air supply or from the atmosphere,
- spontaneously combusting hydrogen inside the combustion chamber to increase the temperature of the superheated steam to a heat consumer temperature;
- exchanging heat between the superheated steam having the heat consumer temperature with a heat exchange medium within the heat consumer lowering the temperature of the superheated steam leaving the combustion chamber, to the heating arrangement temperature,
- transporting superheated steam having the heating arrangement temperature from the combustion chamber to the heating apparatus, or
- transporting the hydrogen to the combustion chamber arranged in direct connection to the heat consumer,
- providing oxygen or air to the combustion chamber from an external oxygen source, an external air supply or from the atmosphere,
- combusting the hydrogen inside the combustion chamber to provide high temperature exhausts to the heat consumer, and
- adding superheated steam to the heat generating arrangement continuously,
- wherein the method further comprises:
- providing a bypass connection between the reactor and the heating apparatus allowing superheated steam to bypass the combustion chamber.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.