Flame control in an oxyfuel combustion process
Assignee8 Rivers Capital, LLC
InventorsJeremy Eron Fetvedt, Brock Alan Forrest, Scott Thomas Martin, Xijia Lu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides for improving flame propagation in a combustor, particularly in a combustor for use in a power production system and method. At least one stream being passed into the combustor (e.g., a fuel, an oxidant, a diluent, a coolant, a working fluid, water, or steam) can be independently heated to a temperature that is about the autoignition temperature of the fuel or greater. Further, flame stabilization, including promoting ignition, can be improved as described herein through controlled addition of one or more NOx species into the combustor or combustion chamber.
Claims25
A method for propagating flame in a combustor of a power production plant, the method comprising:
- inputting to a combustor a fuel having an autoignition temperature;
- further inputting to the combustor at least one non-fuel stream;
- and
- heating the at least one non-fuel stream sufficiently such that a total flow of streams entering the combustor is at a temperature that is greater than the autoignition temperature of the fuel, the heating being effective to propagate flame in the combustor;
- wherein heating the at least one non-fuel stream is carried out only before inputting the at least one non-fuel stream to the combustor and by utilizing only heat that is not derived from combustion.
A power production plant comprising:
- a combustor with a flame zone;
- a fuel line configured for input to the combustor of a fuel having an autoignition temperature;
- at least one input line configured to deliver to the combustor at least one non-fuel stream;
- a turbine or expander in fluid communication with the combustor;
- and
- at least one heater operably arranged with the at least one input line to heat the at least one non-fuel stream before passage into the combustor sufficiently such that a total flow of streams entering the combustor is at a temperature that is greater than the autoignition temperature of the fuel, the heating being effective to propagate a flame in the flame zone of the combustor.
A method for propagating flame in a combustor of a power production plant, the method comprising:
- inputting a fuel into a combustor;
- inputting an oxidant into the combustor;
- and
- inputting a chemical catalyst comprising at least one NOx species into the combustor in an amount sufficient to reduce an activation energy level necessary to achieve or maintain flame in the combustor or a combustion chamber thereof.
A method for propagating flame in a combustor of a power production plant, the method comprising:
- inputting to a combustor a fuel having an autoignition temperature;
- further inputting to the combustor at least one non-fuel stream;
- heating the at least one non-fuel stream sufficiently such that a total flow of streams entering the combustor is at a temperature that is greater than the autoignition temperature of the fuel or is below the autoignition temperature of the fuel by no more than 20%, the heating being effective to propagate flame in the combustor;
- and
- controllably operating a heating component present within the combustor or a combustion chamber thereof;
- wherein heating the at least one non-fuel stream is carried out utilizing heat that is not derived from combustion.
A power production plant comprising:
- a combustor with a flame zone;
- a fuel line configured for input to the combustor of a fuel having an autoignition temperature;
- at least one input line configured to deliver to the combustor at least one non-fuel stream;
- a turbine or expander in fluid communication with the combustor;
- at least one heater operably arranged with the at least one input line to heat the at least one non-fuel stream sufficiently such that a total flow of streams entering the combustor is at a temperature that is greater than the autoignition temperature of the fuel or is below the autoignition temperature of the fuel by no more than 20%, the heating being effective to propagate a flame in the flame zone of the combustor;
- and
- a heating component positioned within the combustor or within a combustion chamber thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.