Trapped vortex combustor
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDONALD KENDRICK, CHRISTOPHER A. WIKLOF
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trapped vortex combustor includes a refractory combustor body defining a combustion volume aligned to receive an air and fuel mixture from an air and fuel source. The trapped vortex combustor includes a trapped vortex channel arranged circumferential to a portion of the combustion volume and/or arranged at or adjacent to a center of the combustion volume. The trapped vortex channel is configured to hold a trapped vortex combustion reaction to provide ignition to the air and fuel mixture. The trapped vortex combustor includes a center body supported near or within the combustion volume.
Claims64
A trapped vortex combustor, comprising:
- an air and fuel source configured to deliver an air and fuel mixture;
- a refractory combustor body defining a combustion volume, the refractory combustor body having an open upstream end and an open downstream end, the refractory combustor body being aligned to receive at least a portion of the air and fuel mixture from the air and fuel source into the upstream end, to limit a lateral extent of a combustion reaction supported by the air and fuel mixture with an inner wall, and to output combustion products from the downstream end;
- a trapped vortex channel arranged to hold a trapped vortex combustion reaction to provide ignition to the air and fuel mixture;
- and
- at least one center body supported near or within the combustion volume.
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A combustor, comprising:
- an air and fuel source configured to deliver an air and fuel mixture;
- a refractory combustor body defining a combustion volume, the refractory combustor body having an open upstream end and an open downstream end, the refractory combustor body being aligned to receive at least a portion of the air and fuel mixture from the air and fuel source into the upstream end, to limit a lateral extent of a combustion reaction supported by the air and fuel mixture with an inner wall, and to output combustion products from the downstream end;
- a trapped vortex channel arranged circumferential to a portion of the combustion volume, the trapped vortex channel being configured to hold a trapped vortex combustion reaction to provide ignition to the air and fuel mixture;
- and
- a trapped vortex fuel source disposed to provide fuel and momentum to the trapped vortex combustion reaction.
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A method, comprising:
- holding a trapped vortex combustion reaction in a trapped vortex channel positioned in an inner wall of a refractory combustor body;
- delivering an air and fuel mixture from an air and fuel source;
- receiving at least a portion of the air and fuel mixture into an open upstream end of the refractory combustor body;
- igniting, within a combustion volume defined by the refractory combustor body, a combustion reaction of the air and fuel mixture with the trapped vortex combustion reaction;
- limiting a lateral extent of the trapped vortex combustion reaction with the inner wall of the refractory combustor body;
- and
- supporting at least one center body near or within the combustion volume.
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A method, comprising:
- supporting a trapped vortex combustion reaction within a trapped vortex channel arranged circumferentially to a portion of a combustion volume defined by a refractory combustor body;
- providing fuel and momentum to the trapped vortex combustion reaction with a trapped vortex fuel source;
- delivering an air and fuel mixture from an air and fuel source;
- receiving the air and fuel mixture into an upstream end of the refractory combustor body;
- igniting a combustion reaction of the air and fuel mixture with the trapped vortex combustion reaction;
- and
- outputting combustion products of the trapped vortex combustion reaction from a downstream end of the refractory combustor body.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.