US 2022/0178539 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LASER IGNITION OF FUEL IN A COAL-FIRED BURNER

Abstract

A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A combustion burner assembly, comprising:

a fuel source;
a furnace;
a fuel transport tube to transport fuel from the fuel source to the furnace;
and
a laser igniter configured to ignite the fuel carried through the fuel transport tube to the furnace, the laser igniter including:
a laser source;
a laser tube to deliver a beam of laser light from the laser source to the fuel in the fuel transport tube;
and
an ignition tube disposed within the fuel transport tube to receive a portion of fuel flowing through the fuel transport tube, wherein the beam of laser light heats and ignites the fuel in the ignition tube, wherein the ignition of the fuel in the ignition tube occurs in a multiple of ignition stages.

6 more elements

A system, comprising:

a coal fuel source;
an air source;
a furnace;
a fuel transport tube to transport a mixture of coal from the coal fuel source and air from the air source to the furnace for combustion thereof;
a laser igniter configured to ignite the mixture of coal and air carried through the fuel transport tube to the furnace, the laser igniter including:
a laser source;
a laser tube to deliver a beam of laser light from the laser source to the mixture of coal and air in the fuel transport tube, wherein a portion of the laser tube is disposed within the fuel transport tube;
and
an ignition tube disposed within the fuel transport tube to receive a portion of the mixture of coal and air flowing through the fuel transport tube, wherein an inlet of the ignition tube is separated from the portion of the laser tube disposed in the fuel transport tube by a predetermined spacing, wherein the beam of laser light heats and ignites the mixture of coal and air in the predetermined spacing and in the ignition tube in a multiple of ignition stages;
and
a plurality of flow directing devices, wherein each of the flow directing devices is configured to direct a portion of the flow of the mixture of coal and air to flow about the ignition tube for irradiation by the beam of laser light.

8 more elements

A method of igniting fuel for combustion in a burner assembly, comprising:

transporting a flow of a mixture of fuel from a fuel source and air from an air source to a furnace with a fuel transport tube;
directing a portion of the flow of the mixture of the fuel and air through an inlet of an ignition tube placed within the fuel transport tube;
directing a beam of laser light towards the mixture of the fuel and air carried through the ignition tube;
heating and igniting the mixture of the fuel and air carried through the ignition tube in a multiple of stages;
and
supplying the heated and ignited mixture of the fuel and air from the ignition tube to the furnace.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for laser ignition of fuel in a coal-fired burner

Life of this patent

System and method for laser ignition of fuel in a coal-fired burner

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20