Method and apparatus for conducting a substantially isothermal combustion process in a combustor

Abstract

The invention is directed to improvements in furnaces. A method and apparatus for conducting a substantially isothermal combustion process in a combustor 2 is disclosed in which three methods are employed and two of the methods separately or in combination, namely, (1) controlled radiation in the vicinity of flame emission within the combustor, (2) temperature-responsive controlled flowrate increase of recirculation of exhausted gases including recirculated heat and water vapor into the primary combustion zone, and (3) controlled staged oxidation of and heat extraction from each of a plurality of oxidation or combustion zones, which methods are performed by means of, respectively, a radiation shield means 40 for guiding the flame of combustion, a variable orifice means in the primary air-supply 24 to the primary combustion zone, and a bypass means 42 from the air supply to respective combustion zones within the combustor, each of which has associated therewith a heat extraction means 46, so that not only is combustion efficiency in the combustor increased but unwanted pollutants are radically reduced in the exhaust gas of the combustor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.