Thermal ignition combustion system
AssigneeAdiabatics, Inc.
InventorsRoy Kamo, Ramesh M. Kakwani, Edgars Valdmanis, Melvins E. Woods
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The thermal ignition combustion system comprises means for providing walls defining an ignition chamber, the walls being made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m.degree. C. and a specific heat greater than 480 J/kg.degree. C. with the ignition chamber being in constant communication with the main combustion chamber, means for maintaining the temperature of the walls above a threshold temperature capable of causing ignition of a fuel, and means for conducting fuel to the ignition chamber.
Claims31
A thermal ignition combustion system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine, said engine having a main combustion chamber, said thermal ignition combustion system comprising:
- (a) means for providing ignition chamber walls defining an ignition chamber, said chamber walls being made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m.degree.C. and a specific heat greater than 480 J/kg.degree. C., said ignition chamber being in constant communication with said main combustion chamber;
- (b) means for maintaining the temperature of said chamber walls above a threshold temperature capable of causing ignition of a fuel;
- and
- (c) means for conducting fuel to said ignition chamber.
A method of operating a thermal ignition combustion system in conjunction with an internal combustion engine using powdered coal as fuel, said engine having a main combustion chamber defined by a piston, a cylinder head, cylinder walls, a plurality of valves and an air intake and intake stroke of the piston, said thermal ignition combustion system comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing ignition chamber walls defining an ignition chamber, said chamber walls being made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m.degree.C. and specific heat greater than 480 J/kg.degree.C., said chamber walls being sufficiently insulated externally to said chamber walls and ignition chamber so as to be maintained above a threshold temperature of 700.degree. F. during normal operation of said combustion system;
- (b) fumigation of powdered coal into the air intake during the intake stroke of the piston in the cylinder;
- and
- (c) providing a glow plug in said ignition chamber for igniting said fuel before said chamber walls reach a threshold operating temperature.
A method of operating a thermal ignition combustion system in conjunction with an internal combustion engine using natural gas as fuel, said engine having a main combustion chamber defined by a piston, a cylinder head, cylinder walls, a plurality of valves and an air intake and intake stroke of the piston, said thermal ignition combustion system comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing ignition chamber walls defining an ignition chamber, said chamber walls being made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m.degree.C. and specific heat greater than 480 J/kg.degree.C., said chamber walls being sufficiently insulated externally to said chamber walls and ignition chamber so as to be maintained above a threshold temperature of 1350.degree. F. during normal operation of said combustion system;
- (b) injection of high pressure natural gas into the ignition chamber during the intake stroke of the piston in the cylinder;
- and,
- (c) providing a glow plug in said ignition chamber for igniting said fuel before said chamber walls reach a threshold operating temperature.
A thermal ignition combustion system adapted for use with an internal combustion engine having a main combustion chamber, comprising:
- ignition chamber walls defining an ignition chamber in communication with the main combustion chamber, said chamber walls made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than 20 W/m.degree.C. and a specific heat greater than 480 J/kg.degree.C., and
- insulation means, substantially surrounding said chamber walls, for maintaining the temperature of said chamber walls above a threshold temperature capable of causing ignition of a fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.