Staged combustion in a porous-matrix surface combustor to promote ultra-low NO.sub.x Emissions
AssigneeInstitute of Gas Technology
InventorsMark J. Khinkis, Hamid A. Abbasi, Thomas D. Briselden
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Abstract
A porous matrix, surface combustor-fluid heating apparatus in which combustion of a fuel/oxidant mixture is carried out in stages within a stationary porous bed disposed in a combustion chamber. A fuel-rich fuel/oxidant mixture is burned within a region of the stationary porous bed disposed near the inlet end of the combustion chamber, forming a primary combustion zone. A secondary oxidant is introduced into the stationary porous bed downstream of the primary combustion zone forming a secondary combustion zone. Finally, heat resulting from the combustion is removed by fluid flowing through heat exchanger tubes embedded within the stationary porous bed.
Claims20
A process for combustion of a gaseous fuel comprising:
- introducing a fuel-rich fuel/oxidant mixture into an inlet end of a combustion chamber having a stationary porous bed;
- burning said fuel-rich fuel/oxidant mixture within said stationary porous bed, forming a primary combustion zone within said stationary porous bed;
- introducing a secondary oxidant into said stationary porous bed downstream of said primary combustion zone, forming a secondary combustion zone;
- and
- removing heat resulting from said combustion from said combustion chamber.
A porous matrix, surface combustor-fluid heating apparatus comprising:
- at least one combustor chamber wall forming a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end;
- a flow distributor proximate said inlet end of said combustion chamber;
- a stationary porous bed disposed between said flow distributor and said outlet end;
- porous bed heat exchanger means embedded in said stationary porous bed;
- fuel/oxidant mixture means for introducing a mixture of a fuel and a primary oxidant into said stationary porous bed;
- and
- secondary oxidant means for introducing a secondary oxidant into said stationary porous bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.