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US 6,745,744 B2Granted
Combustion enhancement system and method
OwnerSzymon Suckewer, Artur Peter Suckewerinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combustion enhancement system that enhances combustion by converting fuel into hydrogen-enriched fuel within a combustion region, and igniting the hydrogen-enriched fuel by one or more ignitor. A fuel supply provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap of the ignitor. A method is also provided to dissociate a fuel or air/fuel mixture into hydrogen enriched combusible mixture. The method includes locating the ignition device so that the discharge gap is in device communication with the combustion region, and dissociating at least one of fuel, or air/fuel mixture into hydrogen enriched combustible fuel mixture within the discharge gap. A method of igniting is also provided.
Claims87
A system, comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including a first electrically conductive surface disposed at a first location spaced from a second electrically conductive surface disposed at a second location fixed thereto with respect to the first location to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- a fuel supply that provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first conductive surface and second conductive surface that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- a fuel supply that provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first conductive surface and second conductive surface that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap, wherein the at least one electrical pulse that dissociates at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap results in the production of hydrogen.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- a fuel supply that provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first conductive surface and second conductive surface that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap, wherein the at least one electrical pulse comprises at least one first electrical pulse that dissociates the at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture and at least one second electrical pulse that ignites combustible mixture, and the at least one second electrical pulse is provided by another ignitor.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region, the ignitor further comprises a casing having a surface disposed along a longitudinal axis, an entry portion and an exit portion being offset along the longitudinal axis;
- a port disposed in the casing, the port being in communication with the discharge gap;
- an insulator at least partially disposed in the casing, the insulator having at least one surface exposed to the surface of the casing to define a communication passage between the port and the exit portion of the casing;
- a fuel supply that provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first conductive surface and second conductive surface that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap, wherein the casing further comprises a first part secured to a second part by at least one high temperature and high pressure seal.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- a fuel supply that provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first conductive surface and second conductive surface that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap, wherein the at least one electrical pulse that dissociates at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap results in the production of hydrogen, and the at least one electrical pulse comprise a first current and a second current, the voltage of the first current being greater than the second current, and the first current being less than the second current.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- a fuel supply that provides at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first conductive surface and second conductive surface that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture Passing through the discharge gap, wherein the at least one electrical pulse of the controller further comprises:
- an electrical pulse to initiate flow of fuel or air/fuel mixture from the fuel supply to the ignitor;
- and
- electrical pulse to initiate injection of fuel into the combustion region;
- and
- an electrical pulse to initiate firing of the ignitor to ignite a combustible mixture in the combustion region.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including:
- a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- and
- an insulator having a surface, at least a portion of the surface exposed to the discharge gap between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces;
- a fuel supply to provide at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including:
- a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- and
- an insulator having a surface exposed to the discharge gap, at least a portion of the surface exposed to the discharge gap;
- a fuel supply to provide at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface, wherein the first conductive surface has a first length;
- a second electrically conductive surface has a second length, the shorter of the first and second lengths defining a discharge gap length, the shortest distance between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface defining a discharge gap width, a ratio of the discharge gap width to the discharge gap length being greater than one to three.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region, the ignitor including:
- a first electrically conductive surface spaced from a second electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap in direct communication with the combustion region;
- and
- an insulator having a surface exposed to the discharge gap, at least a portion of the surface exposed to the discharge gap;
- a fuel supply to provide at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap;
- and a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface, wherein the controller further provides:
- an electrical pulse to initiate flow of fuel or air/fuel mixture from the fuel supply to the ignitor;
- an electrical pulse that dissociates at least a portion of at least one of fuel or air /fuel mixture passing through the discharge gap;
- an electrical pulse to initiate injection of fuel into the combustion region;
- and
- an electrical pulse to initiate firing of the ignitor to ignite a combustion mixture in the combustion region.
8 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an ignitor proximate a combustion region , the ignitor including:
- a housing;
- a first electrically conductive surface having a first length;
- a second electrically conductive surface spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the second electrically conductive surface has a second length, the shorter of the first and second lengths defining a discharge gap length, the shortest distance between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface defining a discharge gap width, a ratio of the discharge gap width to the discharge gap length being greater than one to three;
- a fuel supply operatively connected to ignitor to provide at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first electrically conductive surface and second electrically conductive surface.
4 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an ignitor coupled to the combustion region, the ignitor including:
- a housing having first portion and a second portion disposed along a central longitudinal axis;
- an electrode extending along the central longitudinal axis and having a first electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- and
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap;
- and
- an insulator having a surface, at least a portion of the surface exposed to the discharge gap between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces;
- a fuel supply to provide at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first electrically conductive surface and second electrically conductive surface.
7 more elements
A system comprising:
- an ignitor coupled to the combustion region, the ignitor including:
- a housing having first portion and a second portion disposed along a central longitudinal axis;
- an electrode extending along the central longitudinal axis and having a first electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- and
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap;
- a fuel supply to provide at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture to the discharge gap;
- and
- a controller that provides at least one electrical pulse between the first electrically conductive surface and second electrically conductive surface, wherein the controller further provides:
- an electrical pulse to initiate flow of fuel or air/fuel mixture from the fuel supply to the ignitor;
- an electrical pulse to initiate injection of fuel into the combustion region;
- and
- an electrical pulse to initiate firing of the ignitor to ignite a combustion mixture in the combustion region.
9 more elements
An ignitor comprising:
- a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
- a first electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the discharge gap having a discharge initiation region;
- a fluid passage extending between the first portion and the second portion, the fluid passage being in communication with the discharge gap;
- and
- an insulator having a surface exposed to the discharge gap.
3 more elements
An ignitor comprising:
- a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
- a first electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the discharge gap having a discharge initiation region;
- a fluid passage extending between the first portion and the second portion, the fluid passage being in communication with the discharge gap;
- and
- an insulator having a surface exposed to the discharge gap, wherein the first electrically conductive surface has a first length a second electrically conductive surface has a second length, the shorter of the first and a second length defining a discharge gap length, the shortest distance between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface defining a discharge gap width, a ratio of the discharge gap width to the discharge gap length being greater than about one to about three.
3 more elements
An ignitor comprising:
- a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the housing including a casing having a surface, the casing having an entry portion and an exit portion, the entry and exit portions being offset along an axis;
- a port disposed in the casing, the port being in communication with the discharge gap;
- the insulator having a surface exposed to the surface of the casing to define a communication passage between the port and the exit portion of the casing;
- a first electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the discharge gap having a discharge initiation region;
- a fluid passage extending between the first portion and the second portion, the fluid passage being in communication with the discharge gap;
- and
- an insulator having a surface exposed to the discharge gap, wherein the casing further comprises a first part secured to a second part by at least one high temperature and high pressure seal.
5 more elements
An ignitor comprising:
- a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
- a first electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing, the first conductive surface having a first length;
- a second electrically conductive surface spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the second electrically conductive surface has a second length, the shorter of the first and second lengths defining a discharge gap length, the shortest distance between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface defining a discharge gap width, a ratio of the discharge gap width to the discharge gap length being greater than about one to about three;
- and
- a fluid passage extending between the first portion and the second portion, the fluid passage being in communication with the discharge gap.
2 more elements
An ignitor comprising:
- a housing having a first portion and a second portion disposed along a central longitudinal axis;
- an electrode extending along the central longitudinal axis and having a first surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap;
- an insulator having a surface exposed to the discharge gap between the first and second electrically conductive surfaces;
- and
- a fluid passage extending between the first portion and the second portion, the fluid passage being spaced from the longitudinal axis and in communication with the discharge gap.
3 more elements
An ignitor comprising:
- a housing having a first portion and a second portion disposed along a central longitudinal axis;
- an electrode extending along the central longitudinal axis and having a first surface proximate the second portion of the housing;
- a second electrically conductive surface proximate the second portion of the housing and spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap;
- and
- a fluid passage extending between the first portion and the second portion, the fluid passage being spaced from the longitudinal axis and in communication with the discharge gap, wherein the first conductive surface has a first length;
- a second electrically conductive surface has a second length, the shorter of the first and second lengths defining a discharge gap length, the shortest distance between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface defining a discharge gap width, a ratio of the discharge gap width to the discharge gap length being greater than about one to about three.
3 more elements
A method of dissociating fuel for a combustion system, the combustion system having a combustion region, a fuel supply operatively connected to the combustion region, the method comprising:
- providing an ignition device having a first electrically conductive surface disposed at a first location and a second electrically conductive surface disposed at a second location fixed with respect to the first location so that a discharge gap is formed therebetween;
- locating the ignition device so that the discharge gap is in direct communication with the combustion region;
- and
- dissociating the at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture by the discharge gap.
1 more element
A method of dissociating fuel for a combustion system, the combustion system having a combustion region, a fuel supply operatively connected to the combustion region, an ignition device having a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the method comprising:
- locating the ignition device so that the discharge gap is in direct communication with the combustion region;
- and
- dissociating the at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture by the discharge gap, wherein the dissociating comprises hydrogenating the at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture.
A method of dissociating fuel for a combustion system, the combustion system having a combustion region, a fuel supply operatively connected to the combustion region, an ignition device having a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface spaced from the first electrically conductive surface to form a discharge gap, the method comprising:
- locating the ignition device so that the discharge gap is in direct communication with the combustion region;
- and
- dissociating the at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture by the discharge gap, further comprising:
- initiating a flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the ignition device with at least one electrical pulse;
- injecting at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture into the combustion region;
- and
- firing the ignition device to ignite the at least one of fuel or air/fuel mixture.
4 more elements
A method of igniting a combustible mixture in a combustion system, the combustion system having a combustion region, a fuel supply operatively connected to the combustion region, an ignition device having a first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface spaced from the first electrically conductive surface, the method comprising:
- passing an electrical pulse of first voltage at a first current between the first electrically conductive surface and a second electrically conductive surface, the first electrically conductive surface having a first length, the second electrically conductive surface has a second length, the shorter of the first and second lengths defining a discharge gap length, the shortest distance between the first electrically conductive surface and the second electrically conductive surface defining a discharge gap width, a ratio of the discharge gap width to the discharge gap length being greater than one to three;
- and
- passing a second electrical pulse less than or equal to the first voltage at a second current greater than or equal to the first between the discharge gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.