Controllable combustion method and device

A method of extracting energy, comprising the steps of:

• filling from an inlet section at least one combustion tube with a combustible mixture;
• igniting the combustible mixture with an igniter displaced along a length of the combustion tube from the inlet section at an ignition section of the tube, combustion proceeding through the tube away from the ignition section;
• and
• extracting energy from combustion of the combustible mixture with at least one energy extraction device operatively coupled to a side of the combustion chamber adjacent the ignition section.

A combustion device, comprising:

• an elongate combustion tube having:
• i) an inlet section including an inlet for combustible material;
• and
• ii) an ignition section, including an igniter displaced along a length of the tube from the inlet section to ignite the combustible material;
• and
• at least one energy extraction device, operatively coupled to a side of the combustion tube adjacent the ignition section, configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture.

A combustion device, comprising:

• a plurality of combustion chambers each having an extinguishing section, an ignition section, and a combustion section intermediate the extinguishing section and the ignition section;
• at least one igniter operatively coupled to each combustion chamber at the ignition section;
• a first supply system and a second supply system, operatively coupled to the combustion chambers at the extinguishing section, the first supply system configured to supply fuel to the combustion chambers, the second supply system configured to supply an oxidizer to the chambers, the fuel and oxidizer being configured to combine and form a combustible mixture;
• the combustion chambers being configured to provide for the combustible mixture to fill the combustion chambers from the extinguishing section toward the ignition section and to be ignited by the igniter adjacent the ignition section, combustion proceeding through the combustion section from the ignition section toward the extinguishing section and then extinguishing;
• and
• at least one energy extraction device, operatively coupled to the combustion chambers adjacent the ignition section, and being configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture.

A combustion device, comprising:

• a combustion chamber having an extinguishing section, an ignition section, and a combustion section intermediate the extinguishing section and the ignition section;
• an igniter operatively coupled to the combustion chamber at the ignition section;
• a first supply system and a second supply system, operatively coupled to the combustion chamber at the extinguishing section, the first supply system configured to supply fuel to the combustion chamber, the second supply system configured to supply an oxidizer to the combustion chamber, the fuel and oxidizer being configured to combine and form a combustible mixture;
• the combustion chamber being configured to provide for the combustible mixture to fill the combustion chamber from the extinguishing section toward the ignition section and to be ignited by the igniter adjacent the ignition section, combustion proceeding through the combustion section from the ignition section toward the extinguishing section and then extinguishing;
• at least one energy extraction device, operatively coupled to the combustion chamber adjacent the ignition section, and being configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture;
• and
• a plurality of energy release ports, formed in a side of the combustion chamber, configured to direct the energy from combustion of the combustible mixture to the at least one energy extraction device.

A combustion device, comprising:

• a combustion chamber having an extinguishing section, an ignition section, and a combustion section intermediate the extinguishing section and the ignition section;
• an igniter operatively coupled to the combustion chamber at the ignition section;
• a first supply system and a second supply system, operatively coupled to the combustion chamber at the extinguishing section, the first supply system configured to supply fuel to the combustion chamber, the second supply system configured to supply an oxidizer to the combustion chamber, the fuel and oxidizer being configured to combine and form a combustible mixture;
• the combustion chamber being configured to provide for the combustible mixture to fill the combustion chamber from the extinguishing section toward the ignition section and to be ignited by the igniter adjacent the ignition section, combustion proceeding through the combustion section from the ignition section toward the extinguishing section and then extinguishing;
• and
• at least one piston, operatively coupled to the combustion chamber adjacent the ignition section, and being configured to be driven by energy from combustion of the combustible mixture.

A method of extracting energy, comprising the steps of:

• filling from an inlet section a plurality of combustion tubes with a combustible mixture;
• igniting the combustible mixture with an igniter displaced along a length of the combustion tubes from the inlet section at an ignition section of the tubes, combustion proceeding through the tubes away from the ignition section;
• and
• extracting energy from combustion of the combustible mixture with at least one energy extraction device operatively coupled to the combustion tubes adjacent the ignition section.

A method of extracting energy, comprising the steps of:

• filling from an inlet section at least one combustion tube with a combustible mixture;
• igniting the combustible mixture with an igniter displaced along a length of the combustion tube from the inlet section at an ignition section of the tube, combustion proceeding through the tube away from the ignition section;
• and
• extracting energy from combustion of the combustible mixture with a piston operatively coupled to the combustion chamber adjacent the ignition section.

A combustion device, comprising:

• a plurality of elongate combustion tubes each having:
• i) an inlet section including an inlet for combustible material;
• and
• ii) an ignition section, including an igniter displaced along a length of the tube from the inlet section to ignite the combustible material;
• and
• at least one energy extraction device, operatively coupled to the combustion tubes adjacent the ignition section, configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture.

A combustion device, comprising:

• an elongate combustion tube having:
• i) an inlet section including an inlet for combustible material;
• and
• ii) an ignition section, including an igniter displaced along a length of the tube from the inlet section to ignite the combustible material;
• at least one energy extraction device, operatively coupled to the combustion tube adjacent the ignition section, configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture;
• a plurality of energy release ports, formed in a side of the combustion tube, configured to direct the energy from combustion of the combustible mixture to the at least one energy extraction device.