Combustion method and apparatus

A method comprising:

• providing a combustion apparatus comprising an outer vessel and an inner conduit, the outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end, the inner conduit being at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel, the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape;
• introducing pressurized feed air having a pressure of at least 30 psia into the rearward fluid passage, the pressurized feed air being introduced into the rearward fluid passage in a generally tangential direction relative to the rearward fluid passage in a manner such that at least some of the feed air swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall;
• introducing a fuel into the combustion region;
• facilitating mixing of the fuel and the feed air in the combustion region;
• causing a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner such that at least some of the fuel entering the combustion region is combusted in the combustion region to form combustion reaction products;
• discharging the combustion reaction products longitudinally rearward through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit.

A method comprising:

• providing a combustion apparatus;
• introducing into the combustion apparatus feed air having a pressure of at least 30 psia;
• heating the feed air to a temperature of at least 800° F. before it is introduced into the combustion apparatus
• introducing a fuel into the combustion apparatus;
• using the combustion apparatus to cause at least some of the fuel and at least some of the feed air to swirl within the combustion apparatus and about a longitudinal axis of the combustion apparatus;
• causing an initial combustion reaction of some of the swirling fuel and feed air in the combustion apparatus to form combustion reaction products, some of the swirling fuel at least temporarily remaining unburned, the swirling being sufficient to cause the unburned fuel to move radially away from the longitudinal axis and to cause the combustion reaction products to move radially toward the longitudinal axis.

A combustion apparatus for combusting a fuel, the combustion apparatus comprising:

• an outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end;
• an inner conduit at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel;
• the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape;
• a tangential feed air inlet through the outer vessel for introducing feed air into the rearward fluid passage, the feed air inlet being longitudinally spaced between the intake port of the inner conduit and the rearward end of the outer vessel, the feed air inlet being adapted and configured such that at least some of the feed air introduced through the feed air inlet and into the rearward fluid passage swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall;
• a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the combustion region;
• the combustion apparatus being adapted to cause the fuel and the feed air to mix in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus further being adapted to cause a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products and to cause the combustion reaction products to pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit, the combustion apparatus further being adapted such that at least 70% of the fuel entering the combustion region is combusted in the combustion region.

A combustion apparatus for combusting a fuel, the combustion apparatus comprising:

• an outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end;
• an inner conduit at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel;
• the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally cylindrical-shaped inner surface at least in part defining the combustion region, the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall being of a first diameter, the intake port of the inner conduit being longitudinally spaced from the forward end of the outer vessel a distance greater than the diameter of the first longitudinally extending wall;
• a tangential feed air inlet through the outer vessel for introducing feed air into the rearward fluid passage, the feed air inlet being longitudinally spaced between the intake port of the inner conduit and the rearward end of the outer vessel, the feed air inlet being adapted and configured such that at least some of the feed air introduced through the feed air inlet and into the rearward fluid passage swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall;
• a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the combustion region;
• the combustion apparatus being adapted to cause the fuel and the feed air to mix in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus further being adapted to cause a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products and to cause the combustion reaction products to pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit, the combustion apparatus further being adapted such that at least 70% of the fuel entering the combustion region is combusted in the combustion region.

A combustion apparatus for combusting a fuel, the combustion apparatus comprising:

• an outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end;
• an inner conduit at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel;
• the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape;
• a tangential feed air inlet through the outer vessel for introducing feed air into the rearward fluid passage, the feed air inlet being longitudinally spaced between the intake port of the inner conduit and the rearward end of the outer vessel, the feed air inlet being adapted and configured such that at least some of the feed air introduced through the feed air inlet and into the rearward fluid passage swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall;
• a flow divider within the forward combustion region, the flow divider being forward of and spaced from the forward intake port of the inner conduit and being rearward of and spaced from the forward end of the outer vessel;
• a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the combustion region;
• the combustion apparatus being adapted to cause the fuel and the feed air to mix in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus further being adapted to cause a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products and to cause the combustion reaction products to pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit, the flow divider being adapted to deflect some of the feed air in a manner such that said some of the feed air flows from the feed air inlet into the inner conduit without flowing into any portion of the combustion region which is forward of the flow divider.

A system comprising:

• a compressor adapted to pressurize air to a pressure of at least 30 psia, the compressor having a discharge port for discharging pressurized feed air from the compressor;
• a combustion apparatus for combusting a fuel, the combustion apparatus comprising an outer vessel, an inner conduit, a tangential feed air inlet, a fuel inlet, and an igniter, the outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end, the inner conduit being at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel, the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape, the tangential feed air inlet being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the compressor and being adapted for introducing the pressurized feed air through the outer vessel and into the rearward fluid passage, the feed air inlet being longitudinally spaced between the intake port of the inner conduit and the rearward end of the outer vessel, the feed air inlet being adapted and configured such that at least some of the feed air introduced through the feed air inlet and into the rearward fluid passage swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall, the fuel inlet being adapted to introduce fuel into the combustion region, the igniter being positioned and adapted to ignite the fuel in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus being adapted to cause the fuel and the feed air to mix in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus further being adapted to cause a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products and to cause the combustion reaction products to pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit.

A system comprising:

• a compressor adapted to pressurize air, the compressor having a discharge port for discharging pressurized feed air from the compressor;
• a combustion apparatus for combusting a fuel, the combustion apparatus comprising an outer vessel, an inner conduit, a tangential feed air inlet, and a fuel inlet, the outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end, the inner conduit being at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel, the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape, the tangential feed air inlet being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the compressor and being adapted for introducing the pressurized feed air through the outer vessel and into the rearward fluid passage, the feed air inlet being longitudinally spaced between the intake port of the inner conduit and the rearward end of the outer vessel, the feed air inlet being adapted and configured such that at least some of the feed air introduced through the feed air inlet and into the rearward fluid passage swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall, the fuel inlet being adapted to introduce fuel into the combustion region, the combustion apparatus being adapted to cause the fuel and the feed air to mix in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus further being adapted to cause a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products and to cause the combustion reaction products to pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit;
• and
• a radial out-flow turbine having a rotor, the turbine being in fluid communication with the central fluid passage of the inner conduit, the turbine and the combustion apparatus being configured and adapted such that the combustion reaction products which pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage turn the rotor.

A method comprising:

• providing a combustion apparatus comprising an outer vessel and an inner conduit, the outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end, the inner conduit being at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel, the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally cylindrical-shaped inner surface at least in part defining the combustion region, the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall being of a first diameter, the intake port of the inner conduit being longitudinally spaced from the forward end of the outer vessel a distance greater than the diameter of the first longitudinally extending wall;
• introducing feed air into the rearward fluid passage in a generally tangential direction relative to the rearward fluid passage in a manner such that at least some of the feed air swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall;
• introducing a fuel into the combustion region;
• facilitating mixing of the fuel and the feed air in the combustion region;
• causing a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner forming combustion reaction products;
• discharging the combustion reaction products longitudinally rearward through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit.

A combustion apparatus for combusting a fuel, the combustion apparatus comprising:

• an outer vessel having a first longitudinally extending wall extending generally along a central axis, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally circular shape when viewed in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, the outer vessel further having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end being longitudinally spaced from the forward end;
• an inner conduit at least partially within the outer vessel and having a forward intake port, a rearward discharge port, and a second longitudinally extending wall extending generally along the central axis between the intake and discharge ports and generally coaxial with the first longitudinally extending wall, the second longitudinally extending wall having at least a forward longitudinal portion which is spaced radially inwardly of the first longitudinally extending wall, the intake and discharge ports and the second longitudinally extending wall defining a central fluid passage through the inner conduit, the intake port being between the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel and being spaced from both of the forward and rearward ends of the outer vessel;
• the outer vessel further comprising a forward combustion region and a rearward fluid passage, the forward combustion region being at least partially circumscribed by the first longitudinally extending wall and being longitudinally forward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being longitudinally rearward of the intake port of the inner conduit, the rearward fluid passage being defined between the first and second longitudinally extending walls and being generally annular in shape, the first longitudinally extending wall having a generally cylindrical-shaped inner surface at least in part defining the combustion region, the inner surface of the first longitudinally extending wall being of a first diameter, the intake port of the inner conduit being longitudinally spaced from the forward end of the outer vessel a distance greater than the diameter of the first longitudinally extending wall;
• a tangential feed air inlet through the outer vessel for introducing feed air into the rearward fluid passage, the feed air inlet being longitudinally spaced between the intake port of the inner conduit and the rearward end of the outer vessel, the feed air inlet being adapted and configured such that at least some of the feed air introduced through the feed air inlet and into the rearward fluid passage swirls around the second longitudinally extending wall;
• a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the combustion region;
• the combustion apparatus being adapted to cause the fuel and the feed air to mix in the combustion region, the combustion apparatus further being adapted to cause a combustion reaction of the mixed fuel and feed air in the combustion region in a manner to form combustion reaction products and to cause the combustion reaction products to pass rearwardly through the central fluid passage of the inner conduit.