Apparatus and method for fuel flow rate, fuel temperature, fuel droplet size, and burner firing rate modulation

A method of modulating a fuel flow in a combustion system comprising the steps of:

• providing a combustion system comprising:
• an air/fuel mixing region for forming an air/fuel mixture;
• a combustion chamber for receiving via an outlet in said air/fuel mixing region, igniting at preselected intervals and burning said air/fuel mixture formed in said mixing region,
• at least one first input means for providing input air to said mixing region,
• at least one second input means for providing fuel to said mixing region, and
• extraction means for transferring heat energy produced by the burning of the air/fuel mixture out of the combustion chamber to perform work;
• said at least one second input means including a fuel temperature management device comprising:
• an enclosed volume having a first inlet for receiving fuel,
• a second inlet for conducting external energy to the interior of said enclosed volume,
• an outlet for discharging fuel to said mixing region, and
• a heat/fuel interface disposed within said enclosed volume in communication with said external energy,
• wherein said heat/fuel interface defines a surface area of a size such that when the heat/fuel interface is maintained at substantially a predetermined fuel input temperature by said external energy, fuel flowing into said enclosed volume is quickly, precisely and substantially uniformly heated to said predetermined fuel input temperature prior to flowing outwardly of said enclosed volume into said mixing region via said outlet,
• and wherein said fuel temperature management device further comprises:
• an elongate outer casing centered around a longitudinal axis,
• an open rear input end,
• a hollow tapered forward output end;
• a heat/fuel interface material disposed in said casing, and defining a forward wall portion and side wall portions that together define a closed forward end disposed substantially adjacent to said forward tapered end of said casing, an open rear end spaced forwardly of said open rear end of said casing and a central longitudinal cavity extending from the open rear end of the heat/fuel interface material to said front wall thereof;
• an elongate heating element disposed in said longitudinal cavity of said heat/fuel interface material in communication with said input external energy,
• an exit nozzle communicating with the hollow interior of and extending substantially axially forward from said forward tapered end of said casing, and
• an input nozzle affixed to a portion of the open rear end of said heat/fuel interface material and a seal disposed on the remainder of said open rear end of said heat/fuel interface material,
• whereby said fuel temperature management device may be disposed in an input fuel line supplying fuel to said air/fuel mixing region such that input fuel enters said rear end of said heat/fuel interface material and fills voids present between the surfaces thereof while said heating element receives said external energy and heats the heat/fuel interface material surrounding it substantially uniformly and said fuel is thereafter discharged from the forward end portion of the fuel/interface material into said hollow tapered end of said casing and thence into said forwardly extending exit nozzle for transfer to the air/fuel mixing region;
• introducing a liquid fuel flow into the combustion system wherein the fuel contained in the fuel flow has an initial temperature, an initial pressure, an initial resultant flow rate and an initial resultant fuel droplet size;
• and
• modulating the external energy conducted into the interior of said volume so as to modulate the temperature and pressure of said heat/fuel interface material whereby said fuel flow rate is caused to change.

A combustion system comprising:

• an air/fuel mixing region for forming an air/fuel mixture;
• a combustion chamber for receiving via an outlet in said air/fuel mixing region, igniting at preselected intervals and burning said air/fuel mixture formed in said mixing region,
• at least one first input means for providing input air to said mixing region,
• at least one second input means for providing a fluidic fuel at a substantially uniform predetermined temperature to said mixing region, and
• extraction means for transferring heat energy produced by the burning of the air/fuel mixture out of the combustion chamber to perform work;
• said at least one second input means including a fuel management device comprising:
• a hollow casing having an open rear fuel input end and an open forward fuel output end;
• a heat/fuel interface material disposed in said casing, said heat/fuel interface material
• (i) characterized by a surface area defining plurality of interconnected voids within said casing such that said surface area of said heat/fuel interface material is of a size such that when the heat/fuel interface material is maintained at said substantially predetermined temperature by an external energy source, fuel flowing through said voids is substantially immediately, precisely and substantially uniformly heated to said predetermined temperature, and
• (ii) defining a forward wall portion and side wall portions that together form a cavity having a closed forward end disposed substantially adjacent to said forward fuel output end of said casing and an open rear end at said open rear input end of said casing;
• a heating element disposed in said cavity in conductive relationship with said heat/fuel interface material for heating the same and in communication with said external energy source,
• an exit nozzle attached to said open forward fuel output end of said casing, and
• an input nozzle affixed to a portion of the heat/fuel interface material at the open rear input end of said casing and a closure member sealing the remainder of said open rear inlet end of said casing,
• whereby said fuel temperature management device when disposed in said at least one second input means conveying fuel to said air/fuel mixing region controls the temperature of fuel input into said air/fuel mixing region so as to enable modulation of combustion and operational parameters of the combustion system.