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US 9,267,680 B2Granted
Multiple fuel combustion system and method
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDavid B. Goodson, Christopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to embodiments, a co-fired or multiple fuel combustion system is configured to apply an electric field to a combustion region corresponding to a second fuel that normally suffers from poor combustion and/or high sooting. Application of an AC voltage to the combustion region was found to increase the extent of combustion and significantly reduce soot evolved from the second fuel.
Claims36
A co-fired combustion apparatus, comprising:
- a first fuel-introduction body configured to provide a gaseous or liquid first fuel to a first combustion reaction;
- a crucible;
- a second fuel-introduction body configured to provide a second fuel to a second combustion reaction in the crucible, wherein the first fuel introduction body is positioned below the second fuel introduction body to cause the first combustion reaction to at least intermittently provide heat to the second combustion reaction;
- and
- an electrode assembly associated with the second fuel introduction body or a second combustion volume to which the second fuel introduction body provides the second fuel, the electrode assembly being configured to be driven to or maintained at one or more first voltages selected to provide an electric field to the second combustion volume;
- wherein the first fuel assembly is configured to produce a flame temperature that is sufficiently high to ignite combustion of the second fuel when a reaction activation energy of the second combustion reaction is reduced by application of the first voltage.
3 more elements
A method of co-fired combustion comprising:
- maintaining a first combustion by combusting a gaseous or liquid first fuel at a first combustion region having a portion defined by a first fuel-introducing body;
- maintaining a second combustion by combusting a second fuel at a crucible located in a second combustion region, located above the first combustion region and having a portion defined by a second fuel-introducing body;
- positioning the first combustion region relative to the second combustion region to cause the first combustion to provide heat to the second combustion reaction;
- and
- applying at least one first electrical potential, having a first value, proximate to the second combustion region;
- wherein the first fuel produces a flame temperature that is sufficiently high to ignite combustion of the second fuel when a reaction activation energy of the second combustion is reduced by application of the first electrical potential.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.