Electrically-driven particulate agglomeration in a combustion system
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorDavid B Goodson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Technologies are presented for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction to produce agglomerated combustion particulates. For example, a system may include: one or more electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to a combustion reaction; a combustion zone configured to support the combustion reaction of a fuel at a fuel source; and an electrical power source operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes and configured to apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction. The combustion reaction is controlled to produce a distribution of agglomerated combustion particulates characterized by an increase in at least one of an average particulate diameter or an average particulate mass.
Claims46
A system, comprising:
- a combustion zone configured to be operatively coupled to a fuel source and to support a flame supported by a fuel from the fuel source;
- a first electrode and a second electrode, each configured to apply electrical energy to the flame;
- an electrical power source that is:
- operatively coupled to the first electrode and to the second electrode, and
- configured to drive an electrical circuit formed by the first electrode, the flame, and the second electrode and to apply electrical energy to the flame sufficient to cause agglomeration of combustion particulates produced by the flame, and to form thereby agglomerated combustion particulates;
- and
- a controller and a sensor operatively coupled to the controller,
- the controller being operatively coupled to the electrical power source,
- the controller being configured to receive a sensor value from the sensor and automatically control the electrical power source to apply the electrical energy at least in part responsive to the sensor value;
- wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is in at least intermittent electrical contact with the flame to form an electrical current circuit;
- and
- wherein the sensor is configured to produce the sensor value corresponding to one or more of:
- an average particulate diameter of the agglomerated combustion particulates;
- an average particulate mass of the agglomerated combustion particulates;
- a density of distribution of the agglomerated combustion particulates;
- an electromagnetic scattering value;
- an electromagnetic absorption value;
- or an electromagnetic emission value.
A method, comprising:
- supporting a flame by contacting a fuel and an oxidant in a combustion zone;
- producing combustion particulates by reacting the fuel and the oxidant in the flame;
- and
- producing agglomerated combustion particulates by applying electrical energy to the flame sufficient to cause agglomeration of the combustion particulates produced by the flame;
- forming an electrical current circuit by putting a first electrode and a second electrode into at least intermittent electrical contact with the flame;
- sensing a sensor value corresponding to one or more of:
- an average particulate diameter of the agglomerated combustion particulates;
- an average particulate mass of the agglomerated combustion particulates;
- a density of distribution of the agglomerated combustion particulates;
- an electromagnetic scattering value;
- an electromagnetic absorption value;
- or an electromagnetic emission value;
- and
- inputting the sensor value to a controller that automatically controls the electrical current at least in part responsive to the sensor value;
- wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is in at least intermittent electrical contact with the flame to form the electrical current circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.