Back to results
US 9,388,981 B2Granted
Method for flame location transition from a start-up location to a perforated flame holder
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDouglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to an embodiment, a combustion system is provided, which includes a nozzle configured to emit a diverging fuel flow, a flame holder positioned in the path of the fuel flow and that includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and a preheat mechanism configured to heat the flame to a temperature exceeding a startup temperature threshold.
Claims18
A method, comprising:
- performing a burner startup procedure, including applying thermal energy to a primary flame holder by holding a flame supported by fuel emitted from a primary nozzle at a location between the primary nozzle and a side of the primary flame holder facing the primary nozzle;
- terminating the burner startup procedure after a temperature of a portion of the primary flame holder is above a startup temperature threshold;
- emitting a flow of fuel from the primary nozzle at an operational rate;
- and
- supporting a flame within a plurality of apertures extending through the primary flame holder
- wherein performing the burner startup procedure further includes generating turbulence in the fuel emitted from the primary nozzle by positioning a secondary flame holder between the primary nozzle and the primary flame holder;
- and
- wherein terminating the burner startup procedure includes removing the secondary flame holder from between the primary nozzle and the primary flame holder.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- performing a burner startup procedure, including applying thermal energy to a primary flame holder by holding a flame supported by fuel emitted from a primary nozzle at a location between the primary nozzle and a side of the primary flame holder facing the primary nozzle;
- terminating the burner startup procedure after a temperature of a portion of the primary flame holder is above a startup temperature threshold;
- emitting a flow of fuel from the primary nozzle at an operational rate;
- and
- supporting a flame within a plurality of apertures extending through the primary flame holder;
- wherein performing the burner startup procedure further includes holding the primary flame holder in a startup position and emitting a flow of fuel from the primary nozzle at a startup rate, the startup rate being sufficiently low as to enable a stable flame within the fuel flow, and wherein the terminating the burner startup procedure includes moving the primary flame holder from the startup position to an operational position.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- performing a burner startup procedure, including applying thermal energy to a primary flame holder by holding a flame supported by fuel emitted from a primary nozzle at a location between the primary nozzle and a side of the primary flame holder facing the primary nozzle;
- terminating the burner startup procedure after a temperature of a portion of the primary flame holder is above a startup temperature threshold;
- emitting a flow of fuel from the primary nozzle at an operational rate;
- and
- supporting a flame within a plurality of apertures extending through the primary flame holder;
- wherein applying thermal energy to the primary flame holder includes applying an electrical potential across first and second electrodes positioned to apply electrical energy to the flame supported by the primary nozzle.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- performing a burner startup procedure, including applying thermal energy to a primary flame holder by holding a flame supported by fuel emitted from a primary nozzle at a location between the primary nozzle and a side of the primary flame holder facing the primary nozzle;
- terminating the burner startup procedure after a temperature of a portion of the primary flame holder is above a startup temperature threshold;
- emitting a flow of fuel from the primary nozzle at an operational rate;
- and
- supporting a flame within a plurality of apertures extending through the primary flame holder;
- wherein applying thermal energy to the primary flame holder includes:
- applying an electrical charge having a first polarity to the flame supported by the primary nozzle;
- and
- holding a portion of the flame near the primary flame holder by applying a voltage having a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, to an electrode.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an oxidant source configured to output air into a combustion volume;
- a primary fuel nozzle configured to output fuel into the combustion volume;
- a primary flame holder having:
- an input face proximal to the primary fuel nozzle;
- an output face distal from the primary fuel nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of apertures extending between the input and output faces;
- and
- a preheat mechanism configured to support a flame in a first position selected to preheat the primary flame holder, the preheat mechanism being configured to remove the flame from the first position after preheating the primary flame holder, the primary flame holder being configured to support a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the plurality of apertures after being preheated by the first flame;
- wherein the first position is between the primary fuel nozzle and the primary flame holder;
- and
- wherein the preheat mechanism includes an actuator coupled to the primary fuel nozzle and configured to move the fuel nozzle between a preheat position and an operating position.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an oxidant source configured to output air into a combustion volume;
- a primary fuel nozzle configured to output fuel into the combustion volume;
- a primary flame holder having:
- an input face proximal to the primary fuel nozzle;
- an output face distal from the primary fuel nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of apertures extending between the input and output faces;
- and
- a preheat mechanism configured to support a flame in a first position selected to preheat the primary flame holder, the preheat mechanism being configured to remove the flame from the first position after preheating the primary flame holder, the primary flame holder being configured to support a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the plurality of apertures after being preheated by the first flame;
- wherein the first position is between the primary fuel nozzle and the primary flame holder
- wherein the preheating mechanism includes a secondary flame holder configured to hold the flame in the first position.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- preheating a primary flame holder by supporting a flame at a first position between a primary fuel nozzle and the primary flame holder;
- removing the flame from the first position after the primary flame holder has been preheated to a threshold temperature;
- outputting fuel from the primary fuel nozzle onto the primary flame holder;
- and
- supporting a combustion reaction of the fuel within the primary flame holder after the primary flame holder has been preheated to the threshold temperature;
- wherein removing the flame from the first position includes terminating the flame;
- and
- wherein supporting the flame at the first position includes holding the flame with a secondary flame holder.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- preheating a primary flame holder by supporting a flame at a first position between a primary fuel nozzle and the primary flame holder;
- removing the flame from the first position after the primary flame holder has been preheated to a threshold temperature;
- outputting fuel from the primary fuel nozzle onto the primary flame holder;
- and
- supporting a combustion reaction of the fuel within the primary flame holder after the primary flame holder has been preheated to the threshold temperature;
- wherein the preheating mechanism is configured to support the flame in the first position by moving the secondary flame holder to a preheat position and to remove the flame from the first position by moving the secondary flame holder from the preheat position.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- preheating a primary flame holder by supporting a flame at a first position between a primary fuel nozzle and the primary flame holder;
- removing the flame from the first position after the primary flame holder has been preheated to a threshold temperature;
- outputting fuel from the primary fuel nozzle onto the primary flame holder;
- supporting a combustion reaction of the fuel within the primary flame holder after the primary flame holder has been preheated to the threshold temperature;
- supporting the flame in the first position by moving the primary fuel nozzle to a preheat position and outputting from the fuel nozzle a preheat flow of the fuel for the flame in the first position;
- and
- outputting fuel from the primary fuel nozzle onto the primary flame holder by moving the primary fuel nozzle from the preheat position to an operating position and outputting from the fuel nozzle an operating flow of the fuel.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.