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US 9,791,171 B2Granted
Fluid heater with a variable-output burner including a perforated flame holder and method of operation
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDouglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater includes a water tank having an inlet and an outlet, and a flue extending through the tank. A nozzle is positioned near a first end of the flue, arranged so as to emit a fuel stream into the flue, and a flame holder is located within the flue in a position to receive the fuel stream and to hold a flame entirely within the flue. A controller variably controls a flow of fuel to the nozzle according to a temperature of water in the tank.
Claims42
A fluid heater, comprising:
- a tank having an inlet and an outlet;
- a flue extending through the tank and having first and second ends;
- a nozzle configured to emit a fuel stream into the flue;
- a flame holder located within the flue in a position to receive the fuel stream and to hold a flame entirely within the flue;
- a controller configured to variably control a flow of fuel to the nozzle;
- and
- a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a fluid within the tank;
- wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and to control the flow of fuel to the nozzle according to the detected temperature of the fluid in the tank.
5 more elements
A method of operating a fluid heater, comprising:
- detecting a temperature of a fluid inside a tank;
- supporting a flame inside a flue that extends through the tank by emitting a stream of fuel toward a flame holder positioned inside the flue;
- transferring heat generated by the flame to the fluid inside the tank;
- and
- selectively controlling a volume of the stream of fuel according to the detected temperature of the fluid inside the tank.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.