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US 9,797,595 B2Granted
Fuel combustion system with a perforated reaction holder
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDouglas W. Karkow, Robert E. Breidenthal, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combustion system such as a furnace or boiler includes a perforated reaction holder configured to hold a combustion reaction that produces very low oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
Claims54
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- wherein the plurality of perforations are each characterized by a transverse dimension D between opposing walls;
- and
- wherein a length L of each perforation is at least eight times the transverse dimension D of the perforation.
4 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- further comprising a fuel nozzle configured to output fuel,
- wherein the fuel nozzle is configured to emit the fuel through a fuel orifice having a dimension DO;
- and
- wherein the perforated reaction holder is disposed to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture at a distance DD away from the fuel nozzle greater than 20 times the fuel orifice dimension DO.
6 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- wherein the plurality of perforations are substantially normal to input and output surfaces of the perforated reaction holder, and
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body defines a central aperture, a first set of apertures in a concentric arrangement relative to the central aperture having a selected spacing and size, and a second set of apertures in concentric arrangement relative to the central aperture having a different selected spacing and size;
- and
- wherein the perforated reaction holder is configured to hold the fuel combustion reaction.
5 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- wherein the perforated flame holder body comprises fibers;
- wherein the fibers comprise reticulated fibers;
- and
- wherein the fibers define branching perforations that weave around and through the fibers.
5 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body is continuous;
- and
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body defines perforations that branch from one another.
4 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body comprises a plurality of pillars;
- and
- wherein the plurality of perforations comprise spaces between the plurality of pillars.
4 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body comprises a plurality of tubes bundled together, and wherein the plurality of perforations comprise hollow cylinders inside the plurality of tubes.
3 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body comprises a plurality of tubes bundled together, and wherein the plurality of perforations comprise interstitial spaces between the bundled tubes.
3 more elements
A burner system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source disposed to output fuel and oxidant into a combustion volume to form a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture from the fuel and oxidant source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture;
- wherein the perforated reaction holder body comprises discontinuous packing bodies;
- wherein the perforations comprise interstitial spaces between the discontinuous packing bodies;
- and
- wherein the discontinuous packing bodies comprise structured packing shapes.
5 more elements
A furnace, comprising:
- a fuel and air source disposed to output fuel and air into a combustion volume to form a fuel and air mixture;
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and air mixture from the fuel and air source;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder support structure configured to support the perforated reaction holder at a distance DD from the fuel and air source;
- wherein the perforations are configured to collectively hold a major portion of a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and air mixture;
- and
- wherein holding the major portion of the combustion reaction comprises supporting combustion such that visible flame extension from an output surface of the perforated flame holder away from the fuel and air source is less in distance than three times a thickness TRH of the perforated reaction holder.
4 more elements
A furnace, comprising:
- a fuel and air source disposed to output fuel and air into a combustion volume to form a fuel and air mixture;
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and air mixture from the fuel and air source;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder support structure configured to support the perforated reaction holder at a distance DD from the fuel and air source;
- wherein the fuel and air source further comprises:
- a fuel nozzle configured to output fuel toward the perforated reaction holder through an orifice having a diameter;
- and
- an air source configured to output air carrying oxygen into the combustion volume;
- wherein the fuel and air respectively from the fuel and air sources mix to form the fuel and air mixture as the fuel and air pass through a distance DD between the fuel and air source and the perforated reaction holder.
6 more elements
A furnace, comprising:
- a fuel and air source disposed to output fuel and air into a combustion volume to form a fuel and air mixture;
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and air mixture from the fuel and air source;
- and
- a perforated reaction holder support structure configured to support the perforated reaction holder at a distance DD from the fuel and air source;
- wherein a fuel and air mixture output by the fuel and air source is selected to provide a fuel dilution that causes the combustion reaction to be unstable without support by the perforated reaction holder.
2 more elements
A furnace, comprising:
- a fuel and air source disposed to output fuel and air into a combustion volume to form a fuel and air mixture;
- a perforated reaction holder disposed in the combustion volume, the perforated reaction holder including a perforated reaction holder body defining a plurality of perforations aligned to receive the fuel and air mixture from the fuel and air source;
- a perforated reaction holder support structure configured to support the perforated reaction holder at a distance DD from the fuel and air source;
- and
- a furnace body defining furnace walls;
- wherein the perforated reaction holder support structure is supported from the furnace walls.
3 more elements
A combustion system, comprising:
- a fuel and oxidant source configured to output fuel and oxidant as a fuel and oxidant mixture;
- a perforated reaction holder aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture across an input surface including a plurality of perforations;
- and
- a heating apparatus configured to cause heating of the perforated reaction holder;
- a control circuit operatively coupled to the heating apparatus, the control circuit being configured to cause the heating apparatus to operate;
- a combustion sensor operatively coupled to the control circuit, the combustion sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the perforated reaction holder;
- and
- a fuel control valve configured to control a flow of fuel from a fuel source to the fuel and oxidant source, the fuel control valve being operatively coupled to the control circuit;
- wherein the control circuit is configured to control the fuel control valve responsive to input from the combustion sensor;
- and
- wherein the control circuit is configured to support a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture in the plurality of perforations after the heating apparatus preheats the perforated reaction holder.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.