Selectable dilution low NOx burner
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsDouglas W. Karkow, Igor A. Krichtafovich, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A burner supporting primary and secondary combustion reactions may include a primary combustion reaction actuator configured to select a location of the secondary combustion reaction. A burner may include a lifted flame holder structure configured to support a secondary combustion reaction above a partial premixing region. The secondary flame support location may be selected as a function of a turndown parameter. Selection logic may be of arbitrary complexity.
Claims44
A lifted flame burner, comprising:
- a primary fuel source configured to support a primary combustion reaction;
- a secondary fuel source configured to support a secondary combustion reaction;
- a bluff body configured to hold the secondary combustion reaction, the bluff body being positioned adjacent to the primary and secondary fuel sources;
- a lifted flame holder disposed farther away from the primary and secondary fuel sources relative to the bluff body and aligned to be at least partially immersed in the secondary combustion reaction when the secondary combustion reaction is held by the bluff body;
- and
- a combustion reaction actuator configured to control exposure of a secondary fuel flow from the secondary fuel source to the primary combustion reaction;
- wherein, when activated, the combustion reaction actuator is configured to reduce or eliminate exposure of a secondary fuel flow to the primary combustion reaction.
A method for operating a lifted flame burner, comprising:
- producing an ignition source proximate to a bluff body by supporting a primary combustion reaction;
- providing a secondary fuel stream to impinge on the bluff body;
- producing a secondary combustion reaction by igniting the secondary fuel stream with the primary combustion reaction;
- removing or reducing effectiveness of the primary combustion reaction as an ignition source by electrically actuating the primary combustion reaction;
- diluting the secondary fuel stream in a region between the bluff body and the lifted flame holder;
- and
- holding the secondary combustion with a lifted flame holder.
A combustion control gain apparatus, comprising:
- a first fuel source configured to support a primary combustion reaction;
- a secondary fuel source;
- and
- a combustion reaction actuator configured to selectively deflect the primary combustion reaction from a first secondary fuel ignition location to a location where the secondary fuel source is not ignited by the primary combustion reaction;
- and
- a lifted flame holder corresponding to the first secondary fuel ignition location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.