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US 9,958,154 B2Granted
System and method for flattening a flame
AssigneeClearsign Combustion Corporation
InventorsJoseph Colannino, Thomas S. Hartwick, David B. Goodson, Tracy A. Prevo, Christopher A. Wiklof
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charge electrode configured to impart a time-varying charge to a flame and a shape electrode located outside the flame may be driven synchronously by a voltage source through time varying voltage(s). The flame may be flattened or compressed responsive to an electric field produced by the shape electrode acting on the charges imparted to the flame.
Claims78
An apparatus for flattening a flame, comprising:
- a charge electrode disposed proximal to a burner, configured to be at least intermittently in contact with a flame supported by the burner;
- a shape electrode disposed distal to the burner relative to the charge electrode;
- and
- a voltage source operatively coupled to the charge electrode and the shape electrode, and configured to apply to the charge electrode and shape electrode respective substantially in-phase time-varying electrical potentials having a same frequency, wherein the charge electrode is configured to impart to the flame an electrical charge having instantaneously a same sign as the time-varying electrical potential applied to the charge electrode.
1 more element
A method for flattening a flame, comprising:
- supporting a flame by emitting fuel from a burner;
- applying a first time-varying voltage to a charge electrode positioned proximal to the burner and at least intermittently in contact with the flame;
- imparting a time-varying charge to the flame, having instantaneously a same sign as the first time-varying voltage;
- and
- applying a second time-varying voltage, substantially in phase with the first time-varying voltage and having a same frequency as the first time-varying voltage, to a shape electrode positioned distal to the burner relative to the charge electrode.
2 more elements
A combustion system, comprising:
- a burner configured to support a flame;
- a first electrode, positioned and configured to receive a voltage potential and to impart a corresponding electrical charge to a flame supported by the burner;
- a second electrode, positioned farther from the burner than the first electrode and configured to interact electrically with the flame;
- and
- a voltage source coupled to the first and second electrodes, configured to apply a first time-varying voltage potential to the first electrode, and to apply to the second electrode a second time-varying voltage potential that is repulsive to an electrical charge imparted to the flame by the first electrode and that corresponds to the first voltage potential, wherein the first time-varying voltage potential and the second time-varying voltage potential have a same frequency and are substantially in phase with each other.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- supporting a flame by emitting fuel from a burner;
- imparting an electrical charge to the flame by applying to a first electrode a first time-varying voltage potential;
- and
- applying, to a second electrode positioned further from the burner than is the first electrode, a second time-varying voltage potential having a same frequency as the first-time varying voltage potential and being in phase with the first time-varying voltage potential and repulsive to the electrical charge imparted to the flame.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.