Abstract:
A down-fired flame burner including a flame charger and one or more field electrodes configured to control flame shape and/or heat transfer to a chemical reactor is presented. Also described is a method for providing process heat includes projecting a down-fired flame in a heating volume, electrically charging the flame to carry a majority charge, and applying an electric field proximate the down-fired flame to control flame shape, heat transfer from the flame, or flame shape and heat transfer from the flame, and applying heat from the flame to a chemical reactor.
Abstract:
An apparatus for enhancing flame radiation includes a flame charging system and an electrically isolated electrode. A time-varying voltage is applied to the flame charging system and the flame charging system imparts a corresponding time-varying charge or time-varying voltage onto the flame. The flame responds to the time-varying charge or voltage by increasing its luminosity.
Abstract:
A system for electrically controlling a combustion flame may include a burner configured to generate the combustionflame. The combustion flame includes a resistance and a capacitance. The system may include an ionizer positioned proximate to the burner to supply ions of a first polarity to the combustion flame to charge the capacitance of the combustion flame to one or more voltage levels. The system may include a power supply coupled to the ionizer and configured to provide an output voltage signal of the first polarity to the ionizer to excite the ionizer to supply the ions of the first polarity to the combustion flame. The power supply may include a transformer and an output dampener operatively coupled in parallel to the transformer. The output dampener can suppress a second polarity of the output voltage signal to limit delivery of ions of the second polarity to the combustion flame by the ionizer.
Abstract:
A swirl-stabilized burner includes a charge source configured to apply a majority charge to a combustion reaction and at least one stabilization electrode configured to apply electrical attraction or repulsion to the majority charge to control position or stability of the swirl-stabilized combustion reaction.
Abstract:
A burner system includes a fuel nozzle, an electrode configured to apply electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by the fuel nozzle, a high-voltage converter configured to receive electrical energy from a low-voltage power supply and to provide high-voltage power to the electrode, a battery charger, and a switch module coupled to the battery charger, the converter, and first and second batteries. The switch module is selectively switchable between first and second conditions. In the first condition, the first battery is coupled to the battery charger and decoupled from the high-voltage converter, while the second battery is coupled to the high-voltage converter and decoupled from the battery charger. In the second condition, the first battery is coupled to the high-voltage converter and decoupled from the battery charger, while the second battery is coupled to the battery charger and decoupled from the converter.
Abstract:
Technologies are provided for employing an ion flow to control a combustion reaction. A combustion reaction is supported at a burner or fuel source. One or more electrical signals are applied to an ionizer to generate an ion flow having a first polarity. The ion flow is introduced to the combustion reaction or a reactant at a first location, imparting a corresponding charge to the combustion reaction. The first location is at least intermittently upstream with respect to a reaction front of the combustion reaction. One or more of the electrical signals are applied to a first electrode at a second location downstream of the first location, which provokes a response by the combustion reaction according to the applied charge. The combustion reaction is controlled by selection of the one or more electrical signals.
Abstract:
A down-fired flame burner includes a flame holder positioned below the burner. The flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that collectively confine a combustion reaction of the burner to the flame holder.
Abstract:
A fire tube boiler includes a perforated flame holder configured to hold a combustion reaction that produces very low oxides of nitrogen (NOx).