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:
Technologies are presented for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction to produce agglomerated combustion particulates. For example, a system may include: one or more electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to a combustion reaction; a combustion zone configured to support the combustion reaction of a fuel at a fuel source; and an electrical power source operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes and configured to apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction. The combustion reaction is controlled to produce a distribution of agglomerated combustion particulates characterized by an increase in at least one of an average particulate diameter or an average particulate mass.
Abstract:
Technologies are described for applying electrical energy according to a physical extent of a combustion reaction, which may include: supporting a combustion reaction at a fuel source; sensing a physical extent of the combustion reaction with respect to a plurality of different locations of a plurality of electrodes; and applying electrical energy to the combustion reaction via at least one of the plurality of electrodes responsive to the physical extent of the combustion reaction. Sensing the physical extent of the combustion reaction may include receiving a sensor signal corresponding to the physical extent of the combustion reaction.
Abstract:
A combustor may include a nonmetallic combustor body configured to hold a combustion reaction and one or more electrodes disposed outside the nonmetallic combustor body and configured to apply an electric field, an electric field effect, charged particles, or voltage to the combustion reaction.
Abstract:
Technologies are presented for selecting an electrode gain value for applying electricity to control a combustion reaction. F or example, a system can include one or more electrodes, an electrode gain selector configured to select an operative electrode gain value for the one or more electrodes, and a power supply operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes. The power supply can be configured to apply the electricity to the combustion reaction via the one or more electrodes at the operative electrode gain value.
Abstract:
According to embodiments, a co-fired or multiple fuel combustion system is configured to apply an electric field to a combustion region corresponding to a second fuel that normally suffers from poor combustion and/or high sooting. Application of an AC voltage to the combustion region was found to increase the extent of combustion and significantly reduce soot evolved from the second fuel.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprises a reaction volume, a reactant or fuel nozzle, an oxidizer introducer, a sensor, a controller, and electrodes. The controller may comprise a power controller, a microcontroller, a sensor interface, a waveform generator, and amplifiers connected to the electrodes. The controller may control an electric current to the electrodes and produce an electric field proximate to a combustion boundary. The electric field may influence the movement of charged species in the reaction volume. The sensors may provide information to the controller, which information the controller may use to change parameters such as the rate of introduction of the reactant and/or oxidizer and/or of parameters of the electric current and electric field, such as the waveform of the electric current, the voltage of the electric current, the location of the electric field within the reaction volume. Reduction in undesirable reaction products may thereby be achieved.
Abstract:
A solid fuel burner may include a system for electrodynamic homogenization. One or more electrodes may apply an electric field to burning solid fuel or a region proximate the burning solid fuel. The electric field causes mixing and homogenization of volatilized fractions of the solid fuel, combustion gases, and air. The improved mixing and homogenization may reduce emission of carbon monoxide (CO), reduce emission of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reduce oxygen in flue gas, increase temperature of flue gas, and/or allow for a larger grate surface.
Abstract:
Technologies are provided for applying energy to a combustion reaction. For example, a method may include supporting a combustion reaction; applying energy to the combustion reaction via one or more control signals; detecting a change in one or more parameters associated with the combustion reaction; comparing the change in the one or more parameters to a database; determining whether the change in the one or more parameters corresponds to a change in the combustion reaction; selecting a change in the one or more control signals from the database; and applying the change in the one or more control signals to change the a value of the energy applied to the combustion reaction responsive to changes in the one or more parameters associated with in the combustion reaction.
Abstract:
Technologies are presented for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction to produce agglomerated combustion particulates. For example, a system may include: one or more electrodes configured to apply electrical energy to a combustion reaction; a combustion zone configured to support the combustion reaction of a fuel at a fuel source; and an electrical power source operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes and configured to apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction. The combustion reaction is controlled to produce a distribution of agglomerated combustion particulates characterized by an increase in at least one of an average particulate diameter or an average particulate mass.