Electrically controlled combustion fluid flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018103-A1
Application number	US-201414772033-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Mar 27, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A combustion fluid flow barrier includes an aperture to control combustion fluid flow. The combustion fluid is charged by a charge generator. The combustion fluid flow barrier includes at least one flow control electrode operatively coupled to the aperture and configured to selectively allow, attract, or resist passage of the charged combustion fluid through the aperture, depending on voltage applied to the flow control electrode.

First claim

1 . A system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow, comprising:
a charge generator configured to apply a charge or voltage to a combustion fluid flow corresponding to a combustion reaction; a combustion fluid flow barrier defining at least one aperture therethrough; at least one flow control electrode operatively coupled to the at least one aperture; a voltage source operatively coupled to the flow control electrode; and a controller configured to control an application of one or more voltages from the voltage source to the flow control electrode.

2 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , further comprising a burner.

3 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the charge generator is configured to apply a charge or voltage at a first polarity to the combustion fluid flow; and
wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage source to apply a voltage at the first polarity to the flow control electrode to impede flow of the combustion fluid flow through the at least one aperture.

4 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the charge generator is configured to apply a charge or voltage at a first polarity to the combustion fluid flow; and
wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage source to not apply a voltage to the flow control electrode to allow flow of the combustion fluid flow through the at least one aperture.

5 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the charge generator is configured to apply a charge or voltage at a first polarity to the combustion fluid flow; and
wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage source to hold the flow control electrode at voltage ground to attract flow of the combustion fluid flow through the at least one aperture.

6 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the charge generator is configured to apply a charge or voltage at a first polarity to the combustion fluid flow; and
wherein the controller is configured to cause the voltage source to apply a voltage at a second polarity opposite from the first polarity to the flow control electrode to attract flow of the combustion fluid flow through the at least one aperture.

7 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the controller and the voltage source are operatively coupled to the charge generator; and
wherein the controller is configured to control the application of charge or voltage to the combustion fluid flow by the charge generator.

8 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second voltage source operatively coupled to the charge generator.

9 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second voltage source operatively coupled to the charge generator and the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to control the application of voltage from the second voltage source to the charge generator.

10 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures; and
wherein the at least one flow control electrode is configured is configured to control combustion fluid flow through the plurality of apertures.

11 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode comprises an electrical conductor.

12 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode comprises a semiconductor.

13 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode is configured to control passage of a flame through the at least one aperture.

14 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode is configured to control passage of a flue gas through the at least one aperture.

15 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode is configured to control passage of combustion air through the at least one aperture.

16 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode comprises a tube defining the aperture.

17 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode comprises a plate disposed adjacent to the at least one aperture.

18 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode comprises a mesh disposed adjacent to the at least one aperture.

19 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode comprises a plate and a tube in electrical communication with the plate;
wherein the tube defines the at least one aperture.

20 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the flow control electrode is embedded in the combustion fluid flow barrier.

21 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the combustion fluid flow barrier comprises a flame barrier configured to separate a primary combustion region from at least one secondary combustion region.

22 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 21 , wherein the at least one aperture forms a passage between the primary combustion region and the secondary combustion region.

23 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 21 , wherein the at least one aperture forms a passage between the primary combustion region and the secondary combustion region;
wherein the flow control electrode is operatively coupled to the passage between the primary combustion region and the secondary combustion region.

24 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 21 , wherein the at least one aperture forms a passage between the primary combustion region and the secondary combustion region;
wherein the flow control electrode is configured to control ignition in the secondary combustion region.

25 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the combustion gas flow barrier comprises a bluff body configured to selectively support a flame;
wherein the flow control electrode is configured to cause the flame to be supported by the bluff body when the combustion fluid is attracted or allowed to flow through the at least one aperture.

26 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the combustion gas flow barrier comprises a bluff body configured to selectively support a flame;
wherein the flow control electrode is configured to cause the flame to not be supported by the bluff body when the combustion fluid is impeded from flowing through the at least one aperture.

27 . The system for electrically controlling combustion fluid flow of claim 1 , wherein the combustion fluid flow barrier comprises a perforated flame holder configured to selectively hold a flame comprising the

Assignees

• Clearsign Comb Corp

Inventors

• Karkow Douglas W
• Wiklof Christopher A

Classifications

• F23C99/001 Primary

  Applying electric means or magnetism to combustion (for combustion engines F02B51/04, F02M27/04) · CPC title

• F23Q7/06

  structurally associated with fluid-fuel burners (lighters containing fuel F23Q2/00) · CPC title

• F23D14/84

  Flame spreading or otherwise shaping (F23D14/70 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F23N5/123

  using electronic means · CPC title

• F23D2208/00

  Control devices associated with burners · CPC title