Burner or boiler electrical discharge control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016138799-A1
Application number	US-201514878391-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A combustion system may include one or more electrodes configured for the application of a charge, voltage, and/or electric field to a flame. Combustion system may include a burner, combustion chamber, and ancillary equipment. In order to avoid high voltage discharges from the charged flame to ancillary equipment, combustion system may employ an insulating material between burner and flame, as well as safety insulation subsystems that may eliminate electrical path to ground. These safety insulation subsystems may include a battery or a motor-generator power conversion system, for example.

First claim

1 . A burner system, comprising:
a burner, boiler, or furnace body configured to support a combustion reaction; at least one high voltage source configured to apply one or more of a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to the combustion reaction; an electrically-powered ancillary apparatus operatively coupled to the burner, boiler, or furnace and the combustion reaction; and at least one of electrical isolation or insulation operatively coupled to the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus, the electrical isolation or insulation being configured to reduce or prevent electrical discharge through the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

2 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of electrical isolation or insulation includes a safety isolation system disposed between the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and one or more electrical discharge paths from the combustion reaction to the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

3 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of electrical isolation or insulation includes electrical insulation, electrical isolation, or electrical insulation and electrical isolation disposed between the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and one or more electrical discharge paths from the combustion reaction to the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

4 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of electrical isolation or insulation includes a safety isolation system disposed between the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and an electrical power source for the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus or between the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and an electrical power source for the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

5 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the safety isolation system includes at least a pair of insulated gate field effect transistors (IGFET) connected in a cascade across a DC power supply for the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus, a junction between the IGFETs forming an output terminal of a self-biasing amplifier for powering the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

6 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the safety isolation system includes an inductive coupling to an output from the high voltage source and a step-down voltage transformer configured to power the electrically-powered ancillary equipment.

7 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the safety isolation system includes an inductive coupling from the electrical power source for the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

8 . The burner system of claim 4 , wherein the safety isolation system includes an electrically insulated motor-generator pair, the motor being operatively coupled to an electrical power source and the generator being configured to receive rotational energy from the motor and being operatively coupled to a tap from the high voltage source.

9 . The burner system of claim 8 , wherein the generator is configured to generate a voltage to run the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

10 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein a voltage to run the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus are configured to electrically float on a voltage operatively coupled to the high voltage source.

11 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of electrical isolation or insulation includes a safety isolation system disposed between the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and an electrical power source for the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

12 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of electrical isolation or insulation includes electrical insulation, electrical isolation, or electrical insulation and electrical isolation disposed between the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus and an electrical power source for the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

13 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes ancillary equipment.

14 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes one or more fan motors.

15 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes one or more pumps.

16 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes a fuel valve actuator.

17 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes a damper actuator.

18 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes a digital computer or controller.

19 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply 1000 volts or more to the combustion reaction.

20 . The burner system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply 10,000 volts or more to the combustion reaction.

21 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply 1000 volts or more to one or more electrodes proximate to the combustion reaction.

22 . The burner system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply 10,000 volts or more to one or more electrodes proximate to the combustion reaction.

23 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply a positive voltage or charge to or proximate to the combustion reaction.

24 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply a negative voltage or charge to or proximate to the combustion reaction.

25 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply a substantially constant voltage, charge, or electric field to the combustion reaction.

26 . The burner system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one high voltage source is configured to apply a time-varying voltage, charge, or electric field to the combustion reaction.

27 . A method for operating electrical equipment operatively coupled to an electrodynamic burner, comprising:
applying a voltage, charge, or electric field to a combustion reaction; operating an electrically-powered ancillary apparatus to affect the combustion reaction; and substantially preventing electrical discharge from the combustion reaction through the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

28 . The method for operating electrical equipment operatively coupled to an electrodynamic burner of claim 27 , wherein substantially preventing electrical discharge from the combustion reaction through the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes preventing an electrical arc from forming between the combustion reaction and the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

29 . The method for operating electrical equipment operatively coupled to an electrodynamic burner of claim 27 , wherein substantially preventing electrical discharge from the combustion reaction through the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus includes preventing damage to the electrically-powered ancillary apparatus.

30 . The method for operating electrical equipment operatively coupled to an electrodynamic burner of claim 27 , wherei

Assignees

• Clearsign Comb Corp

Inventors

• Colannino Joseph
• Goodson David B
• Krichtafovitch Igor A
• Wiklof Christopher A

Classifications

• F23N5/245

  using electrical or electromechanical means · CPC title

• F23N5/12

  using ionisation-sensitive elements, i.e. flame rods · CPC title

• F23D14/84

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

• F23B2900/00006

  Means for applying electricity to flame, e.g. an electric field · CPC title

• F23N5/265

  using electronic means · CPC title