Trapped vortex combustor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020072467-A1
Application number	US-201916552151-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 27, 2019
Priority date	Aug 28, 2018
Publication date	Mar 5, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A trapped vortex combustor includes a refractory combustor body defining a combustion volume aligned to receive an air and fuel mixture from an air and fuel source. The trapped vortex combustor includes a trapped vortex channel arranged circumferential to a portion of the combustion volume and/or arranged at or adjacent to a center of the combustion volume. The trapped vortex channel is configured to hold a trapped vortex combustion reaction to provide ignition to the air and fuel mixture. The trapped vortex combustor includes a center body supported near or within the combustion volume.

First claim

1 . A trapped vortex combustor, comprising:
an air and fuel source configured to deliver an air and fuel mixture; a refractory combustor body defining a combustion volume, the refractory combustor body having an open upstream end and an open downstream end, the refractory combustor body being aligned to receive at least a portion of the air and fuel mixture from the air and fuel source into the upstream end, to limit a lateral extent of a combustion reaction supported by the air and fuel mixture with an inner wall, and to output combustion products from the downstream end; a trapped vortex channel arranged to hold a trapped vortex combustion reaction to provide ignition to the air and fuel mixture; and at least one center body supported near or within the combustion volume.

2 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the trapped vortex channel is disposed circumferential to the combustion volume.

3 .- 6 . (canceled)

7 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the air and fuel source comprises one or more primary fuel nozzles disposed to cause a majority of combustion to occur in the combustion volume between the upstream end and the downstream end.

8 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the air and fuel source comprises one or more primary fuel nozzles designed such that combustion location is independent of nozzle location.

9 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a rich fuel and air mixture to be output into the trapped vortex channel.

10 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a vortex circulation within the trapped vortex channel.

11 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 10 , wherein the one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a rotation direction parallel to an air flow direction where the trapped vortex combustion meets a main air flow.

12 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 10 , wherein the one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a rotation direction antiparallel to an air flow direction where the trapped vortex combustion meets a main air flow.

13 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the trapped vortex channel is continuous around a periphery of the refractory combustor body.

14 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the trapped vortex channel is formed as discontinuous segments.

15 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 14 , wherein the trapped vortex channel is formed as discontinuous segments around a periphery of the refractory combustor body.

16 .- 17 . (canceled)

18 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more primary fuel nozzles configured to output fuel into the combustion volume; and a plurality of secondary fuel nozzles arranged peripheral to the refractory combustor body.

19 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of secondary fuel nozzles are configured to cause fuel ejection at a selected angle relative to the refractory combustor body.

20 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of secondary fuel nozzles selectively receive fuel from a secondary fuel circuit separate from a primary fuel circuit operable to provide the fuel to the one or more primary fuel nozzles.

21 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of secondary fuel nozzles are operable to provide the fuel to a secondary combustion zone positioned downstream from the downstream end of the combustion volume.

22 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the center body is configured to partially occlude the combustion volume.

23 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 22 , wherein the partial occlusion is selected to increase stability of the combustion reaction supported within the combustion volume.

24 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 22 , wherein the partial occlusion of the combustion volume is operable to cause vortex formation within the combustion volume.

25 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the center body is disposed adjacent to the upstream end of the combustion volume.

26 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the center body is integral with the one or more primary fuel nozzles.

30 .- 35 . (canceled)

36 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the center body is disposed adjacent to the downstream end of the combustion volume.

37 . (canceled)

38 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the center body comprises a solid tile.

39 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 1 , wherein the center body comprises a porous tile.

40 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 39 , wherein the porous tile comprises a ceramic honeycomb having a plurality of channels extending from an upstream face, through the porous tile, to a downstream face.

41 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of channels are arranged at a density of between 2 and 20 channels per inch across the upstream and downstream faces.

42 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 39 , wherein the porous tile comprises a reticulated ceramic body.

43 . The trapped vortex combustor of claim 42 , wherein the reticulated ceramic body has pores arranged at a density of between 4 and 20 pores per inch.

44 . A combustor, comprising:
an air and fuel source configured to deliver an air and fuel mixture; a refractory combustor body defining a combustion volume, the refractory combustor body having an open upstream end and an open downstream end, the refractory combustor body being aligned to receive at least a portion of the air and fuel mixture from the air and fuel source into the upstream end, to limit a lateral extent of a combustion reaction supported by the air and fuel mixture with an inner wall, and to output combustion products from the downstream end; a trapped vortex channel arranged circumferential to a portion of the combustion volume, the trapped vortex channel being configured to hold a trapped vortex combustion reaction to provide ignition to the air and fuel mixture; and a trapped vortex fuel source disposed to provide fuel and momentum to the trapped vortex combustion reaction.

45 .- 49 . (canceled)

50 . The combustor of claim 44 ,
further comprising one or more primary fuel nozzles configured to output fuel into the combustion volume; wherein the one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a vortex circulation within the trapped vortex channel.

51 . The combustor of claim 50 , wherein the one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a rotation direction parallel to air flow direction where the trapped vortex combustion meets main air flow.

52 . The combustor of claim 50 , wherein the one or more primary fuel nozzles are disposed to cause a rotation direction antiparallel to the air flow direction where the trapped vortex combustion meets the main air flow.

53 . The combustor of claim 44 , wherein the trapped vortex channel is continuous around a periphery of the refractor

Assignees

• Clearsign Comb Corp

Inventors

• Kendrick Donald
• Wiklof Christopher A

Classifications

• F23D14/70

  Baffles or like flow-disturbing devices · CPC title

• F23D11/404

  Flame tubes (not forming part of the burner F23M9/06) · CPC title

• F23D2900/14003

  with more than one nozzle · CPC title

• F23D11/406

  Flame stabilising means, e.g. flame holders · CPC title

• F23R3/58

  Cyclone or vortex type combustion chambers · CPC title