System for safe power loss for an electrodynamic burner

Abstract

A system may be configured to modify one or more combustion parameters responsive to a loss of application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction.

1 . A system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner, comprising:
 a voltage source configured to output a voltage;   an electrodynamic system configured to receive the voltage from the voltage source and apply electrical energy to a combustion reaction; and   a power loss control circuit configured to modify one or more combustion parameters of the combustion reaction responsive to a loss of the application of the electrical energy to the combustion reaction by the electrodynamic system.   
     
     
         2 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , further comprising the burner. 
     
     
         3 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , further comprising a subsystem configured to receive heat from the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         4 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy includes one or more of electric charge, electric voltage, or an electric field 
     
     
         5 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the electrodynamic system is configured to cause the combustion reaction to operate according to an electrically-supported combustion regime that would be unstable or unsustainable without the application of the electrical energy. 
     
     
         6 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 5 , wherein the electrically-supported combustion regime includes combustion at high fuel dilution. 
     
     
         7 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 5 , wherein the electrically-supported combustion regime includes combustion with low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) output. 
     
     
         8 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 5 , wherein the electrically-supported combustion regime includes combustion of at least one fuel with limited flammability. 
     
     
         9 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 5 , wherein the instability or unsustainability includes an increased probability of flame blow-out. 
     
     
         10 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the power loss control circuit further comprises:
 one or more actuators configured to control the one or more combustion parameters; and   control circuitry configured to control the one or more actuators.   
     
     
         11 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry further comprises:
 an actuator drive circuit operatively coupled to the one or more actuators; and   a controller circuit operatively coupled to the actuator drive circuit, the controller circuit being configured to drive the actuator drive circuit responsive to the loss of the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         12 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 11 , further comprising: one or more sensors configured to sense one or more combustion parameters;
 wherein the controller circuit is operatively coupled to the one or more sensors; and   wherein the controller circuit is configured to drive the actuator drive circuit responsive to a sensed combustion parameter corresponding to the loss of application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         16 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 10 , wherein the power loss control circuit further comprises an uninterruptable power source operatively coupled to the control circuitry and configured to provide power to the control circuitry to operate the one or more actuators. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more actuators comprises a fuel valve or fuel delivery mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more actuators comprises an air or flue gas damper or oxidizer delivery mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more actuators comprises an aerodynamic flame holder actuator. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more actuators comprises an igniter. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the electrodynamic system further comprises:
 a charging mechanism operatively coupled to the voltage source and configured to apply a first charge or voltage to the combustion reaction or a fuel stream supporting the flame;   one or more field electrodes operatively coupled to the voltage source and disposed to apply an electric field or second charges to the combustion reaction, the electric field or second charges being selected to enhance combustion; and   a first flame support surface disposed adjacent to the fuel stream configured to support the flame when the charge or voltage is applied to the flame or the fuel stream.   
     
     
         28 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 an aerodynamic flame holder disposed adjacent to or away from the fuel stream, the aerodynamic flame holder being configured, when engaged, to hold the combustion reaction at a more stable location than the location at which the combustion reaction is held by the first flame support surface.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the power loss control circuit further comprises:
 an uninterruptable power source;   a controller circuit operatively coupled to the uninterruptable power source;   an actuator drive operatively coupled to the controller circuit, the actuator drive including an igniter controller; and   an actuator including an igniter operatively coupled to the igniter controller;   wherein the controller circuit is configured to sense the loss of application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction or to a fuel stream supporting the combustion reaction, and responsively cause the igniter controller to drive the igniter to ignite the fuel stream adjacent to the aerodynamic flame holder.   
     
     
         31 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 30 , wherein the ignition of the fuel stream adjacent to the aerodynamic flame holder is selected to cause the combustion reaction to be held in a high stability location by the aerodynamic flame holder. 
     
     
         32 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the power loss control circuit further comprises:
 an uninterruptable power source;   a controller circuit operatively coupled to the uninterruptable power source;   an actuator drive operatively coupled to the controller circuit; and   an actuator operatively coupled to the igniter controller;   wherein the controller circuit is configured to sense the loss of application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction or to a fuel stream supporting the combustion reaction, and responsively cause the actuator drive to drive the actuator to control a combustion parameter to increase combustion reaction stability.   
     
     
         33 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 32 , wherein the controller circuit includes a sensor configured to sense a voltage proportional to a voltage output by the voltage source; and
 a normally open switch configured to maintain an open circuit between the uninterruptable power source and the actuator drive when a non-zero voltage proportional to the voltage output by the voltage source is sensed.   
     
     
         34 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 33 , wherein the normally open switch includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). 
     
     
         37 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel nozzle configured to deliver the fuel stream. 
     
     
         38 . The system for applying electrical energy to a combustion reaction supported by a burner of  claim 1 , wherein the power loss control circuit includes a microcontroller configured to execute computer executable instructions. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method for controlling a combustion reaction, comprising:
 sensing a feedback parameter corresponding to the application of electrical energy to a combustion reaction;   determining when the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction is stopped or has a probability of being stopped; and   causing a modification of one or more combustion parameters of the combustion reaction responsive to the stopping or probability of stopping the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         41 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , further comprising: transferring heat energy from the combustion reaction to one or more of a chemical process, furnace, boiler, propulsion system, or electrical power generation system. 
     
     
         42 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving back-up electrical power.   
     
     
         43 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 42 , further comprising:
 powering a power loss control circuit with the back-up electrical power.   
     
     
         44 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 supporting the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         45 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 44 , wherein supporting the combustion reaction includes providing one or more of a gas, liquid, or solid fuel. 
     
     
         46 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 applying the electrical energy to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         47 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein sensing the feedback parameter includes sensing a feed forward parameter. 
     
     
         59 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein sensing the feedback parameter includes sensing a voltage proportional to a voltage output by a voltage source to an electrodynamic system, sensing a voltage proportional to a voltage provided to a voltage source configured to power an electrodynamic system, or sensing a voltage proportional to a voltage, electric charge, or electric field applied to the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         60 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein sensing the feedback parameter includes operating a sensor configured to sense the feedback parameter proximate to the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         61 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein determining when the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction is stopped or has a probability of being stopped includes closing a normally-open switch responsive to a loss of voltage on a sense node. 
     
     
         62 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein determining when the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction is stopped or has a probability of being stopped includes operating passive electrical circuitry. 
     
     
         63 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein determining when the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction is stopped or has a probability of being stopped includes operating a microcontroller or microprocessor to monitor the feedback parameter. 
     
     
         64 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein determining when the application of electrical energy to the combustion reaction is stopped or has a probability of being stopped consists essentially of determining when a voltage drops below a threshold. 
     
     
         65 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein causing the modification of the one or more combustion parameters includes stopping the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         66 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein causing the modification of the one or more combustion parameters includes reducing a heat output of the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         67 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein causing the modification of the one or more combustion parameters includes causing the combustion reaction to continue without the application of the electrical energy. 
     
     
         68 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein causing the modification of the one or more combustion parameters includes causing the combustion reaction to occur in a location different from a location where the combustion reaction occurred while receiving the electrical energy. 
     
     
         69 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 40 , wherein causing the modification of one or more combustion parameters includes operating an actuator to change the one or more combustion parameters. 
     
     
         70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 69 , wherein operating an actuator to change the one or more combustion parameters includes operating an air or flue gas damper to reduce an amount of fuel dilution. 
     
     
         72 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 69 , wherein operating an actuator to change the one or more combustion parameters includes operating an oxidizer delivery mechanism to change the amount of oxidizer delivery. 
     
     
         73 . The method for controlling the combustion reaction of  claim 69 , wherein operating an actuator to change the one or more combustion parameters includes operating a flame position actuator to change the location of the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         74 - 75 . (canceled)