Velocity control device for a burner using the curie effect for preheated fuel and oxidizer

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling jet velocity at a burner when using heated gases and standard temperature gases are described herein. Through the use of a temperature-sensitive magnetic valve, the flow of a gas can be redirected to reduce velocity based on temperature. The temperature-sensitive magnetic valve can redirect flow of the gas based on the magnetic state of a curie material. The curie material changes the state of the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve based on the temperature of the gas. Thus, heated gases and standard temperature gases can be delivered at approximately equal velocities thus maintaining flame size and shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling jet velocity of a gas, comprising:
 a source of oxidizing gas;   a source of fuel gas;   at least one temperature-sensitive magnetic valve in connection with one of the source of oxidizing gas or the source of fuel gas, the valve comprising a curie material, a magnet, a blocking device and a flow control structure and configured to:
 receive an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas, wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is at a first temperature; 
 change the temperature of at least the curie material from a second temperature to the first temperature; 
 change position of the curie material, as measured from the flow control structure or the magnet, in response to the change in temperature from the second temperature to the first temperature; and 
 change the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through the valve based on the position of the curie material; and 
   a burner configured to:
 receive an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas from the at least one temperature-sensitive magnetic valve, wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is at the first temperature; 
 combine and combust the fuel gas with the oxidizing gas to create a jet; and 
 direct the jet to a target material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive magnetic valve is configured to maintain the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas delivered to the burner over the temperature range determined by the first temperature and the second temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive magnetic structure further comprises the blocking device configured to:
 change position with the curie material; and   change the velocity of the oxidizing gas and/or the fuel gas based on the position of the curie material in conjunction with the flow control structure.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the curie material is configured to act as the blocking device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the curie material is configured to be in magnetic connection with the magnet at a temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve is configured to receive the fuel gas, the fuel gas is natural gas and the first temperature is less than or equal to 450 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve is configured to receive the oxidizing gas, the oxidizing gas is oxygen (O 2 ) and the first temperature is less than or equal to 550 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source of oxidizing gas or the source of fuel gas is configured to receive and transmit heat from a flue gas. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the burner comprises a first oxidizing gas pipe and a first fuel gas pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve is configured to change the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through the valve by redirecting at least a portion of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through one or more second oxidizing gas pipes or one or more second fuel gas pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve is configured to change the velocity of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas through the valve by increasing the volume of the first oxidizing gas pipe or the first fuel gas pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the curie material comprises nickel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is an aluminum-nickel-cobalt (AlNiCo) magnet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover configured to:
 isolate the curie material or the magnet from the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas; and   transmit heat to at least the curie material.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve is configured to change position of the curie material using a second force. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the second force comprises a spring. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling of gas velocity comprising:
 flowing an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas into a temperature-sensitive magnetic valve at a first temperature, the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve comprising a magnet, a curie material, a blocking device and a flow control structure;   transferring heat from the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas to the curie material, wherein the curie material changes from a second temperature to the first temperature;   changing the position of the curie material, as measured from the flow control structure or the magnet, in response to the change in temperature from the second temperature to the first temperature; and   delivering the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas from the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve to a burner at a second velocity, wherein the second velocity of the oxidizing gas or fuel gas changes dependant on the position of the curie material.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas are heated to a temperature below a critical temperature of the gas. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first temperature is a temperature which is less than a critical temperature of the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas indirectly exchanges heat with the magnetic strip. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxidizing gas and/or the fuel gas is preheated using a flue gas. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second velocity is less than the first velocity. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is heated to the first temperature by a flue gas prior to flowing into the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is delivered from the temperature-sensitive magnetic valve to the burner through one or more first pipes. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is delivered at the second velocity by changing the available volume of the one or more first pipes. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the oxidizing gas or the fuel gas is delivered at the second velocity by using the one or more first pipes in conjunction with one or more second pipes. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fuel gas is natural gas and the first temperature is less than or equal to 450 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the oxidizing gas is oxygen (O 2 ) and the first temperature is less than or equal to 550 degrees Celsius.