Combustion system including at least one fuel flow equalizer

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a combustion system including at least one fuel flow equalizer for reducing fuel flow velocity distribution and improving flame stabilization within a combustion space. Additionally, a charged flame anchoring apparatus may be positioned above the at least one fuel flow equalizer for attaching the flame thereto and improving flame stability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustion system, comprising:
 at least one burner nozzle configured to discharge fuel into a combustion space sized and configured to at least partially contain a flame produced during combustion of the fuel and an oxidizer;   at least one fuel flow equalizer positioned downstream from the at least one burner nozzle, the fuel flow equalizer including a plurality of openings sized and configured to allow the fuel to pass therethrough;   a flame anchoring apparatus positioned downstream from the at least one fuel flow equalizer; and   a voltage power supply electrically coupled to the flame anchoring apparatus, the voltage power supply being configured to bias the flame anchoring apparatus so that the flame is attracted to the flame anchoring apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the flame anchoring apparatus include an electrically bluff body. 
     
     
         3 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the flame anchoring apparatus and the at least one fuel flow equalizer are integral with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein some openings of the plurality of openings are larger than other openings of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         5 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings includes first openings and second openings, and the first openings have one or more of a different shape or size than the second openings. 
     
     
         6 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some openings of the plurality of openings of the at least one fuel flow equalizer have an approximately hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         7 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some openings of the plurality of openings of the at least one fuel flow equalizer have one or more of an approximately rectangular shape, a parallelogram shape, a round shape, or an oval shape. 
     
     
         8 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage power supply and the flame anchoring apparatus produce an electric field near at least one surface of the flame anchoring apparatus when the flame anchoring apparatus is biased by the voltage power supply. 
     
     
         9 . A method for stabilizing a flame within a combustion space, the method comprising:
 discharging fuel from at least one nozzle into a combustion space;   passing the fuel through at least one fuel flow equalizer structure positioned downstream from the nozzle;   igniting the fuel and an oxidizer to produce a flame;   applying an electrical potential to a flame anchoring apparatus effective to anchor the flame to the flame anchoring apparatus.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fuel flow equalizer includes a structure having a plurality of openings separated by a plurality of rib members. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one fuel flow equalizer is oriented generally perpendicular to the nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flame anchoring apparatus includes an electrically conductive bluff body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flame anchoring apparatus is positioned in the stream of flow of the mixture of fuel and air. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein passing the fuel through the at least one fuel flow equalizer structure positioned downstream from the at least one nozzle occurs before applying the electrical potential to the flame anchoring apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein passing the fuel through the at least one fuel flow equalizer structure positioned downstream from the at least one nozzle includes:
 passing at least some of the fuel through first openings in the at least one fuel flow equalizer; and   passing at least some of the fuel through second openings in the at least one fuel flow equalizer, wherein the first openings have one or more of a different size or different shape than the second openings.   
     
     
         16 . A flame control system, comprising:
 at least one burner nozzle configured to discharge fuel into a combustion space sized and configured to at least partially contain a flame produced during combustion of the fuel and an oxidizer;   at least one fuel flow equalizer disposed downstream from the burner nozzle, the fuel flow equalizer including a plurality of openings sized and configured to allow the fuel to pass therethrough;   a flame anchoring apparatus positioned downstream from the at least one fuel flow equalizer so that the fuel exiting the at least one fuel flow equalizer encounters the flame anchoring apparatus;   a charger configured to charge at least one of the flame or the fuel to form a charged flame; and   a voltage power supply electrically coupled to the flame anchoring apparatus and configured to apply an electrical potential thereto that attracts the charged flame to the flame anchoring apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The flame control system of  claim 16 , wherein the flame anchoring apparatus includes an electrically conductive body. 
     
     
         18 . The flame control system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one fuel flow equalizer is generally perpendicular to the burner nozzle. 
     
     
         19 . The flame control system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of openings are defined by a plurality of interconnected rib members. 
     
     
         20 . The flame control system of  claim 19  wherein the rib members include one or more of molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, rhenium, alloys of thereof, or graphite.