Electrodynamic combustion system with variable gain electrodes

Abstract

Technologies are presented for selecting an electrode gain value for applying electricity to control a combustion reaction. For example, a system can include one or more electrodes, an electrode gain selector configured to select an operative electrode gain value for the one or more electrodes, and a power supply operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes. The power supply can be configured to apply the electricity to the combustion reaction via the one or more electrodes at the operative electrode gain value.

1 . A combustion system, comprising:
 a burner;   one or more electrodes configured to apply electricity to a combustion reaction supported by the burner;   a power supply operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes and configured to supply the electricity to the one or more electrodes; and   an electrode gain selector configured to select an electrode coupling efficiency between the combustion reaction and at least one of the one or more electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein applying electricity to the combustion reaction includes applying a positive voltage to the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         3 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein applying electricity to the combustion reaction includes applying a negative voltage to the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         4 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein applying electricity to the combustion reaction includes closing a circuit to receive electricity from the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         5 . An electrode control system, comprising:
 a microcontroller;   an electrode actuation controller operatively coupled to the microcontroller;   an actuator operatively coupled to the electrode actuation controller; and   an asymmetric electrode operatively coupled to the actuator and configured for rotation, sliding, harmonic deflection, or other movement along or around an axis of symmetry.   
     
     
         6 . A system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction, comprising:
 one or more electrodes;   an electrode gain selector configured to select an operative electrode gain value for the one or more electrodes; and   a voltage source operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes,   wherein the voltage source is configured to apply the charge, the voltage, or the electric field via the one or more electrodes at the operative electrode gain value to the combustion reaction in a combustion volume at a burner or fuel source.   
     
     
         7 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 6 , further comprising the burner or fuel source. 
     
     
         8 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 7 , wherein the burner or fuel source is conductively coupled to the voltage source such that the one or more electrodes, the voltage source, and the burner or fuel source together define a circuit element configured to form a complete circuit in contact with the combustion reaction. 
     
     
         9 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a combustion sensor configured to sense at least one parameter associated with the combustion reaction; and   a controller operatively coupled to the electrode gain selector and the combustion sensor,   wherein the controller is configured to direct the electrode gain selector to select the operative electrode gain value according to the at least one parameter of the combustion reaction sensed by the combustion sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The system for selecting an electrode coupling efficiency for applying electricity to control a combustion reaction of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a controller operatively coupled to the electrode gain selector, configured to control the electrode gain selector to apply an electrode coupling efficiency sequence responsive to a predetermined pattern selection held in an operatively coupled non-transitory controller readable medium.   
     
     
         11 . The system for selecting an electrode coupling efficiency for applying electricity to control a combustion reaction of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the electrode gain selector to select the operative electrode gain value according to the at least one parameter of the combustion reaction sensed by the combustion sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one parameter associated with the combustion reaction includes one or more of: a temperature, a pressure, an irradiance, a charge, a voltage, an electric field, an electrode gain, an electrode position, an electrode orientation, a fuel concentration, a fuel flow rate, a fuel consumption rate, an oxidant concentration, an oxidant flow rate, an oxidant consumption rate, a combustion product concentration, a combustion product flow rate, or a combustion product production rate. 
     
     
         13 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a fuel flow meter operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured according to the at least one parameter of the combustion reaction to:   direct the electrode gain selector to select the operative electrode gain value; and/or   direct the flow meter to control a fuel flow rate.   
     
     
         14 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 13 , wherein the fuel flow meter senses the fuel flow rate. 
     
     
         15 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a fuel flow meter operatively coupled to a burner or fuel source and configured to sense and control a fuel flow rate to the burner or fuel source; and   a controller operatively coupled to the electrode gain selector and the fuel flow meter,   wherein the controller is configured according to the fuel flow rate sensed by the fuel flow meter to:   direct the electrode gain selector to select the operative electrode gain value; and/or   direct the flow meter to control the fuel flow rate.   
     
     
         16 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 6 , wherein the operative electrode gain value is determined at least in part by one or more of:
 a distance between the one or more electrodes and a center of the combustion volume; a temperature at the one or more electrodes;   a pressure at the one or more electrodes; and/or   a surface geometry of the one or more electrodes.   
     
     
         17 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more electrodes includes:
 a first electrode configured for application to the combustion reaction at a first distance from a center of the combustion volume such that the first electrode has a first electrode gain value with respect to the combustion reaction according at least in part to the first distance; and   a second electrode configured for application to the combustion reaction at a second distance from the center of the combustion volume such that the second electrode has a second electrode gain value with respect to the combustion reaction according at least in part to the second distance,   wherein the electrode gain selector is configured to select the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value and the second electrode gain value by selecting the first electrode or the second electrode.   
     
     
         18 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more electrodes includes:
 a third electrode configured for application to the combustion reaction at a third distance from the center of the combustion volume such that the third electrode has a third electrode gain value with respect to the combustion reaction according at least in part to the third distance,   wherein the electrode gain selector is configured to select the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value, the second electrode gain value, and the third electrode gain value by selecting among the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.   
     
     
         19 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 18 , wherein the first, second, and third electrodes and the first, second and third distances are configured such that the first electrode is a high gain electrode compared to the second electrode and the third electrode, the second electrode is a medium gain electrode compared to the first electrode and the third electrode, and the third electrode is a low gain electrode compared to the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         20 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 16 , wherein the gain controller is configured as an electrode actuation/gain controller, further comprising:
 an electrode actuator operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes and the electrode actuation/gain controller, wherein the electrode actuation/gain controller is configured to select the operative electrode gain value by controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes with respect to the combustion volume at a selected distance corresponding to the operative electrode gain value.   
     
     
         21 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a combustion reaction sensor configured to detect one or more of a pressure and/or a temperature at a location in the combustion volume; and   a controller operatively coupled to the electrode actuator, the combustion reaction sensor, and the electrode gain selector,   wherein the controller is configured to select the operative electrode gain value by controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes with respect to the pressure and/or the temperature at the location in the combustion volume.   
     
     
         22 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 21 , wherein the electrode gain selector is configured to select the operative electrode gain value by controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes at a selected distance with respect to the center of the combustion volume. 
     
     
         23 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 20 , wherein the electrode actuation/gain controller is configured to control the electrode actuator to translate the one or more electrodes along a first axis, independently along two mutually orthogonal axes, or independently along three mutually orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         24 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 23 , wherein the electrode actuation/gain controller is configured to control the electrode actuator to independently rotate the one or more electrodes about the first axis or about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. 
     
     
         25 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 20 , wherein the electrode actuation/gain controller is configured to control the electrode actuator to rotate the one or more electrodes about an axis, independently about two mutually orthogonal axes, or independently about three mutually orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         26 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 25 , further comprising a rotationally variant feature of the one or more electrodes with respect to the axis, the two mutually orthogonal axes, or the three mutually orthogonal axes, such that rotation of the one or more electrodes by the electrode actuator changes the operative electrode gain value according to rotation of the rotationally variant feature. 
     
     
         27 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 26 , wherein the rotationally variant feature is configured such that rotation of the one or more electrodes changes the operative electrode gain value by one or more of:
 changing a distance between the one or more electrodes and the center of the combustion volume; and   positioning the one or more electrodes to switch between application to the combustion reaction of a first surface geometry and a second surface geometry of the one or more electrodes, thereby selecting the operative electrode gain value from among a first electrode gain value corresponding to the first surface geometry and a second electrode gain value corresponding to the second surface geometry.   
     
     
         28 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 20 , further comprising an insulating layer on the one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         29 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 20 , further comprising an electrode bearing configured to mount the one or more electrodes in a combustion volume chassis. 
     
     
         30 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 20 , wherein the electrode gain selector is configured as a thermal controller, further comprising: an electrode thermal element operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes, wherein the electrode gain selector is configured to select the operative electrode gain value at the one or more electrodes by controlling the electrode thermal element to heat or cool the one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         31 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the one or more electrodes includes a first surface geometry such that application of the first surface geometry to the combustion reaction is characterized by a first electrode gain value;   the one or more electrodes further includes a second surface geometry such that application of the second surface geometry to the combustion reaction is characterized by a second electrode gain value; and   the electrode gain selector is configured to select the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value and the second electrode gain value by controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes to apply the corresponding one of the first surface geometry or the second surface geometry to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         32 . The system for selecting an electrode gain value for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the one or more electrodes includes a third surface geometry such that application of the third surface geometry to the combustion reaction is characterized by a third electrode gain value; and   the electrode gain selector is configured to select the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value, the second electrode gain value, and the third electrode gain value by controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes to apply the corresponding one of the first surface geometry, the second surface geometry, or the third surface geometry to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         33 . A method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain, comprising:
 selecting an operative electrode gain value for one or more electrodes; and   applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to a combustion reaction via the one or more electrodes at the operative electrode gain value.   
     
     
         34 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 sensing at least one parameter associated with the combustion reaction;   determining a relationship between the at least one parameter associated with the combustion reaction and a plurality of electrode gain values that include the operative electrode gain value; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value from among the plurality of electrode gain values according to the relationship between the at least one parameter associated with the combustion reaction and the plurality of electrode gain values.   
     
     
         35 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one parameter associated with the combustion reaction includes one or more of: a temperature, a pressure, an irradiance, a charge, a voltage, an electric field, an electrode gain, an electrode position, an electrode orientation, a fuel concentration, a fuel flow rate, a fuel consumption rate, an oxidant concentration, an oxidant flow rate, an oxidant consumption rate, a combustion product concentration, a combustion product flow rate, or a combustion product production rate. 
     
     
         36 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 collecting the operative electrode gain value and the fuel flow rate; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value and/or controlling the fuel flow rate to control the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         37 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting the operative electrode gain value at least in part by one or more of:
 selecting a distance between the one or more electrodes and a center of the combustion volume;   selecting a temperature at the one or more electrodes;   selecting a pressure at the one or more electrodes; and/or   selecting a surface geometry of the one or more electrodes.   
     
     
         38 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 37 , wherein selecting the distance between the one or more electrodes and the center of the combustion volume includes:
 providing a first electrode to the combustion reaction at a first distance from the center of the combustion volume such that the first electrode has a first electrode gain value with respect to the combustion reaction according at least in part to the first distance;   providing a second electrode to the combustion reaction at a second distance from the center of the combustion volume such that the second electrode has a second electrode gain value with respect to the combustion reaction according at least in part to the second distance; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value and the second electrode gain value by selecting the first electrode or the second electrode.   
     
     
         39 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 37 , wherein selecting the distance between the one or more electrodes and the center of the combustion volume further includes:
 providing a third electrode to the combustion reaction at a third distance from the center of the combustion volume such that the third electrode has a third electrode gain value with respect to the combustion reaction according at least in part to the third distance; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value, the second electrode gain value, and the third electrode gain value by selecting among the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode.   
     
     
         40 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 39 , further comprising providing the first, second, and third electrodes at the first, second, and third distances such that the first electrode is a high gain electrode compared to the second electrode and the third electrode, the second electrode is a medium gain electrode compared to the first electrode and the third electrode, and the third electrode is a low gain electrode compared to the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         41 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 37 , wherein selecting the operative electrode gain value further comprises controlling an electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes with respect to the combustion volume at a location corresponding to the operative electrode gain value. 
     
     
         42 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 41 , wherein controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes includes translating the one or more electrodes along a first axis, independently along two mutually orthogonal axes, or independently along three mutually orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         43 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 42 , wherein controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes includes independently rotating the one or more electrodes about the first axis or about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. 
     
     
         44 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 41 , wherein controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes includes rotating the one or more electrodes about an axis, independently about two mutually orthogonal axes, or independently about three mutually orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         45 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 44 , wherein controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes includes rotating a rotationally variant feature of the one or more electrodes with respect to the axis, the two mutually orthogonal axes, or the three mutually orthogonal axes, sufficient to select the operative electrode gain value according to rotation of the rotationally variant feature. 
     
     
         46 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 45 , wherein controlling the electrode actuator to position the one or more electrodes includes rotating the rotationally variant feature sufficient to change the operative electrode gain value by one or more of:
 changing a distance between the one or more electrodes and the center of the combustion volume; and   switching between applying to the combustion reaction a first surface geometry and a second surface geometry of the one or more electrodes, thereby switching between a first electrode gain value corresponding to the first surface geometry and a second electrode gain value corresponding to the second surface geometry.   
     
     
         47 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 41 , further comprising:
 sensing one or more of a pressure and/or a temperature at a location in the combustion volume that corresponds to the operative electrode gain value; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value by positioning the one or more electrodes at the location in the combustion volume that corresponds to the pressure and/or the temperature.   
     
     
         48 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 37 , wherein selecting the operative electrode gain value further comprises heating or cooling the one or more electrodes to a temperature corresponding to the operative electrode gain value. 
     
     
         49 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 providing the one or more electrodes with a first surface geometry that corresponds to a first electrode gain value upon application to the combustion reaction;   providing the one or more electrodes with a second surface geometry that corresponds to a second electrode gain value upon application to the combustion reaction; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value and the second electrode gain value by applying the corresponding one of the first surface geometry or the second surface geometry to the combustion reaction.   
     
     
         50 . The method for applying a charge, a voltage, or an electric field to control a combustion reaction using electrode gain of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 providing the one or more electrodes with a third surface geometry that corresponds to a third electrode gain value upon application to the combustion reaction; and   selecting the operative electrode gain value from among the first electrode gain value, the second electrode gain value, and the third electrode gain value by applying the corresponding one of the first surface geometry, the second surface geometry, or the third surface geometry to the combustion reaction.