Combustion systems and methods for reducing combustion temperature

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to combustion systems that include a mechanism or device for reducing combustion temperature. For example, in an embodiment, a combustion system may include a flame control assembly that may draw combusted fuel (e.g., flame produced during combustion) toward a structure that may absorb heat therefrom, thereby reducing combustion temperature.

1 . A combustion system, comprising:
 a combustion chamber including at least one chamber wall;   a source of combustible fuel for producing a flame in the combustion chamber; and   a flame control electrode assembly mounted to the at least one chamber wall, the flame control electrode assembly including a plurality of flame control electrodes, the flame control electrode assembly being configured to produce an electric field and attract the flame toward the at least one chamber wall.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller electrically coupled to the flame control electrode assembly, the controller being configured to regulate the electric field produced by the flame control electrode assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to regulate the electric field produced by the flame control electrode assembly at least in part based on the net charge of the flame. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of flame control electrodes is at least partially enclosed by one or more insulation elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more insulation elements include a plurality of insulation elements, and at least one of the plurality of flame control electrodes is encapsulated between multiple insulation elements bonded together. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more insulation elements has a tubular shape, and at least one of the plurality of flame control electrodes is located within a hollow space of the tubular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more insulation elements is secured to the at least one chamber wall. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more insulation elements have sheet-like shapes and at least some of the flame control electrodes are located between the sheet-like shaped insulation elements that are bonded together. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the flame control electrodes are embedded within at least one of the one or more insulation elements. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of flame control electrodes include a refractory material and the one or more insulation elements include electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more heat exchangers configured to transfer heat from the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         12 . A method of reducing NOx produced during combustion in a combustion chamber, the method comprising:
 combusting a fuel inside of the combustion chamber to produce a flame having a net positive charge or net negative charge;   producing an electric field having a charge opposite to the flame charge, the electric field being positioned near at least one chamber wall of the combustion chamber;   attracting the flame toward the at least one chamber wall; and   transferring heat from the flame to the at least one chamber wall to thereby reduce a combustion temperature of the flame.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein producing an electric field having a charge opposite to the flame charge includes biasing a flame control electrode assembly positioned near the at least one chamber wall. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein producing an electric field having a charge opposite to the flame charge includes determining the net charge of the flame. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising at least partially electrically insulating a plurality of flame control electrodes of the flame control electrode assembly by one or more insulating elements. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the flame control electrodes is embedded within the one or more insulating elements. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein transferring heat from the flame includes transferring heat to one or more of the at least one chamber wall or the flame control electrode assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transferring heat from one or more of the at least one chamber wall or the flame control electrode assembly to a first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein combusting a fuel inside of the combustion chamber to produce a flame having a net positive charge or net negative charge includes injecting positively or negatively charged particles into one or more of the fuel, an oxidizer, or the flame. 
     
     
         20 . A combustion system, comprising:
 a combustion chamber including at least one chamber wall;   a source of combustible fuel for producing a flame in the combustion chamber;   at least one ionizer positioned and configured to ionize one or more of the fuel, combustion air, or the produced flame;   a flame control electrode assembly mounted to the at least one chamber wall, the flame control electrode assembly including a plurality of flame control electrodes that are electrically insulated from each other, the flame control electrode assembly being configured to produce an electric field that attracts the flame toward the at least one chamber wall; and   a controller electrically coupled to the flame control electrode assembly, the controller being configured to regulate the electric field produced by the flame control electrode assembly.