US2016245515A1PendingUtilityA1

Nitrogen-reduced combustion air

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Assignee: ELWHA LLCPriority: Feb 24, 2015Filed: Feb 24, 2015Published: Aug 25, 2016
Est. expiryFeb 24, 2035(~8.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Tom DriscollW. Daniel HillisRoderick A. HydeMuriel Y. IshikawaJordin T. KareClarence T. TegreeneCharles WhitmerLowell L. Wood, Jr.Victoria Y.H. Wood
F23N 2237/26F23N 5/003F23L 2900/07007F23L 7/007F23L 2900/07003F23N 1/022F23C 9/08F23N 5/242F23J 15/02Y02E20/34
40
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Claims

Abstract

Described embodiments include a system and method. The system includes a controller configured to generate a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a received input. The system includes a nitrogen depletion apparatus configured to receive ambient air and in response to the control signal output combustion air having a nitrogen content reduced. The system includes a burner configured to receive ambient air and the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a controller configured to generate a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a received input;   a nitrogen depletion apparatus configured to receive ambient air and in response to the control signal to output combustion air having a reduced nitrogen content; and   a burner configured to receive ambient air and the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus is configured to control the nitrogen to oxygen ratio of the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus is configured to control the nitrogen content of the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus is configured to control the amount of the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus is configured to control the flow rate of the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus is configured to control the ratio between the ambient air and the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the burner further comprises a fuel input controller configured to control fuel supply to the burner. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the fuel input controller is responsive to the nitrogen reduction control signal. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen reduction control signal is further responsive to a ratio between the ambient air and the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio includes a ratio specified by a human user or an automatic control system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio is responsive an optimized ratio between the ambient air and the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         13 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the received input includes a received sensor input. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the received input includes a received human user originated input. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus includes a pressure swing absorption unit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus includes a membrane separation unit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus includes a manager circuit configured to operate the nitrogen depletion apparatus in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus includes a storage tank configured to store the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen depletion apparatus is configured to respond to the control signal in real time. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ambient air includes ambient residential household air. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor device configured to output a signal responsive to a parameter of a flame produced by the burner.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the parameter of the flame includes a flame temperature. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the parameter of the flame includes a gaseous reaction product. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a real time feedback loop monitoring a gaseous reaction product produced by the burner. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the gaseous reaction product produced by the burner is monitored with respect to a specified parameter value of the gaseous reaction product. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a human originated input specifying a temperature of a flame produced by the burner. 
     
     
         32 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control gaseous reaction products responsive to a received sensor input indicative of unburnt NG/methane, carbon monoxide, or nitric oxides. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to keep track of cumulative gaseous reaction products responsive to a received sensor input and to generate a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to the cumulative gaseous reaction products. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor device configured to output a signal responsive to a parameter of the ambient air.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the controller includes a controller configured to generate a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to the signal responsive to a parameter of the ambient air. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the burner is configured to receive the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content at a single inlet. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the burner includes an unenclosed or open air burner. 
     
     
         41 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the burner is configured to receive surrounding or outside ambient air and the combustion air having the reduced nitrogen content. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an ambient air inlet.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input device configured to receive a human originated input and output a signal responsive thereto.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a food cooking appliance.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heating appliance.   
     
     
         48 . A method comprising:
 generating a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a received input;   depleting a nitrogen content of an ambient air flow in response to the control signal; and   burning a fuel using a mixture of the depleted nitrogen content air flow and ambient air.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the generating includes generating a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a received sensor input or a received human user originated input. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the method is performed in real time. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 receiving a signal indicative of a parameter value of a flame produced by a burner.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 receiving a signal indicative of a human user input.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising:
 conveying the depleted nitrogen content air flow to a combustion burner.   
     
     
         54 . A system comprising;
 means for generating a nitrogen reduction control signal responsive to a received input;   means for depleting a nitrogen content of an ambient air flow in response to the control signal; and   means for burning a fuel using a mixture of the depleted nitrogen content air flow and ambient air.   
     
     
         55 .- 57 . (canceled)

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