Burner and support structure with a perforated flame holder

Abstract

A combustion system includes a fuel and oxidant source, a perforated flame holder, and a support structure that supports the perforated flame holder at a selected distance from the fuel and oxidant source. The fuel and oxidant source outputs fuel and oxidant onto the perforated flame holder. The perforated flame holder receives the fuel and oxidant and sustains a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder.

1 .- 117 . (canceled) 
     
     
         118 . A combustion system comprising:
 a furnace body defining an interior furnace volume;   a fuel and oxidant source configured to output fuel and oxidant into the interior furnace volume;   a perforated flame holder disposed within the interior furnace volume to receive the fuel and oxidant from the fuel and oxidant source and to support a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder; and   a support structure disposed within the interior volume and fixed to the furnace body and configured to support the perforated flame holder relative to the fuel and oxidant source.   
     
     
         119 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the perforated flame holder is aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant, and wherein the support structure is fixed to a side of the perforated flame holder; and at least one of a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling of the furnace body. 
     
     
         120 . The combustion system of  claim 119 , wherein the support structure includes a first and a second support arm each mounted to the floor, the sidewall, or the ceiling. 
     
     
         121 . The combustion system of  claim 120 , wherein the support structure includes an array of finger members extending between the first and second support arms and on which the perforated flame holder rests. 
     
     
         122 . The combustion system of  claim 121  including one or more brackets coupled to the support arms and the array of finger members. 
     
     
         123 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of rods extending between sidewalls of the furnace body and on which the perforated flame holder rests. 
     
     
         124 . The combustion system of  claim 123 , wherein the rods are arranged in an array including gaps between adjacent rods allowing the fuel and oxidant to pass to the perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         125 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the perforated flame holder is aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant, and wherein the support structure is a cooled support structure having an interior channel configured to pass a fluid coolant therethrough to cool at least one of the support structure and the perforated flame folder. 
     
     
         126 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the support structure includes multiple finger members on which the perforated flame holder rests, the finger members being spaced apart from each other to allow the fuel and oxidant to enter into the perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         127 . The combustion system of  claim 126 , wherein the perforated flame holder includes multiple perforated flame holder sections fixed together, each perforated flame holder section being positioned on at least one of the thin finger members. 
     
     
         128 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the perforated flame holder is aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant, and wherein the support structure is covered by a thermal insulator. 
     
     
         129 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the perforated flame holder is aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant, and wherein the fuel source includes a fuel nozzle configured to output the fuel onto the perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         130 . The combustion system of  claim 118 , wherein the perforated flame holder is aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant, and wherein the perforated flame holder is a reticulated ceramic perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         131 . The combustion system of  claim 130 , wherein the perforated flame holder includes a plurality of reticulated fibers. 
     
     
         132 . The combustion system of  claim 131 , wherein the perforated flame holder includes zirconia. 
     
     
         133 . The combustion system of  claim 131 , wherein the perforated flame holder includes silicon carbide. 
     
     
         134 . The combustion system of  claim 131 , wherein the perforations are formed as passages between the reticulated fibers, and wherein the perforations are branching perforations. 
     
     
         135 . The combustion system of  claim 131 , wherein the perforated flame holder is configured to support at least a portion of the combustion reaction within the perforated flame holder between the input face and the output face. 
     
     
         136 . The combustion system of claim  117 , further comprising:
 a furnace wall further defining the interior furnace volume;   wherein the perforated flame holder is configured to hold the combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder; and   wherein the support structure is configured to hold the perforated flame holder in alignment with the fuel and oxidant output by the fuel and oxidant source.   
     
     
         137 . The combustion system of  claim 136 , wherein the support structure further comprises a mechanical coupling between the perforated flame holder and an attachment point disposed on the furnace wall, and wherein the support structure is attachable to and detachable from the attachment point. 
     
     
         138 . The combustion system of  claim 136 , wherein the support structure further comprises a strut extending from an interior surface of the furnace wall to the perforated flame holder through an intervening space. 
     
     
         139 . The combustion system of  claim 138 , wherein the strut is canted in a direction opposite to a velocity of the fuel and oxidant output from the fuel and oxidant source. 
     
     
         140 . The combustion system of  claim 136 , wherein the combustion system includes a tube, and wherein the support structure is mechanically coupled to the tube. 
     
     
         141 . The combustion system of  claim 136 , wherein the furnace further comprises a burner tile separate from the perforated flame holder, and wherein the support structure is configured to couple to the burner tile. 
     
     
         142 . The combustion system of  claim 137 , wherein the support structure is a cooled support structure configured to pass a fluid coolant to cool the cooled support structure, wherein the cooled support structure includes an interior channel configured to pass the fluid coolant, and wherein the interior channel passes through the attachment point disposed on the furnace wall. 
     
     
         143 . The combustion system of  claim 136 , wherein the support structure is a movable support structure configured to adjust a position of the perforated flame holder relative to the fuel and oxidant source. 
     
     
         144 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , further comprising a motor coupled to the support structure, the motor being configured to cause movement of the support structure to adjust the position of the perforated flame holder relative to the fuel and oxidant source. 
     
     
         145 . The combustion system of  claim 144 , comprising:
 at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter of the combustion reaction; and   a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and to the motor,   wherein the controller is configured to cause the motor to cause movement of the support structure and the perforated flame holder responsive to a signal or data from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         146 . The combustion system of  claim 145 , wherein the controller is further configured to control a fuel flow rate responsive to the signal or data from the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         147 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure includes one or more vertical posts configured to enable movement of the perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         148 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure is configured to move the perforated flame holder into a cooling region where at least a portion of the support structure is cooled, and wherein the support structure is configured to move the perforated flame holder over a path that passes through a fuel and oxidant impingement region and a cooling region. 
     
     
         149 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure further comprises:
 a rail; and   a slider mechanism configured to operatively coupled to the rail.   
     
     
         150 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure is configured to cause the perforated flame holder to revolve or rotate, and wherein the perforated flame holder further comprises a belt including hinged links. 
     
     
         151 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure is configured to vary a distance between the perforated flame holder and the fuel and oxidant source by moving the perforated flame holder relative to the furnace wall, in a direction that is parallel to a flow of the fuel and oxidant. 
     
     
         152 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure is mounted on a burner tile separate from the perforated flame holder, and wherein the support structure is configured to move the perforated flame holder relative to the burner tile. 
     
     
         153 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , further comprising a mechanism configured to hold the support structure in sliding or rolling contact with an interior surface of the furnace wall. 
     
     
         154 . The combustion system of  claim 153 , wherein the support structure further comprises a rail mounted on an interior surface of the furnace, and wherein the support structure slides or rolls on the rail. 
     
     
         155 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , wherein the support structure is configured to rotate the perforated flame holder about an axis that that is not parallel to a direction of a flow of the fuel and oxidant. 
     
     
         156 . The combustion system of  claim 143 , further comprising:
 a mounting plate to which the fuel and oxidant source is mounted;   wherein the support structure is operatively coupled to the mounting plate,   wherein the support structure further comprises a flange disposed between the mounting plate and an interior surface of the furnace wall; and   wherein the flange is directly coupled to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         157 . A method of operating a combustion system, the method comprising:
 outputting fuel and oxidant from a fuel and oxidant source;   supporting, with a support structure, a perforated flame holder in alignment with the fuel and oxidant source;   receiving the fuel and oxidant into the perforated flame holder; and   holding a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder.   
     
     
         158 . The method of  claim 157  further comprising:
 cooling the support structure by passing a fluid coolant through an interior channel of the support structure. 
 
     
     
         159 . The method of  claim 158 , wherein passing the fluid coolant through the interior channel of the support structure further comprises operating a heat pipe disposed in the interior channel of the support structure. 
     
     
         160 . The method of  claim 158 , wherein the fluid coolant includes a liquid, and further comprising vaporizing the liquid within the interior channel. 
     
     
         161 . The method of  claim 158 , further comprising:
 supporting, with a support structure fixed to a furnace body, a perforated flame holder at a selected distance from a fuel and oxidant source;   outputting fuel and oxidant from the fuel and oxidant source;   receiving the fuel and oxidant in the perforated flame holder positioned to receive the fuel and oxidant from the fuel and oxidant source; and   supporting a majority of a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder.   
     
     
         162 . The method of  claim 157 , further comprising:
 adjusting a parameter of the combustion reaction by moving, with the support structure, the perforated flame holder.   
     
     
         163 . A combustion system comprising:
 a fuel and oxidant source configured to output fuel and oxidant;   a perforated flame holder configured to receive the fuel and oxidant and to hold a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder;   a support structure configured to hold the perforated flame holder in alignment with the fuel and oxidant source and to adjust a position of the perforated flame holder;   at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter of the combustion reaction and to output one or more sensor signals; and   a controller configured to receive the one or more sensor signals and to cause actuation of the support structure to adjust the position of the perforated flame holder based on the one or more sensor signals.   
     
     
         164 . The combustion system of  claim 163 , wherein the controller includes a processor running software embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium.