Combustion system and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A combustion system using at least 90 wt % propylene glycol based liquid fuel includes a first fuel tank, a wick inserted in the first tank, a sensing unit configured to receive an activating signal and sense the liquid level of the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank and send a fuel replenishment signal accordingly, a second fuel tank, a conduit system connected with the first and the second fuel tanks, and a drive unit connected with the conduit system and configured to receive the fuel replenishment signal so as to cause the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the second fuel tank to replenish the first fuel tank through the conduit system as well as to cool the wick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustion system using at least 90 wt % propylene glycol based liquid fuel, the combustion system comprising:
 a first fuel tank for containing the propylene glycol based liquid fuel, a wick for transmitting the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first tank, a sensing unit configured to receive an activating signal and sense the liquid level of the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank and send a fuel replenishment signal accordingly a second fuel tank for containing the propylene glycol based liquid fuel, a conduit system connecting the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank, and a drive unit connected with the conduit system and configured to receive the fuel replenishment signal so as to cause the propylene glycol based liquid fuel iii the second fuel tank to replenish the first fuel tank through the conduit system as well as to cool the wick.   
     
     
         2 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drive also configured to receive a shutdown signal so as to pump the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank into the second fuel tank. 
     
     
         3 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the drive unit is configured to continue pumping the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank into the second fuel tank for a predetermined time after receiving the shutdown signal. 
     
     
         4 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the first fuel tank is smaller than the volume of the second fuel tank. 
     
     
         5 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the volume of the second fuel tank is at least ten times larger than a volume of the first fuel tank, 
     
     
         6 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the propylene glycol based liquid fuel contains 95 wt % of propylene glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit system includes a first conduit connecting the first fuel tank to the drive unit and a second conduit connecting the second fuel tank to the drive unit. 
     
     
         8 . The combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit includes a motor. 
     
     
         9 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wick is made of non wool material. 
     
     
         10 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the wick is made of metal. 
     
     
         11 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the wick is made of carbon fiber. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a combustion system using at least 90 wt % propylene glycol based liquid fuel, comprising:
 preparing a combustion system which includes:
 a first fuel tank for containing the propylene glycol based liquid fuel with a wick inserted therein for transmitting the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank, and a sensing unit disposed therein; 
 a second fuel tank for containing the propylene glycol based liquid fuel; 
 a conduit system connecting the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank; and 
 a drive unit connected with the conduit system 
   using the sensing unit to receive an activating signal and sense the liquid level of the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank and send a fuel replenishment signal accordingly; and   using the drive unit to receive the fuel replenishment signal so as to cause the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the second fuel tank to replenish the first fuel tank through the conduit system, and to cause the propylene glycol based liquid fuel from the second fuel tank to cool the wick.   
     
     
         13 . The method of operating the combustion system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising following steps: using the drive unit to receive a shutdown signal and pump the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank through the conduit system, and wherein the drive unit continues operating for a predetermined period of time after receiving the shutdown signal and pumping the propylene glycol based liquid fuel in the first fuel tank to the second fuel tank so as to extract exhaust gas produced after the flame goes out, 
     
     
         14 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the wick is made of metal. 
     
     
         15 . The combustion system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the wick is made of carbon fiber.