Process and apparatus for combusting hydrogen and recycling combustion products

Abstract

There is provided a system for producing heat energy comprising: an electrolyzer for effecting electrolysis of water to produce an electrolysis product material including gaseous molecular hydrogen, and a furnace, fluidly coupled to the electrolyzer for receiving the gaseous molecular hydrogen of at least the electrolysis product material, and configured for combusting the received gaseous molecular hydrogen. The combustion products are heated by the heat energy generated from the combustion, such that heated combustion products are produced. The heated combustion products heat ambient air, such that heated ambient air and cooled combustion products are produced. The cooled combustion products are re-heated by the generated heat energy and admixed with the heated ambient air to produce a heated gaseous mixture.

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A process for heating ambient air, comprising:
 emplacing a reaction zone material within a reaction zone, wherein the reaction zone material includes gaseous molecular hydrogen and an oxidant;   igniting the reaction zone material, with effect that the reaction zone material is converted to reaction products via a reactive process, wherein the reaction products include a post-reactive process gaseous material;   wherein:
 the reactive process generates heat energy, wherein a first portion of the generated heat energy heats the reaction products such that heated reaction products are produced; and 
   emplacing the heated reaction products in heat transfer communication with ambient air, such that the ambient air is heated by the reaction products, such that heated ambient air and cooled reaction products are produced, wherein the cooled reaction products include a cooled post-reactive process gaseous material;   emplacing the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone such that, while the heat energy is being generated in response to the conversion of the reaction zone material to the reaction products, the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is heated by a second portion of the generated heat energy, such that a re-heated post-reactive process gaseous material is produced; and   admixing the re-heated post-reactive process gaseous material with the heated ambient air such that a heated gaseous mixture is obtained.   
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the reaction products include water vapour;   the heating of the ambient air by the heated reaction products is with additional effect that the water vapour is condensed, such that liquid water is produced, and such that the cooled reaction products include the liquid water;   the process further comprising:
 separating the cooled reaction products into the liquid water and a post-separation gaseous material, such that the cooled post-reactive gaseous material is defined by the post-separation gaseous material. 
   
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 electrolyzing the separated liquid water such that gaseous molecular hydrogen is produced, such that the gaseous molecular hydrogen of the reaction zone material includes the produced gaseous molecular hydrogen.   
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the reactive process is with effect that a gaseous flame is produced; and   the emplacing of the-cooled post-reactive process gaseous material in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone is such that there is an absence of flow communication, between the emplaced post-reactive process gaseous material and the reaction zone, that is effective for stimulating blowout of the gaseous flame by the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material.   
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the emplacing of the reaction zone material within the reaction zone is effectuated by flowing the reaction zone material via a first flow passage defined by a manifold, such that the process further includes flowing the reaction zone material through the first flow passage such that the emplacing of the reaction zone material within the reaction zone is effectuated; and   the emplacing of the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone is effectuated by flowing the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material through a second flow passage defined by the manifold that is defining the first flow passage;   such that the heating of the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material includes heating effectuated in response to heat conduction via the manifold.   
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 34 , wherein the reactive process includes combustion of the gaseous molecular hydrogen effected by the oxidant. 
     
     
         40 . A system for producing heat energy comprising:
 a source of gaseous molecular hydrogen;   a manifold, comprising:
 a gas-receiving chamber disposed in flow communication with the gaseous molecular hydrogen source for receiving the gaseous molecular hydrogen; and 
 a manifold-defined heat exchanger; 
   a nozzle for discharging the gaseous molecular hydrogen that is received by the gas-receiving chamber;   an igniter for effecting ignition of reaction zone material within a reaction zone, wherein the manifold-defined heat exchanger and the reaction zone are emplaced in heat transfer communication;   a heat exchanger; and   wherein:
 the source of gaseous molecular hydrogen, the gas-receiving chamber, the nozzle, the igniter, and the reaction zone are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the gaseous molecular hydrogen is being received by the gas-receiving chamber and discharged via the nozzle to the reaction zone, and (ii) oxidant is also being supplied to the reaction zone, such that the reaction zone material includes the gaseous molecular hydrogen and the oxidant:
 in response to ignition of the reaction zone material within the reaction zone by the igniter, the reaction zone material is converted to reaction products via a reactive process, wherein the reaction products include a post-reactive process gaseous material; and 
 the reactive process generates heat energy, wherein a first portion of the generated heat energy heats the reaction products such that heated reaction products are produced; 
 
 the reaction zone and the heat exchanger are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the heated reaction products are produced, and (ii) ambient air is emplaced in heat transfer communication with the heat exchanger:
 the heated reaction products become emplaced in heat transfer communication with the heat exchanger, such that the ambient air is heated by the heated reaction products via the heat exchanger, such that heated ambient air and cooled reaction products are produced, wherein the cooled reaction products include a cooled post-reactive process gaseous material; 
 
 the reaction zone, the heat exchanger, and the manifold-defined heat exchanger are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is produced, (ii) the heated ambient air is produced, and (iii) the heat energy is being generated in response to the conversion of the reaction zone material to the reaction products:
 the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material becomes emplaced in heat transfer communication with the manifold-defined heat exchanger, with effect that the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is emplaced in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone via the manifold-defined heat exchanger; 
 the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is heated by a second portion of the generated heat energy, such that a re-heated post-reactive process gaseous material is produced; 
 the re-heated post-reactive process gaseous material is admixed with the heated ambient air such that a heated gaseous mixture is obtained. 
 
   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the reaction products include water vapour;   the heating of the ambient air by the heated reaction products is with additional effect that the water vapour is condensed, such that liquid water is produced, and such that the cooled reaction products include the liquid water;   the system further comprises a separator disposed in flow communication with the heat exchanger, and further disposed in flow communication with the manifold-defined heat exchanger;   wherein:
 the heat exchanger and the separator are co-operatively configured such that, while the cooled reaction products are being produced:
 the cooled reaction products are conducted to the separator for effecting separation of the cooled reaction products into the liquid water and a post-separation gaseous material, such that the cooled post-reactive gaseous material is defined by the post-separation gaseous material. 
 
   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the source of gaseous molecular hydrogen includes an electrolyzer configured for effecting electrolysis of the separated liquid water, with effect that gaseous molecular hydrogen is produced, such that the gaseous molecular hydrogen that is received by the gas-receiving chamber includes the produced gaseous molecular hydrogen.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the reactive process is with effect that a gaseous flame is produced; and   the manifold further comprises a blowout resister interposed between the gas-receiving chamber and the manifold-defined heat exchanger such that, while the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is emplaced in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone, an absence of flow communication, between the emplaced post-reactive process gaseous material and the reaction zone, that is effective for stimulating blowout of the gaseous flame by the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material, is effected by the blowout resister.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the blowout resister is a plate. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the emplacement of the reaction zone material within the reaction zone is effectuated by flowing the reaction zone material via a first flow passage defined by the gas-receiving chamber; and   the emplacement of the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone is effectuated by flowing the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material through a second flow passage defined by the manifold-defined heat exchanger;   such that the heating of the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material includes heating effectuated in response to heat conduction via the manifold.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the reactive process includes combustion of the gaseous molecular hydrogen effected by the oxidant. 
     
     
         47 . A kit of components for retrofitting a furnace that includes a conventional burner assembly and a heat exchanger, comprising:
 a source of gaseous molecular hydrogen;   a gaseous hydrogen-compatible burner assembly, comprising:
 a manifold, comprising:
 a fluid conductor for receiving and conducting a reaction zone supply to a reaction zone such that a reaction zone material, within the reaction zone, is obtained, 
 a manifold-defined heat exchanger, and 
 
 an igniter for igniting the reaction zone material emplaced within the reaction zone; 
   wherein:
 the source of gaseous molecular hydrogen, the gaseous hydrogen-compatible burner assembly, and the heat exchanger are co-operatively configured such that while: (i) the gaseous hydrogen-compatible burner assembly is replacing the conventional burner assembly, (ii) the gaseous hydrogen-compatible burner assembly is receiving a reaction zone supply; (iii) the gaseous hydrogen-compatible burner assembly is disposed in flow communication with the source of gaseous molecular hydrogen, such that the received reaction zone supply includes at least the gaseous molecular hydrogen of the source of gaseous molecular hydrogen:
 the received reaction zone supply is conducted to the reaction zone, such that the reaction zone material includes the gaseous molecular hydrogen; 
 in response to ignition of the reaction zone material within the reaction zone by the igniter, the reaction zone material is converted to reaction products via a reactive process, wherein the reaction products include a post-reactive process gaseous material; 
 the reactive process generates heat energy, wherein a first portion of the generated heat energy heats the reaction products such that heated reaction products are produced; 
 
 the reaction zone and the heat exchanger are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the heated reaction products are produced, and (ii) ambient air is emplaced in heat transfer communication with the heat exchanger:
 the heated reaction products become emplaced in heat transfer communication with the heat exchanger, such that the ambient air is heated by the heated reaction products via the heat exchanger, such that heated ambient air and cooled reaction products are produced, wherein the cooled reaction products include a cooled post-reactive process gaseous material; 
 
 the reaction zone, the heat exchanger, and the manifold-defined heat exchanger are co-operatively configured such that, while: (i) the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is produced, (ii) the heated ambient air is produced, and (iii) the heat energy is being generated in response to the conversion of the reaction zone material to the reaction products:
 the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material becomes emplaced in heat transfer communication with the manifold-defined heat exchanger, with effect that the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is emplaced in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone via the manifold-defined heat exchanger; 
 the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material is heated by a second portion of the generated heat energy, such that a re-heated post-reactive process gaseous material is produced; 
 the re-heated post-reactive process gaseous material is admixed with the heated ambient air such that a heated gaseous mixture is obtained. 
 
   
     
     
         48 . The kit of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the reaction products include water vapour;   the heating of the ambient air by the heated reaction products is with additional effect that the water vapour is condensed, such that liquid water is produced, and such that the cooled reaction products include the liquid water;   the system further comprises a separator disposed in flow communication with the heat exchanger, and further disposed in flow communication with the manifold-defined heat exchanger;   wherein:
 the heat exchanger and the separator are co-operatively configured such that, while the cooled reaction products are being produced: 
 the cooled reaction products are conducted to the separator for effecting separation of the cooled reaction products into the liquid water and a post-separation gaseous material, such that the cooled post-reactive gaseous material is defined by the post-separation gaseous material. 
   
     
     
         49 . The kit of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the source of gaseous molecular hydrogen includes an electrolyzer configured for effecting electrolysis of the separated liquid water, with effect that gaseous molecular hydrogen is produced, such that the gaseous molecular hydrogen that is received by the gas-receiving chamber includes the produced gaseous molecular hydrogen.   
     
     
         50 . The kit of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the reactive process is with effect that a gaseous flame is produced; and   the manifold further comprises a blowout resister interposed between the gas-receiving chamber and the manifold-defined heat exchanger such that, while the cooled post-reactive gaseous material is emplaced in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone, an absence of flow communication, between the emplaced post-reactive process gaseous material and the reaction zone, that is effective for stimulating blowout of the gaseous flame by the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material, is effected by the blowout resister.   
     
     
         51 . The kit of  claim 50 , wherein the blowout resister is a plate. 
     
     
         52 . The kit of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the emplacement of the reaction zone material within the reaction zone is effectuated by flowing the reaction zone material via a first flow passage defined by the gas-receiving chamber; and   the emplacement of the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material in heat transfer communication with the reaction zone is effectuated by flowing the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material through a second flow passage defined by the manifold-defined heat exchanger;   such that the heating of the cooled post-reactive process gaseous material includes heating effectuated in response to heat conduction via the manifold.   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the reactive process includes combustion of the gaseous molecular hydrogen effected by the oxidant.