Combustion device for the combustion of hydrogen and method for carrying out the combustion

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a combustion device and a method for the combustion of hydrogen with oxygen. Such combustion devices are used, among other things, in power plants where steam turbines drive generators to generate electricity. The combustion device provides steam capacity. In particular, the possibility of efficient use of hydrogen improves the sustainability of energy production.

[0002] For example, EP0452839B1 discloses a typical combustion device, which initially has the shape of a cylinder. Hydrogen and oxygen are supplied at the upstream end, which combusts in the combustion chamber of the combustion device. The resulting steam is discharged downstream and is thus available, for example, to the steam turbine.

[0003] A well-known problem with the combustion of hydrogen with oxygen is the extremely high combustion temperatures. Without appropriate countermeasures, this leads to immediate damage to the combustion system. Among other things, the known designs are used almost exclusively for short-term bridging during required power peaks or when the initial steam supply is insufficient.

[0004] To ensure a sufficient service life of the combustion device, it is generally recommended that the walls of the combustion device be specially cooled. In the design described above, a double-walled cylinder is used for this purpose, with a tube bundle arranged on the inside. Feed water is passed through the tube bundle and, after being deflected by the double-walled cylinder, is injected into the combustion chamber. The disadvantage of this design is that the feed water is injected directly into the combustion zone. This leads to a certain uncertainty as to whether complete combustion of the hydrogen will occur without the need for an excess supply of oxygen. Furthermore, this design leads to critical process control in that even a short-term insufficient supply of feed water can lead to damage to the combustion device.

[0005] DE112018000670T5 discloses a design of a combustion device in which oxygen and hydrogen are supplied to a burner. The burner is arranged in a flow channel such that the hot steam generated by combustion flows through the center of the flow channel. To achieve advantageous protection of the combustion device, cold steam is supplied to the flow channel. Similar to a flow pump, the cold steam is entrained by the hot steam generated by combustion. Thus, the cold steam surrounds the hot steam, and as the distance increases, the cold steam mixes with the hot steam, establishing an average temperature that is non-critical for the materials used.

[0006] The disadvantage of this design is that, due to the jet pump effect, a very large amount of cold steam is required relative to the hot steam generated. Furthermore, optimal process control is difficult to achieve in this design, since the combustion process and the condition of the burner can essentially only be determined theoretically.

[0007] Furthermore, WO9731184A1 discloses a combustion device for burning hydrogen with the features of the preamble of the first claim. It is proposed that the combustion be carried out in several stages. In a first stage, excess oxygen is supplied so that the hydrogen supplied at the same time burns completely. The excess oxygen leads to a reduction in the resulting temperature in the first combustion to an acceptable level compared to stoichiometric combustion. In order to enable further combustion, however, a power reduction and cooling of the combustion product from the water formed during combustion and the remaining oxygen are first achieved via a turbine. These steps of separation and power reduction via a turbine are repeated below.

[0008] Although the previous design allows for hydrogen combustion without exceeding the permissible material temperatures, the solution requires a high installation effort with the turbines arranged between the stages.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to enable a combustion of hydrogen with oxygen in which an advantageous controlled process is possible and in which a long service life of the combustion device can be ensured and, in particular, can nevertheless be designed in a simple manner.

[0010] The stated object is achieved by a combustion device according to the teaching of claim 1. An energy generation device is specified in claim 4. A method for achieving the object is specified in claim 5. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0011] In contrast to the usual concepts for the combustion of hydrogen, the new inventive concept is based on staged combustion, with one of the two reactants being present in excess until the last stage.

[0012] This requires the combustion system to have several reaction sections for the combustion of the two reactants, hydrogen and oxygen. Each reaction section comprises a combustion chamber and an adjoining transition section.

[0013] During operation of the combustion device, the combustion of the two reactants takes place as intended in the respective combustion chamber. For this purpose, the combustion chamber is preferably tubular in shape, with the reactants being fed in on the upstream side. Other known designs of other combustion chambers can also be used. For example, it can be provided that a reactant is fed in through a side wall. In any case, the combustion chamber must obviously be designed in such a way that the temperatures occurring during combustion do not cause any damage to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber should obviously be designed open on the downstream side to ensure the escape of the generated water vapor and any unburned portion of the first reactant.

[0014] According to the invention, the transition section is also designed as an open channel. Unlike other known staged combustion systems, the transfer of energy between the stages, for example, through turbines, is essentially eliminated.

[0015] The shape of the transition section is irrelevant here, although a shape analogous to the combustion chamber, preferably tubular, is preferably chosen. The transition section connects a preceding combustion chamber with a subsequent combustion chamber (except, as is obvious, the transition section following the last combustion chamber). Thus, the transition section provides a free flow cross-section between the combustion chambers. In this regard, it is irrelevant whether, for example, static elements for swirling are arranged in the transition section.

[0016] In order to enable combustion, a first supply device is required from which the first reactant can be supplied.

[0017] Furthermore, a second supply device is required from which the second reaction partner can be supplied.

[0018] If the first reaction partner is hydrogen, oxygen is supplied from the second supply device and conversely, if the first reaction partner is oxygen, hydrogen is supplied from the second supply device.

[0019] To enable essential cooling, a water supply is provided, which can provide a cooling medium. This can be provided as liquid water or cold steam. It is also possible for the water supply to provide separate liquid water and cold steam, or a mixture of liquid water and cold steam.

[0020] The first reaction section with the first combustion chamber has at least one injection nozzle arranged on the upstream side. During operation of the combustion device, the first reactant, i.e., hydrogen or oxygen, is introduced into the first combustion chamber through the injection nozzle. Obviously, a connection from the first supply device to the injection nozzle is required.

[0021] Furthermore, the first combustion chamber has at least one injection opening on the upstream side, through which the second reactant, i.e., oxygen or hydrogen, is introduced into the first combustion chamber. Obviously, this requires a connection from the second supply device to the injection opening.

[0022] Furthermore, it is provided that a cooling medium is supplied during or after the first combustion. For this purpose, at least one first water inlet is located at the first combustion chamber and / or at the first transition section, through which the corresponding cooling medium can be supplied.

[0023] Furthermore, a second reaction section with a second combustion chamber is required, which adjoins the first transition section. Likewise, at least one second injection opening for the renewed supply of the second reactant is present on the upstream side of the second combustion chamber. Obviously, a connection from the second supply device to this injection opening is also required.

[0024] Downstream of the second combustion chamber is the second transition section of the second reaction section.

[0025] According to the invention, it is provided that at least one water inlet is also present at the second combustion chamber and / or at the second transition section, through which a cooling medium can be supplied.

[0026] Furthermore, at least a third reaction section with a third combustion chamber is required. This section is connected analogously to the second transition section. Likewise, at least one injection opening for repeated supply of the second reactant is present on the upstream side of the third combustion chamber.

[0027] Downstream of the third combustion chamber is the third transition section of the third reaction section.

[0028] Furthermore, it is necessary according to the invention that at least one water inlet is also present at the third combustion chamber or at the third transition section, through which a cooling medium can be supplied.

[0029] For the combustion of hydrogen in the combustion device, one of the two reactants is introduced into the combustion chambers of the staged reaction sections through at least one injection nozzle, and the other reactant is introduced through the injection openings. It is essential that the first reactant is always present in excess, except during the final combustion in the last combustion chamber. This means that a larger amount of the first reactant is deliberately added than the stoichiometric amount.

[0030] Accordingly, the second reactant is introduced into the first combustion chamber through the injection port, and at least 1.5 times the amount required for stoichiometric combustion is introduced through the injection nozzle. This means that, in contrast to the first reactant, only an insufficient amount of the second reactant is introduced into the first combustion chamber for complete combustion.

[0031] In accordance with its intended purpose—the generation of hot steam—hydrogen is combusted with oxygen in the first combustion chamber, resulting in hot steam. However, unlike conventional processes, only a partial combustion of the first reactant takes place in the first reaction stage. Due to the unequal ratio, a portion of the first reactant inevitably remains.

[0032] To avoid a gradual increase in temperature during further combustion in the subsequent reaction section, the cooling medium is supplied through at least one water inlet in the first reaction section, either into the combustion chamber or the adjacent transition section, or into both the combustion chamber and the transition section. The cooling medium can be liquid water or cold steam. It can also be provided that liquid water and cold steam are supplied simultaneously via one or separate water openings.

[0033] The mixture of the hot steam generated by combustion and the cooling medium creates a medium-temperature steam. Thus, at the exit of the first transition section, a mixture of medium-temperature steam and the remaining unburned portion of the first reactant leaves the first transition section.

[0034] If the first reactant, which is initially added in excess, is hydrogen, oxygen forms the second reactant. Consequently, the mixture at the exit of the transition section consists of steam and hydrogen. If, however, the first reactant is oxygen, hydrogen is the second reactant, and thus the mixture at the exit of the transition section is a mixture of steam and oxygen.

[0035] According to the inventive concept, the combustion process is repeated in the subsequent reaction sections. For this purpose, the second reactant is supplied in the amount intended for the respective combustion through the respective injection openings. Furthermore, the inventive concept requires that a cooling medium be supplied again via the water inlets in the subsequent reaction sections to ensure that a permissible initial temperature is not exceeded at the exit of the respective reaction section.

[0036] Whether the addition of the first reactant is necessary depends primarily on the remaining amount added from the previous reaction stage. If this is already sufficient, no further addition of the first reactant is made in the corresponding reaction stage.

[0037] The respective supply, or rather the necessity thereof, depends on the desired excess of the first reactant in the respective, but not the final, reaction stage. At least, if necessary, sufficient first reactant must be supplied through at least one corresponding injection nozzle to ensure that at least 1.5 times the amount required for stoichiometric combustion is present in the respective combustion chamber (except the final one).

[0038] It should be noted that the 1.5-fold amount of the first reactant relative to the second reactant refers to the two components hydrogen and oxygen, whereby the remaining proportion of water or water vapor is not taken into account.

[0039] It should be noted that stoichiometric combustion is desirable in the final reaction stage. Therefore, an adjusted supply of the first reactant, if necessary, into the final combustion chamber must be made in an adjusted amount.

[0040] The repeated addition of the second reactant to the respective combustion chamber when the first reactant is present will, under sufficient boundary conditions, lead to renewed combustion of hydrogen with oxygen and thus to the renewed formation of hot steam.

[0041] Although a portion of the first reactant remains with each combustion except for the last combustion process (whereby the second reactant is essentially completely burned), the proportion of vapor in the mixture formed at the exit of the respective transition section increases.

[0042] Regardless of the number of reaction sections present, it is provided that the supply of the quantity of the first reactant supplied through the injection nozzle and the supply of the quantity of the second reactant supplied through the injection openings into the individual reaction sections of the combustion device is dimensioned such that, with the exception of the last reaction section, after each combustion in the respective combustion chambers a relevant proportion of the first reactant remains for the respective subsequent reaction section.

[0043] The basic idea of ​​the invention is to reduce the combustion temperature by reducing the supply of the second reactant and thus changing the mixing ratio from the stoichiometry—except for the combustion in the combustion chamber of the last reaction section. This means that combustion does not occur stoichiometrically in a single stage as before, but rather a non-stoichiometric combustion is carried out over at least two reaction sections.

[0044] The combustion processes in the reaction stages preceding the final combustion can be operated either with an excess of oxidizer (i.e., "lean") or with an excess of fuel (i.e., "rich"). In the first alternative, the first reactant is oxygen and the second reactant is hydrogen. In the second alternative, the first reactant is hydrogen and the second reactant is oxygen.

[0045] Accordingly, in a first advantageous procedure, hydrogen is selected as the first reactant, which is present in excess until the final combustion process. In contrast, the amount of oxygen required for the combustion taking place there is supplied to each combustion chamber.

[0046] Alternatively, in a second advantageous procedure, oxygen is selected as the first reactant, which is present in excess until the final combustion process. Here, the amount of hydrogen required for the combustion taking place there is fed into each combustion chamber.

[0047] Until now, the goal was always to achieve stoichiometric combustion. This required significant cooling to prevent thermal damage to the combustion system.

[0048] In contrast, the combustion device according to the invention with a multi-stage partial combustion achieves both a limitation of the temperatures generated during combustion and enables optimal control of the combustion without a significant need for a cooling medium, so that the result is a particularly advantageous combustion of hydrogen.

[0049] The aim remains that the hydrogen is completely burned in the last stage of the reaction with stoichiometric combustion.

[0050] With the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen to steam across the several reaction stages and the supply of a cooling medium and thus the further supply or formation of steam, the proportion of hydrogen and oxygen to be burned in the total amount (with the steam and the excess proportion of the first reaction partner) gradually decreases in each additional combustion chamber.

[0051] It is advantageous if the excess proportion of the first reactant is larger at the beginning of the process and gradually decreases over the reaction stages.

[0052] Accordingly, it is advantageous if the supply of the first reactant and the supply of the second reactant into the first combustion chamber is adjusted such that at least three times the amount of the first reactant is present in the combustion chamber, which is necessary for stoichiometric combustion.

[0053] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a higher proportion of the first reactant is also present in the second reaction stage. The second reactant and, if necessary, the first reactant should be added in such quantities that at least twice the amount of the first reactant required for a stoichiometric ratio is present in the combustion chamber.

[0054] Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the first reactant required for the entire combustion process across the multiple stages is supplied entirely through at least one injection nozzle into the first combustion chamber. This partially compensates for the changing mixing ratio with the increasing steam by the decreasing excess of the first reactant.

[0055] Furthermore, regardless of the number of reaction sections present, the total amount of the first reactant supplied to the combustion device through the injection nozzle and the total amount of the second reactant supplied to the combustion device through the injection openings are calculated such that, if possible, stoichiometric combustion occurs in the last combustion chamber. Particularly advantageously, combustion in the last reaction section achieves complete consumption of both reactants. In this case, only steam leaves the combustion device.

[0056] Although it is almost inevitable that a minimal residue of at least one reactant remains at the exit of the last transition section, this residue is minimized if the first reactant and / or the second reactant is advantageously fed into the last combustion chamber in such an amount that the first reactant and / or the second reactant is present in the last combustion chamber in at least 0.9 times the amount required for stoichiometric combustion.

[0057] Furthermore, it is advantageous if at least 0.95 times the amount of the first reactant or the second reactant required for stoichiometric combustion is present. It is particularly advantageous if this applies to both reactants.

[0058] However, it may also be intended to prevent a specific reactant from remaining at the final transition section. In this case, it is preferable if the amount of the other reactant remaining in the final combustion process is at least 1.01 times the amount required for stoichiometric combustion. Particularly preferred is the amount of the reactant remaining in the final combustion chamber that is 1.02 times the amount required for combustion. However, here too, the proportion should not be increased beyond what is necessary.

[0059] To prevent the temperature from rising gradually over the various stages of the combustion process, cooling processes are added to each individual combustion step, in which liquid water and / or cold steam is added as a cooling medium. It should be noted that the cooling medium can vary. d.h. liquid water or cold steam or liquid water together with cold steam, both for the different reaction stages and for the respective reaction stage.

[0060] To avoid unnecessary interference with the respective combustion, it is particularly advantageous if the cooling medium is supplied in the respective transition sections. A further advantage is, on the one hand, that combustion in the combustion chamber can be better controlled, and, on the other hand, this simplifies temperature control, in particular the setting of a desired initial temperature at the outlet of the respective reaction section, by appropriately dimensioning the coolant quantity. Consequently, the at least one first water inlet is arranged in the first transition section, the at least one second water inlet in the second transition section, and the at least one third water inlet in the third transition section.

[0061] The limitation of combustion temperatures and the control of the combustion device are improved if a further fourth reaction section is arranged downstream of the third reaction section. This fourth reaction section also has a fourth combustion chamber adjoining the third transition section with a fourth injection opening and a fourth transition section adjoining the fourth combustion chamber.

[0062] It is also conceivable to provide a further fifth reaction section, whereby the exact number of reaction sections depends on the steam requirement and the chosen design of the combustion chamber and the transition section.

[0063] For example, with a higher permissible component temperature (and higher permissible temperature gradients), a higher combustion temperature could be selected, allowing a higher proportion to be combusted in each stage. Conversely, a lower permissible component temperature requires a lower combustion temperature in the respective combustion chamber. Consequently, the higher the permissible temperatures, the fewer stages are likely to be required. If the components have lower temperature resistance, a higher number of reaction sections may be appropriate.

[0064] If at least one further reaction section with a further combustion chamber is present, the supply of the first reaction partner through the at least one injection nozzle and the supply of the second reaction partner through the injection openings into the individual combustion chambers of the reaction sections must be dimensioned such that, except for the last combustion process, after each combustion in the respective reaction section, a remaining portion of the first reaction partner is available for the at least one subsequent reaction section.

[0065] If five or more reaction sections are present, a water inlet for the further supply of a coolant is advantageously provided at each transition section, at least except for the last reaction section. Although this does not appear mandatory, a water inlet can also be provided at the transition section of the last reaction section.

[0066] As a rule, it should be advantageous if four or five reaction sections are present.

[0067] The shape of each combustion chamber and the associated transition section can be selected based on known designs for combustion chambers and hot gas ducts. At least the respective cross-section of the individual sections, i.e., the combustion chamber and the transition section of the respective reaction sections, will generally have to be adapted to the material flow present in each respective section.

[0068] In this regard, it is possible, on the one hand, to provide a structural separation of the respective combustion chamber from the associated transition section. For example, a combustion chamber can be designed as a single component in the form of a so-called "tubular combustion chamber," and the transition section as an adjoining component in the form of a so-called "transition."

[0069] In an alternative implementation, a component extending over one reaction section or, particularly advantageously, over at least two reaction sections is advantageously used, thus eliminating the need for a structural separation into a combustion chamber and a transition section. In this respect, the combustion chamber represents the section of the component in which combustion in the respective reaction section is intended to take place. Accordingly, the transition section is the section of the component that represents the connection from one combustion chamber to the following combustion chamber or to subsequent devices.

[0070] To enable advantageous control and process management, a temperature determination unit is particularly advantageously provided. This is selected such that it is possible to determine a first combustion temperature in the first combustion chamber, a second combustion temperature in the second combustion chamber, and a third combustion temperature in the third combustion chamber. If at least one further reaction section is present, it is advantageously also possible to determine the combustion temperature in the at least one further combustion chamber.

[0071] Furthermore, the temperature determination unit should be capable of determining a first exit temperature at the exit of the first transition section, a second exit temperature at the exit of the second transition section, and a third exit temperature at the exit of the third transition section. If one or more additional reaction sections are present, it is correspondingly advantageous if the additional respective exit temperatures can also be determined at the exit of the respective transition section.

[0072] The combustion temperature or initial temperature can be determined in different ways. On the one hand, it is conceivable to calculate the temperatures with sufficient accuracy based on the given properties of the combustion device and the data on the supplied media, i.e., the material flows of the first reactant and the second reactant, and the cooling medium and its temperatures.

[0073] Furthermore, it is advantageous to use sensors to measure the temperature, for example, at various housing sections, in order to determine the temperatures inside the combustion device. Other methods for determining combustion temperatures are also well known to those skilled in the art and can be utilized.

[0074] By determining the combustion temperatures and the initial temperatures, advantageous staged combustion can be controlled. When controlling the combustion device, the temperatures generated in the respective combustion process are advantageously limited to the level at which essentially damage-free operation of the combustion device is possible. In this respect, the combustion device is advantageously controlled such that a respective maximum temperature is not exceeded. At the same time, however, it is advantageous if - at least at nominal load - the combustion temperature approaches the maximum temperature, thus enabling high performance to be achieved. For example, it can be provided that the combustion temperature at the maximum performance of the combustion device is not less than 100 K, in particular not less than 50 K, below the maximum temperature.

[0075] Furthermore, knowledge of the existing or developing temperatures allows for optimal cooling medium supply. To enable the next combustion to occur at the optimal rate, the required amount of cooling medium is supplied, resulting in an optimal initial temperature at the exit of each reaction section.

[0076] The initial temperature should be high enough to enable self-ignition in the subsequent combustion process.

[0077] Furthermore, it is advantageous to regulate the cooling quantity in such a way that, at maximum power of the combustion device, the temperature range between the initial temperature and the maximum temperature for the subsequent combustion process is as high as possible.

[0078] At partial load, however, it is advantageous to supply the amount of cooling medium that ensures that the maximum temperature is not exceeded in the subsequent combustion process.

[0079] For example, a maximum temperature of 1800°C can be selected for the combustion process and a target temperature of 1000°C for the desired temperature at the exit of the respective first to penultimate transition sections. During the respective combustion process, the second reactant is added in such a quantity that the combustion approximately reaches the maximum temperature. After combustion, the cooling medium is added in such a quantity that, if possible, the exit temperature is lowered to the target temperature.

[0080] Although cold steam can be used as a cooling medium, the process is advantageous when liquid water is used. The use of liquid water achieves a further cooling effect due to the enthalpy of vaporization.

[0081] Another particular advantage of using liquid water as a cooling medium is the greater formation of steam, whereas when using cold steam as a cooling medium, this must already be available at a low temperature - too low for other purposes.

[0082] The following sketch shows a schematic representation of a combustion device 01 by way of example. In this exemplary embodiment, the combustion device 01 has five reaction sections 11, 21, 31, 41 and 51. Each of the reaction sections 11, 21, 31, 41 and 51 has a respective combustion chamber 12, 22, 32, 42 and 52, in which hydrogen and oxygen are burned during operation. For this purpose, the first reaction section 11 has a first injection nozzle 14 on the upstream side of the first combustion chamber 12, which is connected to a first supply device 04. Furthermore, a first injection opening 13 is provided, which is connected to a second supply device 03.

[0083] In a first procedure, it can be provided that hydrogen is supplied from the first supply device 04 and oxygen from the second supply device 03. Alternatively, in a second procedure, a reverse design can be implemented, with the first supply device 04 supplying oxygen and the second supply device 03 delivering hydrogen.

[0084] In contrast, the subsequent reaction sections 21, 31, 41, and 51 have a combustion chamber 22, 32, 42, and 52, each with a corresponding injection opening 23, 33, 43, and 53 for the further supply of the second reactant. However, in this exemplary embodiment, no injection nozzle is provided, since the first reactant is already completely introduced into the first combustion chamber 12 via the injection nozzle 14 for all combustion processes. Analogous to the first injection opening 13, all further injection openings 23, 33, 43, and 53 are also connected to the second supply device 03.

[0085] Also visible is the arrangement of transition sections 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55, which each form the connection from a preceding combustion chamber 12, 22, 32, 42 and 52 to the following combustion chamber 22, 32, 42 and 52 or to a subsequent part of the system (not shown).

[0086] In order to be able to adjust the outlet temperature at the inlet of each subsequent reaction section 21, 31, 41 and 51 and thus at the outlet of each transition section 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55, a water inlet 16, 26, 36, 46 and 56 is provided at each of these 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55. These are connected to a water supply 06. In this exemplary embodiment, liquid water is used as the cooling medium. However, cold steam can also be used. The use of liquid water at one or more water inlets and cold steam at other water inlets can also be provided. It is also conceivable to mix the cold steam and liquid water as the cooling medium before feeding it into the transition section.

[0087] At least this schematic illustrates the preferred combustion process once again in that the first reactant, in this example, is fed into the first combustion chamber in a quantity sufficient for all combustions only and completely in the first reaction stage. In contrast, the second reactant is fed successively, so that with each subsequent combustion in the individual combustion chambers, the first reactant is gradually consumed. Advantageously, the quantity of the first reactant and the total quantity of the second reactant are selected such that stoichiometric combustion is possible in the final combustion.

Claims

1. Combustion device (01) for the combustion of the co-reactants hydrogen and oxygen, comprising at least a first reaction portion (11) and a second reaction portion (21) subsequent to said first reaction portion (11) and a third reaction portion (31) subsequent to said second reaction portion (21), wherein each reaction portion (11, 21, 31, 41, 51) has a combustion chamber (12, 22, 32, 42, 52) and a transition portion (15, 25, 35, 45, 55) subsequent to said combustion chamber (12, 22, 32, 41, 51), wherein at least one injection opening (13, 23, 33, 43, 53) is arranged at the upstream end of the respective combustion chamber (12, 22, 32, 42, 52), and at least one water inlet (16) is arranged at the first reaction portion (11), and at least one injection nozzle (14) is arranged at least at the upstream end of the first combustion chamber (12); further comprising a first supply device (03), by means of which (03) hydrogen or oxygen can be conveyed as the first co-reactant to the injection nozzle (14); and a second supply device (04), by means of which (04) the second co-reactant can be conveyed to the injection openings (13, 23, 33, 43, 53); and a water supply (06) by means of which (06) a cooling medium in the form of liquid water and / or cold steam can be conveyed to the water inlets (16, 26, 36, 46); characterized in that, from the first combustion chamber (12) to the last transition portion (45), a free flow channel without power reduction is present, wherein, furthermore, at least one water inlet (16, 26, 36, 46) is in each case arranged from the second to the penultimate reaction portion (21, 31, 41).

2. Combustion device (01) according to Claim 1, wherein the at least one injection nozzle (14) for supplying the first co-reactant is arranged exclusively on the first combustion chamber (12).

3. Combustion device (01) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the respective water inlet (16, 26, 36, 46) is arranged on the respective transition portion (15, 25, 35, 45).

4. Combustion device (01) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising - a fourth reaction portion (41) subsequent to the third reaction portion (31), in particular a fifth reaction portion (51) subsequent to said fourth reaction portion (41).

5. Combustion device (01) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, further comprising - a temperature determining unit, by means of which an outlet temperature resulting in each case in the combustion chamber (12, 22, 32, 42, 52) and in each case at the outlet of the transition portion (15, 25, 35, 45, 55) can be determined, in particular by means of sensors and / or calculation.

6. Energy generation device comprising a steam turbine and a steam circuit in which heated steam can be supplied to the steam turbine and cooled steam can be discharged from the steam turbine, characterized by an arrangement of a combustion device (01) according to one of the preceding claims in the steam circuit.

7. Method for the combustion of the co-reactants hydrogen and oxygen in a combustion device (01) or an energy generation device according to one of the preceding claims: a) supplying the first co-reactant into at least the first combustion chamber (12), and at the same time b) supplying the second co-reactant into the respective combustion chambers (12, 22, 32, 42, 52), with the result that in the first to the penultimate combustion chamber (12, 22, 32, 42) at least 1.5 times the amount of the first co-reactant required for a stoichiometric ratio is in each case present, c) forming hot steam by means of the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen, d) supplying the cooling medium into at least the first to the penultimate reaction portion (11, 21, 31, 41), e) transferring the steam and the remaining proportion of the first co-reactant from the first to the penultimate transition portion (15, 25, 35, 45) into the respectively subsequent combustion chamber (22, 32, 42, 52).

8. Method according to Claim 7, wherein the first co-reactant is hydrogen and the second co-reactant is oxygen; or wherein the first co-reactant is oxygen and the second co-reactant is hydrogen.

9. Method according to Claim 7 or 8, comprising a) supplying the first co-reactant into the first combustion chamber (12), with the result that in the first combustion chamber (12) at least 3 times, and in the second combustion chamber (22) at least 2 times, the amount of the first co-reactant required for a stoichiometric ratio is present.

10. Method according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the first co-reactant is introduced exclusively into the first combustion chamber (12) via the at least one injection nozzle.

11. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 10, comprising a) if necessary, supplying the first co-reactant into the last combustion chamber (52), and at the same time b) supplying the second co-reactant into the last combustion chamber (52), with the result that in the last combustion chamber (52) at least 0.9 times, in particular at least 0.95 times, the amount of the first of a co-reactant and / or the second co-reactant required for a stoichiometric ratio is present.

12. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein a combustion temperature resulting in each case from step c) is calculated and / or monitored and the respective proportion of the second co-reactant is determined in such a manner that a predetermined maximum temperature is not exceeded.

13. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 12, wherein, in step d), that amount of the cooling medium is supplied which results in an outlet temperature formed at the outlet of the respective transition portion (15, 25, 35, 45) being reduced substantially to a predetermined target temperature.

14. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 13, wherein the cooling medium is liquid water, in particular ultrapure water.