Discrete Slat Flame Holders for Stable Low-Emission Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combustion systems face challenges in maintaining stable combustion, particularly with fuels like high hydrogen content, and struggle to achieve low NOx and CO emissions while ensuring efficient combustion.
Innovation Solution
A combustion system featuring a flame holder with parallel slats forming v-shaped channels, where the combustion reaction is primarily sustained within these channels, utilizing a support structure to maintain the slats in a parallel array, and employing a refractory material to stabilize the combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional burners are used with high hydrogen content fuels, then combustion can be achieved, but stable combustion is difficult to maintain and emissions (NOx and CO) are high
Solution Approach 1:
The flame holder is divided into multiple discrete slats arranged in parallel, creating separate combustion channels between adjacent slats. This segmentation allows the combustion reaction to be confined to specific pathways, improving stability and controlling emissions by preventing uncontrolled flame propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion channels between slats have specific geometric characteristics (width, height, length ratios) that are optimized for stable combustion. The channels provide localized controlled environments for combustion, with dimensions designed to maintain stable flame propagation while reducing harmful emissions.
2Productivity
If lean fuel-to-oxidant mixtures are used, then efficiency is improved, but combustion stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The geometric parameters of the combustion channels (width, height, length ratios) are specifically designed to support stable combustion with lean mixtures. The channel dimensions are optimized to maintain proper flow patterns and flame propagation characteristics even when fuel-to-oxidant ratios are reduced for improved efficiency.
3Reliability
If a flame holder with slats is used, then combustion stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flame holder is constructed from multiple discrete slats that can be manufactured separately and assembled together, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the functional benefits of a complex flame holder structure. Each slat is a simple component, but their arrangement creates the necessary combustion channels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves stable combustion with low NOx and CO emissions, even with lean fuel-to-oxidant mixtures, by maintaining combustion within the channels and using refractory materials to manage heat and stabilize the reaction.
Implementation Method 1
Each combustion channel may have a tapered cross-sectional shape defined by a wider width corresponding to a distance between the respective first edges of adjacent pairs of slats and a narrower width corresponding to a distance between the respective second edges of the adjacent pairs of slats
Implementation Method 2
using refractory materials to manage heat and stabilize the reaction
Implementation Method 3
holding a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant primarily within the combustion channels
Data Source
AI summary
A combustion system includes a fuel and oxidant source and a flame holder. The flame holder includes a plurality of discrete slats arranged in parallel defining combustion channels between adjacent slats. Pairs of adjacent slats may be oriented to operate substantially as a V-gutter. The fuel and oxidant source outputs fuel and oxidant into the combustion channels. The flame holder holds a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant in the combustion channels.