Method and system for staged rich/lean combustion
US5207053A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1991 |
| Grant date | May 4, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of combusting an endothermic fuel with staged rich/lean combustion includes transferring thermal energy from a heat source, such as the wall of a rich combustor, to an endothermic fuel decomposition catalyst to cool the heat source and heat the fuel and catalyst to a temperature sufficient to endothermically decompose an endothermic fuel. The catalyst is contacted with the fuel to cause the fuel to decompose into a reaction product stream. The reaction product stream is mixed with a first air stream to form a first fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio greater than 1 and the first fuel/air mixture is combusted in a rich combustion stage to produce a combustion product stream. The combustion product stream is mixed with a second air stream to form a second fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio less than 1 and the second fuel/air mixture is combusted in a lean combustion stage to produce an exhaust gas stream containing decreased amounts of NO.sub.x. The invention also includes a system for practicing the method.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.