CA1171672A
Expired / Lapsed
CA
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation
Assignee: ESCHER FOSTER TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATES Inc
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Filing: 1981-03-20
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Granted: 1984-07-31
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Expires: 2001-03-20
Abstract
Abstract Abstract of the Disclosure A hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation process and apparatus combusting hydrogen in a hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber and passing the hot hydrogen combustion products to a primary fuel combustion chamber providing mixing, chemical pretreatment and ignition of the non-hydrogen primary fuel. The apparatus and process of this invention provides improved thermal efficiency, reduced emissions and capability to employ alternative fuels in a wide variety of combustion systems having both internal and external combustion and stationary and mobile instillations, such as vehicle engines, both gasoline and diesel, gas turbines, Rankine and Sterling cycle engines, furnaces and boilers, including coal and oil fired.
Inventors
- 👤 William J.D. Escher
- 👤 Richard W. Foster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
CA
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:14
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B19/00; F02B19/12; F02B19/10; F02B43/00; F02B43/10; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B2043/106; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02P; F02P13/00; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
294 words
A hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device comprising: hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber walls defining an elongated hydrogen-oxygen combus-tion chamber having a first closed end and an opposite second end providing communication with the primary fuel combustion chamber of a combustion based system; pressurized hydrogen feed means comprising controlled hydrogen control valve means controlling timing and rate of flow, hydrogen source means providing hydrogen at greater than atmospheric pressure and hydrogen injection means providing hydrogen containing gas to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber at about 1.1 to 2.0 times the pressure of other gases in said chamber; pressurized oxygen feed means comprising controlled oxygen control valve means controlling timing and rate of flow, oxygen source means providing oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure and oxygen injection means providing oxygen containing gas to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber at about 1.1 to 2.0 times the pressure of other gases in said chamber; ignition means comprising ignition control means, ignition source means and ignition device means providing ignition energy in said first closed end of said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber to ignite the hy-drogen-oxygen mixture therein and the combustion products thereof passing through said second end to said primary fuel combustion chamber; primary fuel feed means comprising primary fuel control valve means, primary fuel source means and primary fuel injection means providing primary fuel to said primary fuel combustion chamber; the primary fuel being ignited by said combustion products from said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber, and control means in coordination communication with said combustion based system, said ignition means, said hydrogen control valve means, said oxygen control valve means and said primary fuel valve means to provide quantification and time sequen-eing of ignition, hydrogen and oxygen to said hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device, and primary fuel to said primary fuel combustion based system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
294 words
A hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device comprising: hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber walls defining an elongated hydrogen-oxygen combus-tion chamber having a first closed end and an opposite second end providing communication with the primary fuel combustion chamber of a combustion based system; pressurized hydrogen feed means comprising controlled hydrogen control valve means controlling timing and rate of flow, hydrogen source means providing hydrogen at greater than atmospheric pressure and hydrogen injection means providing hydrogen containing gas to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber at about 1.1 to 2.0 times the pressure of other gases in said chamber; pressurized oxygen feed means comprising controlled oxygen control valve means controlling timing and rate of flow, oxygen source means providing oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure and oxygen injection means providing oxygen containing gas to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber at about 1.1 to 2.0 times the pressure of other gases in said chamber; ignition means comprising ignition control means, ignition source means and ignition device means providing ignition energy in said first closed end of said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber to ignite the hy-drogen-oxygen mixture therein and the combustion products thereof passing through said second end to said primary fuel combustion chamber; primary fuel feed means comprising primary fuel control valve means, primary fuel source means and primary fuel injection means providing primary fuel to said primary fuel combustion chamber; the primary fuel being ignited by said combustion products from said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber, and control means in coordination communication with said combustion based system, said ignition means, said hydrogen control valve means, said oxygen control valve means and said primary fuel valve means to provide quantification and time sequen-eing of ignition, hydrogen and oxygen to said hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device, and primary fuel to said primary fuel combustion based system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of claim 1 wherein said primary fuel feed means additionally comprises a second primary fuel injection means providing a portion of said primary fuel to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said primary fuel combustion chamber additionally comprises pretreatment chamber walls defining a pretreatment chamber portion in communication with said opposite end of said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber on one side and said primary fuel combustion chamber through an unvalued opening on the opposite side, said primary fuel feed means providing primary fuel only to said pretreatment chamber portion of said primary fuel combustion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said primary fuel combustion chamber additionally comprises pretreatment chamber walls defining a pretreatment chamber portion in communication with said opposite end of said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber on one side and said primary fuel combustion chamber through an unvalved opening on the opposite side and said primary fuel feed means additionally comprises a third primary fuel injection means providing at least a portion of said primary fuel to said pretreatment chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 2 wherein said primary fuel combustion chamber additionally comprises pretreatment chamber walls defining a pretreatment chamber portion in communication with said opposite end of said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber on one side and said primary fuel combustion chamber through an unvalved opening on the opposite side, said primary fuel feed means providing primary fuel only to said pretreatment chamber portion of said primary fuel combustion chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 2 wherein said primary fuel combustion chamber additionally comprises pretreatment chamber walls defining a pretreatment chamber portion in communication with said opposite end of said hydrogen oxygen combustion chamber on one side and said primary fuel combustion chamber through an unvalved opening on the opposite side and said primary fuel feed means additionally comprises a third primary fuel injection means providing at least a portion of said primary fuel to said pretreatment chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 7 wherein electrical energy for said water electrolyzer means is provided by an electrical generator driven by said combustion based system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
9, The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 7 wherein electrical energy for said water electrolyzer means is provided by regenerative braking system means on a vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 7 wherein electrical energy for said water electrolyzer means is provided by an exhaust energy recovery means on the exhaust of said combustion chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 2 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 3 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 4 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 5 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 6 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said ignition source means comprises an electrical generator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 16 wherein said ignition device means is spark plugs or glow plugs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 2 wherein said oxygen and. hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 3 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 4 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
24 The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 5 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 6 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises a carburetor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 1 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 2 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 3 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 4 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 5 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation device of Claim 6 wherein said oxygen and hydrogen source means comprises pressurized water electrolyzer means, said ignition device means comprises spark plugs or glow plugs, and said primary fuel injection means comprises injection nozzles.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation process comprising: providing hydrogen and oxygen to a hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber at about 1.1 to 2.0 times the pressure of other gases in said chamber and with controlled timing and rate of flow, the. hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber being in communication with the primary fuel combustion chamber of a combustion based system; igniting and combusting said hydrogen in said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber; pausing the hot hydrogen combustion products from said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber to said primary fuel combustion chamber; and providing primary fuel to said primary fuel combustion chamber, said hot hydrogen combustion products igniting said primary fuel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
102 words
The hydrogen-oxygen thermochemical combustion initiation process comprising: providing hydrogen and oxygen to a hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber at about 1.1 to 2.0 times the pressure of other gases in said chamber and with controlled timing and rate of flow, the. hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber being in communication with the primary fuel combustion chamber of a combustion based system; igniting and combusting said hydrogen in said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber; pausing the hot hydrogen combustion products from said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber to said primary fuel combustion chamber; and providing primary fuel to said primary fuel combustion chamber, said hot hydrogen combustion products igniting said primary fuel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein about stoichiometric amounts of hydrogen and oxygen for combustion of the hydrogen are provided to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein greater than the stoichiometric amount of hydrogen, required for combustion with oxygen provided, is provided to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein less than the stoichiometric amount of hydrogen, required for combustion with oxygen provided, is provided to said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
36 The process of Claim 32 wherein at least a portion of said primary fuel is provided to said hydrogen-oxygen-combustion chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
52 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein said primary fuel is provided only to a pretreatment chamber portion of said primary fuel combustion chamber, said pretreatment chamber having one side in communication with said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber and the other side in communication through an unvalved opening with said primary fuel combustion chamber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein at least a portion of said primary fuel is additionally provided to a pretreatment chamber portion of said primary fuel combustion chamber, said pretreatment chamber having one side in communication with said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber and the other side in communication through an unvalved opening with said primary fuel combustion chamber.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
59 words
The process of Claim 36 wherein said primary fuel provided to said primary fuel combustion chamber is provided only to a pretreatment chamber portion of said primary fuel combustion chamber, said pretreatment chamber having one side in communication with said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber and the other side in communication through an unvalved opening with said primary fuel combustion chamber.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of Claim 36 wherein at least a portion of said primary fuel is additionally provided to a pretreatment chamber portion of said primary fuel combustion chamber, said pretreatment chamber having one side in communication with said hydrogen-oxygen combustion chamber and the other side in communication through an unvalved opening with said primary fuel combustion chamber.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
41 The process of Claim 32 wherein a substantially steady state combustion of primary fuel is conducted in said combustion chamber.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein a cyclic combustion of primary fuel is conducted in said combustion chamber.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein said primary fuel is selected from the group consisting of natural gas, substitute natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, middle distallate fuels, residual oil, alcohol, vegetable oil derivatives, coal and peat.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein said primary fuel combustion chamber is at substantially atmospheric pressure.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein said primary fuel combustion chamber is at an elevated pressure of about 1 to about 300 atmospheres.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein said hydrogen and oxygen is supplied by electrolyzing water.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of Claim 46 wherein electricity for electrolyzing water is produced by electrical generating means driven by said combustion based system.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of Claim 47 wherein said electricity is produced by a vehicular regenerative braking system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
49, The process of Claim 47 wherein said electricity is produced by an exhaust energy recovery system.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein hydrogen is provided in an amount providing about 0.5 to 15 percent of the chemical energy derived from both hydrogen and primary fuel.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of Claim 32 wherein hydrogen is provided in an amount providing about 1 to 8 percent of the chemical energy derived from both hydrogen and primary fuel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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