US3982878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Burning rate control in hydrogen fuel combustor
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1975-10-09
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Granted: 1976-09-28
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Expires: 1995-10-09
Abstract
Abstract To a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen or air having the stoichiometric oxygen-to-hydrogen ratio, a diluent gas such as carbon dioxide or argon is added before the mixture is fed to the combustor when the burning rate of the mixture is excessively high. The diluent in the combustion gas can be reused after separation of water.
Inventors
- 👤 Kimitaka Yamane
- 👤 Zene Ueno
- 👤 Akira Morita
- 👤 Tadahiko Nagaoka
- 👤 Shigeo Iwaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:38
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B43/00; F02B43/10; F23; F23L; F23L7/00; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of burning hydrogen contained in a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen or air at a controlled and relatively low burning rate in a combustor, comprising the steps of: regulating the quantitative ratio of oxygen to hydrogen in said gaseous mixture to the stoichiometric ratio; adding a gaseous diluent to said gaseous mixture outside said combustor, said diluent having a heat conductivity not higher than the heat conductivity of nitrogen gas; and feeding the diluted mixture to said combustor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of burning hydrogen contained in a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen or air at a controlled and relatively low burning rate in a combustor, comprising the steps of: regulating the quantitative ratio of oxygen to hydrogen in said gaseous mixture to the stoichiometric ratio; adding a gaseous diluent to said gaseous mixture outside said combustor, said diluent having a heat conductivity not higher than the heat conductivity of nitrogen gas; and feeding the diluted mixture to said combustor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, in advance of the diluent addition, step, the step of burning said gaseous mixture in said combustor for a period of time until the burning rate of said gaseous mixture increases to a predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gaseous mixture is a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the step of: removing water from a combustion gas discharged from said combustor when said diluent is added to said gaseous mixture; and using the remaining part of said combustion gas as said diluent in the addition step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diluent is carbon dioxide gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diluent is argon gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for burning a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen or air, comprising: a combustor; means for feeding said gaseous mixture to said combustor, the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen in said gaseous mixture being the stoichiometric ratio; and means for adding a gaseous diluent to said gaseous mixture before said gaseous mixture is fed to said combustor when the burning rate of said gaseous mixture in said combustor is above a predetermined level, said diluent having a heat conductivity not higher than the heat conductivity of nitrogen gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus for burning a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen or air, comprising: a combustor; means for feeding said gaseous mixture to said combustor, the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen in said gaseous mixture being the stoichiometric ratio; and means for adding a gaseous diluent to said gaseous mixture before said gaseous mixture is fed to said combustor when the burning rate of said gaseous mixture in said combustor is above a predetermined level, said diluent having a heat conductivity not higher than the heat conductivity of nitrogen gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: means for liquefying water contained in a combustion gas discharged from said combustor and separating the remaining part of said combustion gas from the liquefied water; and means for adding said remaining part of said combustion gas to said gaseous mixture before said gaseous mixture is fed to said combustor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for stopping the operation of the diluent addition means when the combustion gas addition means is in operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said diluent is carbon dioxide gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said diluent is argon gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |