Method of starting a combustion system utilizing a catalyst

Claim 1

A method starting a combustion system utilizing a catalyst in which upon starting a carbonaceous fuel is combusted in the presence of a catalyst with at least a stoichiometric amount of air for complete oxidation of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water, in which the operating temperature of the catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the fuel-air mixture, which method comprises: a. heating said catalyst in the substantial absence of unburned fuel to bring the catalyst to at least a temperature at which it will sustain mass transfer limited operation; b. forming an intimate admixture of carbonaceous fuel and air; and c. no sooner than essentially concurrently with the catalyst reaching said temperature which will sustain mass transfer limited operation, feeding said admixture of fuel and air to said catalyst for combustion, said combustion being characterized by said fuel-air admixture having an adiabatic flame temperature such that upon contact with said catalyst, the operating temperature of said catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of said fuel-air admixture but below a temperature that would result in any substantial formation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 2

A method starting a combustion system utilizing a catalyst in which upon starting a carbonaceous fuel is combusted in the presence of a catalyst with at least a stoichiometric amount of air for complete oxidation of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water, in which the operating temperature of the catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the fuel-air mixture, which method comprises: a. heating said catalyst in the substantial absence of unburned fuel to bring the catalyst to at least a temperature at which it will sustain mass transfer limited operation; b. forming an intimate admixture of carbonaceous fuel and air; and c. no sooner than essentially concurrently with the catalyst reaching said temperature which will sustain mass transfer limited operation, feeding said admixture of fuel and air to said catalyst for combustion, said combustion being characterized by said fuel-air admixture having an adiabatic flame temperature such that upon contact with said catalyst, the operating temperature of said catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of said fuel-air admixture but below a temperature that would result in any substantial formation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 11

A method of starting a gas turbine system in which upon starting a carbonaceous fuel is combusted in the presence of a catalyst with at least a stoichiometric amount of air for complete oxidation of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water, in which the operating temperature of the catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the fuel-air mixture, to thereby provide motive fluid to drive said turbine, which method comprises: a. heating said catalyst in the substantial absence of unburned fuel to bring the catalyst to at least a temperature at which it will sustain mass transfer limited operation; b. forming an intimate admixture of carbonaceous fuel and air; c. no sooner than essentially concurrently with the catalyst reaching said temperature which will sustain mass transfer limited operation, feeding said stoichiometric mixture of fuel and air to said catalyst for combustion, said combustion being carried out under essentially adiabatic conditions and being characterized by said fuel-air admixture having an adiabatic flame temperature such that upon contact with said catalyst, the operating temperature of said catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of said fuel-air admixture but below a temperature that would result in any substantial formation of oxides of nitrogen; and d. passing effluent from said combustion through said turbine to rotate the turbine.

Claim 12

A method of starting a gas turbine system in which upon starting a carbonaceous fuel is combusted in the presence of a catalyst with at least a stoichiometric amount of air for complete oxidation of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water, in which the operating temperature of the catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the fuel-air mixture, to thereby provide motive fluid to drive said turbine, which method comprises: a. heating said catalyst in the substantial absence of unburned fuel to bring the catalyst to at least a temperature at which it will sustain mass transfer limited operation; b. forming an intimate admixture of carbonaceous fuel and air; c. no sooner than essentially concurrently with the catalyst reaching said temperature which will sustain mass transfer limited operation, feeding said stoichiometric mixture of fuel and air to said catalyst for combustion, said combustion being carried out under essentially adiabatic conditions and being characterized by said fuel-air admixture having an adiabatic flame temperature such that upon contact with said catalyst, the operating temperature of said catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of said fuel-air admixture but below a temperature that would result in any substantial formation of oxides of nitrogen; and d. passing effluent from said combustion through said turbine to rotate the turbine.

Claim 18

A method of starting a combustion system utilizing a catalyst in which upon starting a carbonaceous fuel is combusted in the presence of a catalyst with at least a stoichiometric amount of air for complete oxidation of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water, in which the operating temperature of the catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the fuel-air mixture, which method comprises: a. forming a first mixture of fuel and air; b. thermally combusting said first mixture in a thermal combustion zone to provide a source of heat and directing said heat to the catalyst in the substantial absence of unburned fuel to bring said catalyst at least to a temperature at which it will sustain mass transfer limited operation; c. forming a second mixture of carbonaceous fuel and air in intimate admixture; d. no sooner than essentially concurrently with the catalyst reaching said temperature which will sustain mass transfer limited operation, feeding said admixture of fuel and air to said catalyst for combustion, said combustion being characterized by said fuel-air admixture having an adiabatic flame temperature such that upon contact with said catalyst, the operating temperature of said catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of said fuel-air admixture but below a temperature that would result in any substantial formation of oxides of nitrogen.

Claim 19

A method of starting a combustion system utilizing a catalyst in which upon starting a carbonaceous fuel is combusted in the presence of a catalyst with at least a stoichiometric amount of air for complete oxidation of the fuel to carbon dioxide and water, in which the operating temperature of the catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of the fuel-air mixture, which method comprises: a. forming a first mixture of fuel and air; b. thermally combusting said first mixture in a thermal combustion zone to provide a source of heat and directing said heat to the catalyst in the substantial absence of unburned fuel to bring said catalyst at least to a temperature at which it will sustain mass transfer limited operation; c. forming a second mixture of carbonaceous fuel and air in intimate admixture; d. no sooner than essentially concurrently with the catalyst reaching said temperature which will sustain mass transfer limited operation, feeding said admixture of fuel and air to said catalyst for combustion, said combustion being characterized by said fuel-air admixture having an adiabatic flame temperature such that upon contact with said catalyst, the operating temperature of said catalyst is substantially above the instantaneous auto-ignition temperature of said fuel-air admixture but below a temperature that would result in any substantial formation of oxides of nitrogen.