US5428951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for active control of combustion devices
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1993-08-16
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Granted: 1995-07-04
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Expires: 2013-08-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved technique for the active control of various combustion devices. This improved technique employs a flame kernel pulse actuator which produces periodic flame kernels by a spark ignition of a stoichiometric air and fuel mixture upstream of the combustion chamber. The discrete flame kernels are convected in a duct of premixed fuel and air which produce discrete pressure oscillations due to the energy release as each discrete flame propagates. Because the source of the energy release is essentially a chemical reaction, the flame kernel pulse actuator is able to produce a substantial amount of energy release even at the high operating pressures which are often encountered in many operational environments. These pressure oscillations may be adjusted to suppress or augment any combustion induced pressure oscillations as well as act to modulate the mixing layer between the fuel and air, thus controlling the downstream combustion process. The flame kernel pulse actuator comprises an actuator housing, a secondary fuel injection system, and an igniter. The combination of the igniter and fuel injection system produces a plurality of discrete flame kernels which are convected downstream toward the combustion chamber. The present flame kernel pulse actuator further includes a pressure sensor which is positioned so as to measure the acoustic oscillations in the combustion chamber and a controller device which uses the output of the sensor to control the frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of the discrete flame kernels.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Wilson
- 👤 Klaus Schadow
- 👤 Robert Smith
- 👤 Ephraim Gutmark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:47
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23C; F23C99/00; F23M; F23M20/00; F23M20/005; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/16; F23R; F23R3/00; F23R3/02; F23R3/16; F23R3/18; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/96; F05D2270/00; F05D2270/01; F05D2270/08; F05D2270/083; F05D2270/14; F23N2225/00; F23N2225/04; F23R2900/00; F23R2900/00013; F23R2900/00014; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A flame kernel pulse actuator for actively controlling the stability of an operating combustion device, said combustion device having an inlet duct, a combustion chamber, a primary fuel injection means, a fuel and air mixture, and an ignition means, said flame kernel pulse actuator comprising: an actuator housing adapted for attachment within said inlet duct of said combustion device, said housing defining an open aft end facing in a downstream orientation with respect to said combustion device; an auxiliary fuel injection means adapted for supplying an auxiliary fuel and air mixture within said actuator housing, said auxiliary fuel and air mixture supplied by said auxiliary fuel injection means being separate from the fuel and air mixture required for the operation of the combustion device; an igniter disposed in said actuator housing which in conjunction with said auxiliary fuel injection means produces a plurality of discrete flame kernels which are convected toward said open aft end of said actuator housing and released into said inlet duct, said discrete flame kernels further releasing a predetermined quantity of energy into said inlet duct and upstream of said combustion chamber, thereby producing discrete pressure oscillations in said inlet duct which propagate towards the combustion chamber; and a controlling means for actively controlling the frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of the discrete flame kernels in said inlet duct which affects the frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of said discrete pressure oscillations which in turn affects the stability of said operating combustion device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A flame kernel pulse actuator for actively controlling the stability of an operating combustion device, said combustion device having an inlet duct, a combustion chamber, a primary fuel injection means, a fuel and air mixture, and an ignition means, said flame kernel pulse actuator comprising: an actuator housing adapted for attachment within said inlet duct of said combustion device, said housing defining an open aft end facing in a downstream orientation with respect to said combustion device; an auxiliary fuel injection means adapted for supplying an auxiliary fuel and air mixture within said actuator housing, said auxiliary fuel and air mixture supplied by said auxiliary fuel injection means being separate from the fuel and air mixture required for the operation of the combustion device; an igniter disposed in said actuator housing which in conjunction with said auxiliary fuel injection means produces a plurality of discrete flame kernels which are convected toward said open aft end of said actuator housing and released into said inlet duct, said discrete flame kernels further releasing a predetermined quantity of energy into said inlet duct and upstream of said combustion chamber, thereby producing discrete pressure oscillations in said inlet duct which propagate towards the combustion chamber; and a controlling means for actively controlling the frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of the discrete flame kernels in said inlet duct which affects the frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of said discrete pressure oscillations which in turn affects the stability of said operating combustion device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 1 wherein said controlling means is an open-loop controlling means further comprising a controller device operatively connected with said auxiliary fuel injection means and said igniter so as to actively control one or more of the parameters consisting of frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of the discrete flame kernels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 1 wherein said controlling means is a closed-loop controlling means further comprising: a sensor disposed in said combustion device, said sensor adapted for measuring any acoustic oscillations in said combustion device; and a controller device adapted for receiving and processing any measured acoustic oscillations from said sensor, said controller device further operatively connected with said auxiliary fuel injection means and said igniter so as to actively control one or more of the parameters consisting of frequency, phase shift, and amplitude of the discrete flame kernels in response to measured acoustic oscillations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 3 wherein said controller device further controls the flame speed of said plurality of flame kernels such that said flame speed is smaller than said auxiliary air and fuel mixture velocity that is convecting said flame kernels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 3 wherein said controller device further controls the auxiliary air and fuel mixture velocity that is convecting said flame kernels such that said flame kernels avoid merging with other flame kernels within said actuator housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 3 wherein said controller device further controls the fuel content of said auxiliary fuel and air mixture supplied by said auxiliary fuel injection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 3 wherein said sensor is a high frequency response pressure transducer adapted to measure acoustic oscillations in said combustion device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 1 wherein said actuator housing is located in said inlet duct and a sufficient distance upstream of said combustion chamber so as to facilitate modulation of mixing layers between the fuel and air mixture used in said operating combustion device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 8 wherein said actuator housing is a cylindrical tube defining an open aft end and an inlet proximate a forward end, said cylindrical tube being centrally and axially oriented in said inlet duct of said combustion device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary fuel injection means is adapted for supplying said auxiliary air and fuel mixture into said actuator housing via a fuel/air inlet proximate a forward end of said actuator housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The flame kernel pulse actuator of claim 1 wherein said igniter is a spark igniter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
245 words
A method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device, said combustion device having an inlet duct, a combustion chamber, a primary fuel injection means, a fuel and air mixture, and an ignition means, said method comprising the steps of: installing a flame kernel actuating device proximate said inlet duct of said combustion device, said flame kernel actuating device capable of producing a plurality of discrete flame kernels; producing a series of discrete flame kernels in said inlet duct of said combustion device which are convected toward a combustion chamber of said combustion device, said discrete flame kernels further releasing a predetermined quantity of energy into said inlet duct thereby producing discrete pressure oscillations which affect the stability of said combustion device; taking measurements of any resulting acoustic oscillations in said combustion device with the use of a sensor, said sensor disposed in said combustion device; processing said measurements of said sensor with a controller device which is adapted for receiving said measurements, said controller device further operatively connected with said flame kernel actuating device so as to actively control frequency of said flame kernels, phase shift of said flame kernel, and amplitude of said flame kernels, in response to said sensor measurements; and adjusting one or more of the parameters consisting of the group; frequency of said flame kernels, phase shift of the flame kernels, and the amplitude of the flame kernels, to achieve a desired form of regulation of said combustion device.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
245 words
A method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device, said combustion device having an inlet duct, a combustion chamber, a primary fuel injection means, a fuel and air mixture, and an ignition means, said method comprising the steps of: installing a flame kernel actuating device proximate said inlet duct of said combustion device, said flame kernel actuating device capable of producing a plurality of discrete flame kernels; producing a series of discrete flame kernels in said inlet duct of said combustion device which are convected toward a combustion chamber of said combustion device, said discrete flame kernels further releasing a predetermined quantity of energy into said inlet duct thereby producing discrete pressure oscillations which affect the stability of said combustion device; taking measurements of any resulting acoustic oscillations in said combustion device with the use of a sensor, said sensor disposed in said combustion device; processing said measurements of said sensor with a controller device which is adapted for receiving said measurements, said controller device further operatively connected with said flame kernel actuating device so as to actively control frequency of said flame kernels, phase shift of said flame kernel, and amplitude of said flame kernels, in response to said sensor measurements; and adjusting one or more of the parameters consisting of the group; frequency of said flame kernels, phase shift of the flame kernels, and the amplitude of the flame kernels, to achieve a desired form of regulation of said combustion device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
186 words
The method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device of claim 12 wherein said step of installing said flame kernel actuator device further comprises the steps of: placing an actuator housing within an inlet duct of said combustion device, said actuator housing defining an open aft end facing in a downstream orientation with respect to said combustion device; connecting an auxiliary fuel injection means to said actuator housing, said auxiliary fuel injection means adapted for supplying an auxiliary fuel and air mixture within said actuator housing, said auxiliary fuel and air mixture supplied by said auxiliary fuel injection means being separate from the fuel and air mixture required for the operation of the combustion device; and placing an igniter in said actuator housing which in conjunction with said fuel injection means produces a plurality of discrete flame kernels which are convected toward said open aft end of said actuator housing and released into said inlet duct, said discrete flame kernels further releasing a predetermined quantity of energy into said inlet duct thereby producing discrete pressure oscillations which affect the stability of said combustion process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device of claim 13 wherein said step of placing an actuator housing within said inlet duct of said combustion device further includes placing said actuator housing a sufficient distance upstream of a combustion chamber so as to facilitate modulation of mixing layers between the fuel and air.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of placing an actuator housing within said inlet duct of said combustion device further includes placing said actuator housing at least three inches upstream of the combustor chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device of claim 12 wherein said sensor is a high frequency response pressure transducer adapted to measure acoustic oscillations in said combustion device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device of claim 13 further comprising the step of connecting said controller device to said auxiliary fuel injection means and said igniter such that said controller device further controls the flame speed of said plurality of flame kernels such that said flame speed is smaller than said auxiliary air and fuel mixture velocity that is convecting said flame kernels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method for actively controlling the stability of a combustion device of claim 13 further comprising the step of connecting said controller device to said auxiliary fuel injection means and said igniter such that said controller device further controls the fuel to air ratio of said auxiliary fuel and air mixture supplied by said auxiliary fuel injection means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |