Patent US5453003A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5453003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catalytic method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-02-14
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Granted: 1995-09-26
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Expires: 2012-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Lean fuel--air mixtures having an adiabatic flame above about 900° Kelvin are combusted by passing at least a portion of the admixture into contact with a mesolith combustion catalyst operating at a temperature below the adiabatic flame temperature, to produce reaction products of incomplete combustion. The incomplete combustion products are then ignited in a reaction chamber, thereby stabilizing combustion.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Pfefferle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:52
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/24; F01N3/26; F01N3/28; F01N3/2882; F23; F23C; F23C13/00; F23C9/00; F23C9/006; F01N2250/00; F01N2250/04; F01N3/30; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F23C2900/00; F23C2900/13002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
The method of combusting lean fuel-air mixtures, which comprises; a. providing a fluid admixture of lean fuel and air having an adiabatic flame temperature above 900 degrees Kelvin; b. passing at least a portion of said fluid admixture through a channel of a microlith combustion catalyst which operates at a temperature below the adiabatic flame temperature of said admixture, thereby producing reaction products of incomplete combustion; c. passing said reaction products to a thermal reaction chamber; and d. igniting and stabilizing combustion of the reaction products in said thermal reaction chamber; said microlith catalyst channel having a flow path of less than about 2 mm. and a ratio of channel path length to diameter of less than about 2 to 1 whereby the flow path through which the portion of fluid admixture passes through the channel is no more than one-half the length for full boundary layer build-up in the channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
The method of combusting lean fuel-air mixtures, which comprises; a. providing a fluid admixture of lean fuel and air having an adiabatic flame temperature above 900 degrees Kelvin; b. passing at least a portion of said fluid admixture through a channel of a microlith combustion catalyst which operates at a temperature below the adiabatic flame temperature of said admixture, thereby producing reaction products of incomplete combustion; c. passing said reaction products to a thermal reaction chamber; and d. igniting and stabilizing combustion of the reaction products in said thermal reaction chamber; said microlith catalyst channel having a flow path of less than about 2 mm. and a ratio of channel path length to diameter of less than about 2 to 1 whereby the flow path through which the portion of fluid admixture passes through the channel is no more than one-half the length for full boundary layer build-up in the channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said admixture has an adiabatic flame temperature below a temperature which would result in any substantial formation of nitrogen oxides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein reaction products in said thermal reaction chamber are backmixed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is electrically heated to the operating temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the adiabatic flame temperature of said admixture is greater than about 1500 degrees Kelvin.
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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) | 1998-09-25 | 1999-03-27 | 1999-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-25 | 2003-03-27 | 2003-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-25 | 2007-03-27 | 2007-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |