Catalytic combuster

Claim 2

In a catalytic combuster having a catalyst-filled combustion section for the combustion of hydrogenous fuel and oxygen gases, and a mixing section upstream of said combustion section for mixing said gases preparatory to entering said combustion section, the improvement comprising (a) a housing having a wall defining said mixing chamber, (b) a gas-permeable distributor upstream of said mixing chamber for admitting one of said gases into said mixing chamber in a first direction, (c) a multi-part injector surrounded by said wall for admitting the other of said gases into said mixing chamber in a plurality of directions generally perpendicular to the first direction, (d) an inlet section of said combuster for supplying said other gas to said injector; and (e) a gas-permeable diffuser at the downstream end of said mixing chamber for restricting the outflow of said gases from said mixing chamber and distributing said outflow substantially uniformly over the cross section of said combuster transverse the length of said combuster at the entrance to said combustion section.

Claim 3

A combuster according to claim 1 wherein said gas-permeable gas distributor comprises a perforated plate.

Claim 4

A combuster according to claim 1 wherein said diffuser comprises an open-cell foam.

Claim 5

A combuster according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of openings in said housing upstream of said gas-permeable gas distributor for supplying said first gas behind said distributor.

Claim 6

A combuster according to claim 4 comprising an annular plenum surrounding said openings for supplying said one gas to said openings.

Claim 7

A combuster according to claim 5 wherein said plenum also surrounds said diffuser.

Claim 8

A combuster according to claim 4 including a vestibule between said openings and said distributor for receiving said one gas from said openings.

Claim 9

A combuster according to claim 4 wherein at least two of said inlet mixing and combustion sections are attached one to the other by a quick disconnect connection for convenient access to the innards of the combuster.

Claim 10

A combuster according to claim 8 including a first flange on the end of said inlet section adjacent said mixing section, and a second flange on the end of said mixing section adjacent said inlet section, said first and second flanges abutting each other to sealingly secure said inlet and mixing sections together.

Claim 11

A combuster according to claim 8 including a third flange on the end of said mixing section adjacent said combustion section, and a fourth flange on the end of said combustion section adjacent said mixing section, said third and fourth flanges abutting each other to sealingly secure said mixing and combustion sections together.

Claim 12

A combuster according to claim 9 wherein said first and second flanges are clamped together by means of a strap about the perimeter of said flanges.

Claim 13

A combuster according to claim 10 wherein said third and fourth flanges are clamped together by means of a strap about the perimeters of said flanges.

Claim 14

In a catalytic combuster having a catalyst-filled combustion section for the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen gases, and a mixing section upstream of said combustion section for mixing said gases preparatory to entering said combustion section, the improvement comprising (a) a housing having a wall defining a mixing chamber, (b) a gas-permeable, gas distributor upstream of said mixing chamber for admitting one of said gases into said mixing chamber in a first direction, (c) a distribution ring in said mixing chamber for admitting the other of said gases into said mixing chamber in second and third directions generally perpendicular to the first direction, said distribution ring comprising (i) a first; perforated, annular wall defining a hole in the center of said ring, and (ii) a second perforated annular wall spaced radially outboard said first perforated wall, said first and second walls together defining an annular cavity for receiving said other gas and adapted to inject said other gas in said second and third directions into said mixing chamber radially inwardly through said first permeable wail and radially outwardly through said; second perforated wall, (d) an inlet section of said combuster for supplying said other gas to said distribution ring and (e) a gas-permeable diffuser at the downstream end of said mixing chamber for restricting the outflow of said gases from said mixing chamber and distributing said outflow substantially uniformly over the cross section of said combuster transverse the length of said combuster at the entrance to said combustion section.

Claim 15

In a catalytic combuster having a catalyst-filled combustion section for the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen gases, and a mixing section upstream of said combustion section for mixing said gases preparatory to entering said combustion section, the improvement comprising (a) a housing having a wall defining a mixing chamber, (b) a gas-permeable, gas distributor upstream of said mixing chamber for admitting one of said gases into said mixing chamber in a first direction, (c) a distribution ring in said mixing chamber for admitting the other of said gases into said mixing chamber in second and third directions generally perpendicular to the first direction, said distribution ring comprising (i) a first; perforated, annular wall defining a hole in the center of said ring, and (ii) a second perforated annular wall spaced radially outboard said first perforated wall, said first and second walls together defining an annular cavity for receiving said other gas and adapted to inject said other gas in said second and third directions into said mixing chamber radially inwardly through said first permeable wail and radially outwardly through said; second perforated wall, (d) an inlet section of said combuster for supplying said other gas to said distribution ring and (e) a gas-permeable diffuser at the downstream end of said mixing chamber for restricting the outflow of said gases from said mixing chamber and distributing said outflow substantially uniformly over the cross section of said combuster transverse the length of said combuster at the entrance to said combustion section.

Claim 16

A combuster according to claim 13 including a vestibule between said openings and said distributor for receiving said one gas from said openings.

Claim 17

A combuster according to claim 14 including at least one conduit extending through said vestibule and communicating said inlet with said distribution ring.

Claim 18

A combuster according to claim 15 including a plurality of said conduits each having a mouth for receiving said other gas from said inlet.

Claim 19

A combuster according to claim 16 including a baffle plate separating said vestibule from said inlet, and wherein said plurality of conduits are arranged in a circle concentric with said hole.

Claim 20

A combuster according to claim 17 including a conical deflector concentric with, and radially inboard said circle of mouths for directing said other gas from said inlet into said conduits.

Claim 21

In a catalytic combuster having a catalyst-filled combustion section for the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen gases, and a mixing section upstream of said combustion section for mixing said gases prepatory to entering said combustion section, the improvement comprising (a) a housing having a wall defining said mixing chamber, (b) a first gas-permeable gas distributor upstream of said mixing chamber for admitting one of said gases into said mixing chamber in a first direction, (c) a second gas distributor in said mixing chamber for admitting the other of said gases into said mixing chamber in a plurality of directions generally perpendicular to the direction, said second gas distributor comprising a plurality of blind gas distribution tubes extending into said mixing chamber down stream of said first gas distributor, each of said tubes having a sidewall having a plurality of ports therein downstream of said first gas distributor for injecting the other gas into said mixing chamber in said second directions, (d) an inlet section of said combuster for supplying said other gas to said second gas distributor, and (e) a gas-permeable diffuser at the downstream end of said mixing chamber for restricting the outflow of said gases from said mixing chamber and distributing said outflow substantially uniformly over the cross section of said combuster transverse the length of said combuster at the entrance to said combustion section.

Claim 22

In a catalytic combuster having a catalyst-filled combustion section for the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen gases, and a mixing section upstream of said combustion section for mixing said gases prepatory to entering said combustion section, the improvement comprising (a) a housing having a wall defining said mixing chamber, (b) a first gas-permeable gas distributor upstream of said mixing chamber for admitting one of said gases into said mixing chamber in a first direction, (c) a second gas distributor in said mixing chamber for admitting the other of said gases into said mixing chamber in a plurality of directions generally perpendicular to the direction, said second gas distributor comprising a plurality of blind gas distribution tubes extending into said mixing chamber down stream of said first gas distributor, each of said tubes having a sidewall having a plurality of ports therein downstream of said first gas distributor for injecting the other gas into said mixing chamber in said second directions, (d) an inlet section of said combuster for supplying said other gas to said second gas distributor, and (e) a gas-permeable diffuser at the downstream end of said mixing chamber for restricting the outflow of said gases from said mixing chamber and distributing said outflow substantially uniformly over the cross section of said combuster transverse the length of said combuster at the entrance to said combustion section.

Claim 23

A combuster according to claim 19 wherein at least two of said inlet, mixing and combustion sections are attached one to the other by a quick disconnect connection for convenient access to the innards of the combuster.

Claim 24

A combuster according to claim 20 including a first flange on the end of said inlet section adjacent said mixing section, and a second flange on the end of said mixing section adjacent said inlet section, said first and second flanges abutting each other to sealingly secure said inlet and mixing sections together.

Claim 25

A combuster according to claim 20 including a third flange on the end of said mixing section adjacent said combustion section, and a fourth flange on the end of said combustion section adjacent said mixing section, said third and fourth flanges abutting each other to sealingly secure said mixing and combustion sections together.

Claim 26

A combuster according to claim 21 wherein said first and second flanges are clamped together by means of a strap about the perimeter of said flanges.

Claim 27

A combuster according to claim 22 wherein said third and fourth flanges are clamped together by means of a strap about the perimeters of said flanges.