Precision Combustion, Inc.

General Energy Recovery, Inc.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Alliedsignal Inc.

Avco Corporation

Richard Mastanduno

Subir Roychoudhury

Bruce Crowder

David Lang Spence

Benjamin D Baird

Francesco Macri

Curtis Morgan

Dennis E Walsh

Chester Ledlie Sandberg

Brian Kay

Sandeep Alavandi

J Kevin Burns

Jonathan Dwight Berry

William C Pfefferle

Jun Iwamoto

Saurabh Vilekar

Go Motohashi

Joel M DesJardins

Julian David Prada Bernal

Christian Junaedi

Jeffrey G Weissman

Eric Walker

Hitoshi Mikami

Eric Edward Allocco

Stephen J Curry

Paul Fazzino

David Spence

Joel M Desjardins

Kevin J Burns

A thermophotovoltaic generator incorporating a two-stage combustor for providing heat to a thermophotovoltaic cell. Combustor parts include a partial oxidation reactor, which functions catalytically to convert a hydrocarbon fuel and a first supply of an oxidant into a gaseous partial oxidation product; and further include downstream thereof, a deep oxidation reactor including a premixer plenum fluidly connected to a heat spreader comprising a porous matrix, such as a ceramic foam. Functionally, the deep oxidation reactor converts the gaseous partial oxidation product and a second supply of oxidant into complete combustion products. Heat produced by the two-stage combustor generates radiative energy from a photon emitter, which is directly converted to electricity in a photovoltaic diode cell.

Two-stage combustor for thermophotovoltaic generator

A regenerable adsorbent system having as constituent parts: a cylindrical perforated plate defining an interior plenum, around which is wrapped at least one layer of sorbent structure supporting a sorbent; and in thermal communication with the sorbent structure is disposed an electrical resistance heater, such as, a heating cable wrapped around the sorbent structure. In one embodiment, the perforated plate includes one or more flow constrictors disposed at a downstream end of the plate. Variations include alternating sections of sorbent structure and heating cable; as well as inserting a porous insulating material to retard heat losses. The system is useful for removing a target compound, such as a contaminant VOC, ammonia, or carbon dioxide, from a fluid flowstream, such as air. When the sorbent is saturated, the system is regenerated by heating the sorbent structure via the electrical resistance heater.

Regenerable adsorbent system

A two-stage combustor having as constituent parts: a partial oxidation reactor, which catalytically converts a hydrocarbon fuel and a first supply of oxidant into a gaseous partial oxidation product; and a deep oxidation reactor having a premixer plenum fluidly connected to a porous heat spreader, which converts the gaseous partial oxidation product to deep oxidation products. In one embodiment, the premixer plenum provides an empty space wherein combustion occurs in flame mode. In a second embodiment, the premixer plenum contains a high pore density foam matrix, absent catalyst, which facilitates holding a flameless combustion downstream within the porous heat spreader. In both embodiments heat produced during combustion is transmitted from the heat spreader to an associated heat acceptor, such as a heater head of a Stirling engine.

Two-stage combustor

A spark-ignited (SI) internal combustion (IC) engine designed to operate on high octane fuels, such as gasoline, is reconfigured to operate on low octane fuels including logistically preferred distillate fuels, such as diesel or JP-8. Design modifications involve coupling a fuel reformer module to the internal combustion engine. Auxiliary components include a system control module, a heat exchange module, a bypass valve to facilitate start-up, and/or a throttle body to control a reformate-oxidizer mixture fed to the engine. Small portable generators having 0.3-3.0 kWe power output are disclosed based upon the modified SI-IC engine design.

Spark-ignited internal combustion engine modified for multi-fuel operation

A process of operating a spark-ignited internal combustion engine (SI-ICE) with improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions including under steady state and under lean-operating conditions at high overall air to fuel (AFR) ratios. A first supply of high octane hydrocarbon fuel, such as gasoline or natural gas, and a first supply of oxidant are fed to a fuel reformer to produce a gaseous reformate with a reforming efficiency of greater than 75 percent relative to equilibrium. The gaseous reformate is mixed with a second supply of oxidant, after which the resulting reformate blended oxidant is fed with a second supply of high octane hydrocarbon fuel to the SI-ICE for combustion. Steady state fuel efficiency is improved by more than 3 percent, when the reformate comprises from greater than about 1 to less than about 18 percent of the total volume of reformate blended oxidant fed to the engine.

Operation of internal combustion engine with improved fuel efficiency

A system and method of producing oil is provided. The system includes a support module that provides air, water and fuel to a well. A steam generator is fluidly coupled to the support module to receive the air, water and fuel. The steam generator includes an injector having a plurality of tubes. The tubes have an outer surface with an oxidation catalyst thereon. The steam generator is configured to divide the supplied air and direct a first portion through the tubes. A second portion of the supplied air is mixed with supplied fuel and directed over the outside of the tubes. The air and fuel is burned in a combustor and water is sprayed on the combustion gases to produce steam. The steam and combustion gases are directed in the direction of the oil reservoir.

System and method of producing oil

A gas-fired burner adapted for use on a liquid fuel. A method for essentially smokeless start-up and steady state operation of a gas-fired burner on a liquid fuel. The apparatus integrates a catalytic liquid fuel reformer with a flame burner designed for operation on a gaseous fuel of high Wobbe Index, e.g., natural gas. The method involves reacting a mixture of a liquid fuel and oxidant in a catalytic reformer to obtain a gaseous reformate having a low Wobbe Index; and thereafter combusting the gaseous reformate, optionally augmented with liquid co-fuel and oxidant, in the gas-fired burner under diffusion flame conditions. The invention allows commercial gas-fired appliances to be operated on a liquid fuel, thereby offering advantages in logistics and camp operations.

Apparatus and method for operating a gas-fired burner on liquid fuels

A flameless cooking apparatus for use with liquid fuels and for indoor or outdoor use under field operations. The burner exhibits low CO and hydrocarbon emissions and meets standards for burner thermal efficiency when used with JP-8 fuel. The apparatus employs a catalytic burner having among its parts (i) a combustion catalyst; (ii) a conductive surface, e.g., cooking surface; and (iii) in between the catalyst and the conductive surface and in direct physical contact with both surfaces, a heat spreader for conductively transferring heat of combustion from the catalyst to the conductive surface. Also claimed are a method of heat flux and a method of cooking.

Flameless cooking appliance

A system and method of producing steam is provided. The system includes a support module and a steam module. The support module is configured to supply air, water and fuel. The steam module includes a casing defining a hollow interior that is fluidly coupled to receive water from the support module. An interface module is provided having a first conduit made from flexible tubing that is fluidly coupled to receive fuel from the support module. The interface module further having a second conduit being made from flexible tubing that is fluidly coupled to receive air from the support module. A combustor is coupled to and spaced apart from the interface portion, the combustor being fluidly coupled to receive fuel from the first conduit and air from the second conduit. A steam generator is coupled to an end of the combustor.

This invention pertains to a thermally-integrated solid oxide fuel cell system, providing for a solid oxide fuel cell stack disposed within a stack hotbox; a heat extractor disposed within the stack hotbox in thermal communication with the fuel cell stack and circumscribed around a full or partial perimeter of the fuel cell stack; a fuel reformer-combustor module disposed within the stack hotbox in thermal communication with the stack and disposed around a full or partial perimeter of the heat extractor; and a manifold fluidly connecting an outlet of the heat extractor to an inlet of a reformer section of the fuel reformer-combustor module.

Thermally integrated solid oxide fuel cell system

An apparatus and method for operating a gas-fired burner on a liquid fuel. The apparatus integrates a catalytic liquid fuel reformer with a flame burner designed for operation on a gaseous fuel of high Wobbe Index, e.g., natural gas. The method involves reacting a mixture of a liquid fuel and oxidant in a catalytic reformer to obtain a gaseous reformate having a low Wobbe Index; and thereafter combusting the gaseous reformate, optionally augmented with liquid co-fuel and oxidant, in the gas-fired burner under diffusion flame conditions. The invention allows commercial gas-fired appliances, such as stoves, ovens, ranges, grills, griddles, stock pot burners, clothes dryers, hot water heaters, and boilers to be operated on a liquid fuel, which offers advantages in logistics and camp operations.

A catalytic burner comprising a burner chamber and a utilization chamber, the burner chamber functionally divided into a fuel-oxidant mixing zone and a catalytic combustion zone. The burner chamber occupies a space disposed between outer and inner tubular walls of the burner. The utilization chamber, which is a space bounded by the inner tubular wall, remains hollow for secondary useful purposes, for example, connection to a heat sink of a Stirling engine and/or incorporation of a second heat source (e.g., solar or geothermal heat source). Auxiliary system components can also be packaged into the utilization chamber. The burner can function in hybrid flame and/or flameless modes, and can further include a recuperator to capture heat by-passing the heat sink.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, CT, United States of America

Richard Mastanduno