Abstract: A flame holder system includes a support structure configured to support a plurality of burner tiles within a furnace volume. The support structure includes a frame supporting a support lattice. A number of burner tiles are arranged in an array on the support lattice. The support structure is configured to be assemblable without tools inside the furnace volume, using components that are sized to fit through an access port in a wall of the furnace.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 3, 2019
Date of Patent:
January 11, 2022
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Jonathan Bucher, Donald Kendrick, James K. Dansie, Douglas W. Karkow
Abstract: A combustion system includes a burner assembly, an electrode positioned within a combustion volume and configured to apply electrical energy to a flame supported by the burner assembly, and a dielectric electrode support extending through a furnace wall into the combustion volume and configured to support the electrode and further configured to be cooled by a coolant fluid circulated therethrough. The electrode support has coolant ports in fluid communication with a coolant channel extending within electrode support. During operation of the combustion system, a fluid coolant flows through the electrode support, holding a temperature of the electrode to within a selected range.
Abstract: A burner supporting primary and secondary combustion reactions may include a primary combustion reaction actuator configured to select a location of the secondary combustion reaction. A burner may include a perforated flame holder structure configured to support a secondary combustion reaction above a partial premixing region. The secondary flame support location may be selected as a function of a turndown parameter. Selection logic may be of arbitrary complexity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2017
Date of Patent:
February 25, 2020
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, James K. Dansie, Jesse Dumas, Donald Kendrick, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A combustion system includes a perforated reaction holder having perforations defined to compensate for a non-uniform velocity of fuel and/or oxidant received across an input face of the perforated reaction holder.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2017
Date of Patent:
January 21, 2020
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Robert E. Breidenthal, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A burner system that employs a perforated flame holder and is configured to combust a powdered solid fuel includes a structure configured to protect the perforated flame holder from erosion caused by particles of the solid fuel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 24, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino, James K. Dansie, Jesse Dumas, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A horizontally-fired flame burner includes a flame holder positioned laterally from the burner. The flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that collectively confine a combustion reaction of the burner to the flame holder.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 6, 2016
Date of Patent:
October 29, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: Technologies are provided for an adaptor for introducing electricity into a combustion chamber, for the purpose of electrical flame or combustion control. The adaptor may be placed between a conventional burner assembly and a conventional combustion chamber wall. The adaptor includes an aperture for admitting electricity into the combustion chamber.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 17, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 29, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Christopher A. Wiklof, Nicholas S. Bromer
Abstract: A combustion system includes an ionizer configured to eject charges (or accept charges) for uptake by a combustion reaction to cause a combustion reaction to carry a majority charge or voltage. The ionizer includes an inner electrode, a dielectric body surrounding the inner electrode, and one or more conductive or semi-conductive inner electrodes disposed on the surface of the dielectric body. The inner and outer electrodes are configured to be in a capacitive relationship.
Abstract: A method for operating a combustion system includes outputting fuel and oxidant from a fuel and oxidant source onto a perforated flame holder. The method further includes sustaining a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 12, 2016
Date of Patent:
August 20, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: Technologies are described for applying electrical energy according to a physical extent of a combustion reaction, which may include: supporting a combustion reaction at a fuel source; sensing a physical extent of the combustion reaction with respect to a plurality of different locations of a plurality of electrodes; and applying electrical energy to the combustion reaction via at least one of the plurality of electrodes responsive to the physical extent of the combustion reaction. Sensing the physical extent of the combustion reaction may include receiving a sensor signal corresponding to the physical extent of the combustion reaction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 18, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Joseph Colannino, David B. Goodson, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Tracy A. Prevo, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a burner system including at least one Coanda surface and at least two electrodes that are biased in a manner to influences a location of fuel flow relative to the at least one Coanda surface and related methods. In an embodiment, a burner system includes at least one Coanda surface, at least one nozzle positioned and configured to emit a fuel flow at least proximate to the at least one Coanda surface, at least two electrodes, and a voltage source operably coupled to the at least two electrodes. The voltage source may be configured to bias the at least two electrodes to generate an electric field at least proximate to the at least one Coanda surface that influences a location of the fuel flow and/or a flame relative to the at least one Coanda surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2014
Date of Patent:
July 30, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Joseph Colannino, Igor Alexeevitch Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A fire tube boiler includes a perforated flame holder configured to hold a combustion reaction that produces very low oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 20, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 23, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Robert E. Breidenthal, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: An charge element disposed proximate to a combustion reaction is caused to carry a voltage while also being prevented from arc-discharging or arc-charging to or from the combustion reaction, by a current limiting element in electrical continuity with the charge element.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
July 23, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A combustion system such as a furnace or boiler includes a perforated reaction holder configured to hold a combustion reaction that produces very low oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 12, 2017
Date of Patent:
July 2, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Robert E. Breidenthal, Joseph Colannino, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A combustion system includes, burner, a camera, and a control circuit. The burner initiates a combustion reaction. The camera takes a plurality of images of the combustion reaction. The control circuit produces from the images an averaged image and adjusts the combustion reaction based on the adjusted image.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
May 21, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Joseph Colannino, Jesse Dumas, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: Technologies are provided for applying energy to a combustion reaction. For example, a method may include supporting a combustion reaction; applying energy to the combustion reaction via one or more control signals; detecting a change in one or more parameters associated with the combustion reaction; comparing the change in the one or more parameters to a database; determining whether the change in the one or more parameters corresponds to a change in the combustion reaction; selecting a change in the one or more control signals from the database; and applying the change in the one or more control signals to change the a value of the energy applied to the combustion reaction responsive to changes in the one or more parameters associated with in the combustion reaction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
May 21, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Joseph Colannino, Richard F. Rutkowski, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, David B. Goodson, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A system and method for electrically controlling a position of a combustion reaction and/or for protecting a flame controller by decoupling an ionizer from a power supply.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 2017
Date of Patent:
May 7, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
Abstract: A combustion fluid flow barrier includes an aperture to control combustion fluid flow. The combustion fluid is charged by a charge generator. The combustion fluid flow barrier includes at least one flow control electrode operatively coupled to the aperture and configured to selectively allow, attract, or resist passage of the charged combustion fluid through the aperture, depending on voltage applied to the flow control electrode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 27, 2014
Date of Patent:
January 29, 2019
Assignee:
CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
Inventors:
Douglas W. Karkow, Christopher A. Wiklof