Abstract: A combustor may include a nonmetallic combustor body configured to hold a combustion reaction. The combustor may include and one or more electrodes disposed outside the nonmetallic combustor body and configured to apply electrical energy to the combustion reaction. The combustor may include a power supply operatively coupled to the one or more electrodes.

Abstract: A combustion system includes a perforated flame holder, a camera, and a control circuit. The perforated flame holder sustains a combustion reaction within the perforated flame holder. The image capture device 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.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank having an inlet and an outlet, and a flue extending through the tank. A nozzle is positioned near a first end of the flue, arranged so as to emit a fuel stream into the flue, and a flame holder is located within the flue in a position to receive the fuel stream and to hold a flame entirely within the flue.

Abstract: A method of operation of a burner system includes introducing a fuel stream into a perforated flame holder, combusting the fuel stream, with a majority of the combustion occurring between an input face and an output face of the flame holder, and producing a heat output from the combustion of at least 1.5 kBTU/H/in2.

Abstract: A combustion system includes a combustion fluid charge source and a start-up flame holder configured to attract the charge and hold a flame when the combustion system is cool and allow the flame to lift when the combustion system is warmed up.

Abstract: A combustion system such as a furnace or boiler includes a non-planar perforated flame holder configured to hold a combustion reaction.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a co-fired or multiple fuel combustion system is configured to apply an electric field to a combustion region corresponding to a second fuel that normally suffers from poor combustion and/or high sooting. Application of an AC voltage to the combustion region was found to increase the extent of combustion and significantly reduce soot evolved from the second fuel.

Abstract: Gaseous particles or gas-entrained particles may be conveyed by electric fields acting on charged species included in the gaseous or gas-entrained particles.

Abstract: A cracking furnace includes a combustion volume defined in part by a burner wall having a refractory lining. A plurality of perforated flame holders is arranged in an array that is spaced away from the wall, with fuel input faces facing the wall. Each of a plurality of fuel nozzles is positioned and configured to emit a fuel stream toward the input face of a respective one of the plurality of perforated flame holders. Combustion reactions, supported by the fuel streams emitted by the fuel nozzles, and held by the flame holders, release heat, which is emitted by the flame holders as thermal (blackbody) radiation, a portion of which impinges upon, and heats the inner face of the refractory lining. Thermal radiation from the flame holders and the wall impinges upon a load positioned in the approximate center of the combustion volume, between burner walls.

Abstract: A down-fired flame burner includes a flame holder positioned below the burner. The flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that collectively confine a combustion reaction of the burner to the flame holder.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a combustion system is provided, which includes a nozzle configured to emit a diverging fuel flow, a flame holder positioned in the path of the fuel flow and that includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and a preheat mechanism configured to heat the flame to a temperature exceeding a startup temperature threshold.

Abstract: A combustion system includes an electrically actuated flame location control mechanism.

Abstract: A burner system includes a plurality of burners, each having a nozzle positioned to emit a stream of fuel into a combustion volume, and a perforated flame holder, including a plurality of apertures extending between first and second faces thereof, and positioned to receive a stream of fuel from the respective nozzle. In operation, the flame holders are configured to hold a flame substantially within the plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A high voltage can be applied to a combustion reaction to enhance or otherwise control the combustion reaction. The high voltage is switched on or off by a grid electrode interposed between a high voltage electrode assembly and the combustion reaction.

Abstract: An oscillating combustor can support a time-sequenced combustion reaction having rich and lean phases by applying a variable voltage charge to a fuel stream or flame that flows adjacent to a conductive or semiconductive flame holder held in electrical continuity with an activation voltage.

Abstract: A process oven includes a housing structure with a conveyor system configured to carry product through a housing structure from a first opening to a second opening. A perforated flame holder is positioned within the housing structure and configured to apply, to the product, thermal energy released by a combustion reaction held by the perforated flame holder.

Abstract: A charge electrode configured to impart a time-varying charge to a flame and a shape electrode located outside the flame may be driven synchronously by a voltage source through time varying voltage(s). The flame may be flattened or compressed responsive to an electric field produced by the shape electrode acting on the charges imparted to the flame.

Abstract: A low NOx burner is configured to support a combustion reaction at a selected fuel mixture by anchoring a flame at a conductive flame anchor responsive to current flow between charges carried by the flame and the conductive flame anchor.

Abstract: In a combustion system, a charge source is configured to cooperate with a collection plate and a director conduit to cause at least one particle charge-to-mass classification to be reintroduced to a flame for further reaction.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank having an inlet and an outlet, and a flue extending through the tank. A nozzle is positioned near a first end of the flue, arranged so as to emit a fuel stream into the flue, and a flame holder is located within the flue in a position to receive the fuel stream and to hold a flame entirely within the flue.