Patents by Inventor John C. Y. Lee

John C. Y. Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6174160
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to prevaporize and premix liquid and/or gaseous fuels with air in two stages at two different temperatures prior to combustion. The invention is directed to the entry of a finely atomized liquid fuel, such as No. 2 diesel, into an inlet end of an annular chamber. Air is mixed with finely atomized liquid fuel, preferably generated by a small flow number liquid fuel nozzle, in a first chamber of the annular chamber at a first (relatively high) temperature for a relatively long residence time. The air and liquid fuel is moved into a second chamber of the annular chamber where a secondary hotter air is injected into the annular chamber by a plurality of staggered high velocity jets to prevaporize and premix the combined fuel and air mixture at a second higher temperature, but for a shorter time. The intense prevaporization and premixing make the mixture suitable for entry into a combustor, but without the need to add water or steam to keep pollutant emissions low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: John C. Y. Lee, Philip C. Malte