Abstract: A method for reducing emissions from an engine includes generating a light hydrocarbon fuel fraction and combusting the light hydrocarbon fuel fraction in place of the fuel. The light hydrocarbon fuel fraction is generated by heating the fuel and flowing the fuel through a plurality of hollow fiber superhydrophobic membranes in a membrane module. Each hollow superhydrophobic membrane comprises a porous support and a superhydrophobic layer free of pores that extend from one side of the superhydrophobic layer to the other. Vapor from the fuel permeates the superhydrophobic membranes and enters a distillate collection chamber, producing a distilled fuel in the distillate collection chamber and a residual fuel within the hollow fiber superhydrophobic membranes. The residual fuel is removed from the membrane module and cooled to produce a cooled residual fuel.

Abstract: A fuel system is provided including a diesel fuel reservoir configured to supply a diesel fuel having a first amount of dissolved oxygen. An advanced diesel engine is arranged generally downstream from the diesel fuel reservoir. A deoxygenation system has an inlet fluidly coupled to the diesel fuel reservoir and an outlet fluidly coupled to the advanced diesel engine. The deoxygenation system is configured to remove dissolved oxygen from the diesel fuel. The diesel fuel provided to the advanced diesel engine has a second amount of dissolved oxygen. The second amount of dissolved oxygen is less than the first amount of dissolved oxygen.

Abstract: A method for reducing emissions from an engine includes generating a light hydrocarbon fuel fraction and combusting the light hydrocarbon fuel fraction in place of the fuel. The light hydrocarbon fuel fraction is generated by heating the fuel and flowing the fuel through a plurality of hollow fiber superhydrophobic membranes in a membrane module. Each hollow superhydrophobic membrane comprises a porous support and a superhydrophobic layer free of pores that extend from one side of the superhydrophobic layer to the other. Vapor from the fuel permeates the superhydrophobic membranes and enters a distillate collection chamber, producing a distilled fuel in the distillate collection chamber and a residual fuel within the hollow fiber superhydrophobic membranes. The residual fuel is removed from the membrane module and cooled to produce a cooled residual fuel.

Abstract: A method for fractionating a fuel includes heating the fuel and flowing it through hollow superhydrophobic membranes in a membrane module. Vapor from the fuel permeates the hydrophobic membranes and enters a distillate collection chamber, producing distilled fuel and residual fuel. The residual fuel is removed from the module and cooled. The cooled residual fuel is flowed through hollow tubes in the module and the distilled fuel is removed from the distillate collection chamber. Burning the distilled fuel reduces engine emissions. A fuel fractionation system includes a distillate collection chamber, hollow superhydrophobic membranes, hollow tubes and a distillate outlet. The hollow superhydrophobic membranes receive heated fuel and allow vapor from the heated fuel to permeate the membranes and enter the distillate collection chamber. The hollow tubes receive cooled residual fuel and are positioned to allow vapor in the distillate collection chamber to condense on outer surfaces of the hollow tubes.

Abstract: A method is provided for commissioning a combustion control system for controlling operation of a boiler combustion system. The method includes the step of mapping a plurality of sets of coordinated servo positions for the fuel flow control device and the air flow control device at a plurality of selected firing rate points between a minimum firing rate and a maximum firing rate by using an algorithm and an iterative process to identify the coordinated air and fuel actuator positions instead of a trial and error method.

Abstract: A system for electrically controlling combustion includes a combustion chamber, one or more sensors, an actuator, and a controller. The controller detects dynamic instabilities based upon input regarding conditions in the combustion chamber from the sensors. The actuator electrically modulates combustion, and the controller operates the actuator to counteract the dynamic instabilities.

Abstract: A gas turbine or rocket engine hot section includes a first duct case, a second duct case, a plurality of vanes arranged about an axial centerline, and an igniter located with a first of the plurality of vanes. The first of the plurality of vanes extends axially between a leading edge and a flame holder surface at a trailing edge. The flame holder surface extends radially between a first vane end connected to the first duct case and a second vane end connected to the second duct case. The flame holder surface includes a first section that tapers towards the first vane end, and a second section that tapers away from the first section and towards the second vane end.

Abstract: A gas turbine or rocket engine hot section includes a first duct case, a second duct case, a plurality of vanes arranged about an axial centerline, and an igniter located with a first of the plurality of vanes. The first of the plurality of vanes extends axially between a leading edge and a flame holder surface at a trailing edge. The flame holder surface extends radially between a first vane end connected to the first duct case and a second vane end connected to the second duct case. The flame holder surface includes a first section that tapers towards the first vane end, and a second section that tapers away from the first section and towards the second vane end.

Abstract: A method for fractionating a fuel includes heating the fuel and flowing it through hollow superhydrophobic membranes in a membrane module. Vapor from the fuel permeates the hydrophobic membranes and enters a distillate collection chamber, producing distilled fuel and residual fuel. The residual fuel is removed from the module and cooled. The cooled residual fuel is flowed through hollow tubes in the module and the distilled fuel is removed from the distillate collection chamber. Burning the distilled fuel reduces engine emissions. A fuel fractionation system includes a distillate collection chamber, hollow superhydrophobic membranes, hollow tubes and a distillate outlet. The hollow superhydrophobic membranes receive heated fuel and allow vapor from the heated fuel to permeate the membranes and enter the distillate collection chamber. The hollow tubes receive cooled residual fuel and are positioned to allow vapor in the distillate collection chamber to condense on outer surfaces of the hollow tubes.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmenter has a gas flowpath. A number of vanes extend into the gas flowpath. A number of augmenter fuel conduits have outlets along at least some of the vanes. At least one burner discharge outlet is along at least one of the vanes for discharging a pilot gas.

Abstract: A method is provided for commissioning a combustion control system for controlling operation of a boiler combustion system. The method includes the step of mapping a plurality of sets of coordinated servo positions for the fuel flow control device and the air flow control device at a plurality of selected firing rate points between a minimum firing rate and a maximum firing rate by using an algorithm and an iterative process to identify the coordinated air and fuel actuator positions instead of a trial and error method.

Abstract: A method of combusting a catalyzed hydrocarbon fuel comprising providing a first fluid and a second fluid, at least one of said fluids comprising a mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel with an air stream, passing the first fluid into one or more catalytic tubes of a catalytic reactor, and passing the second fluid adjacent the catalytic tubes in a chamber of a catalytic reactor. A varying tube cross section to modify the flow of one of the fluids is provided for at least a portion of the tube. The flow of the first fluid leaving the catalytic tubes is mixed with the second fluid and combusted.

Abstract: A method of combusting a catalyzed hydrocarbon fuel comprising providing a first fluid and a second fluid, at least one of said fluids comprising a mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel with an air stream, passing the first fluid into one or more catalytic tubes of a catalytic reactor, and passing the second fluid adjacent the catalytic tubes in a chamber of a catalytic reactor. A varying tube cross section to modify the flow of one of the fluids is provided for at least a portion of the tube. The flow of the first fluid leaving the catalytic tubes is mixed with the second fluid and combusted.

Abstract: A catalyst conduit for a catalytic reactor of a turbine combustor, the conduit comprising a tube including an inlet and an outlet, and a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The tube contains a variation in its cross sectional area along at least a portion of its length to change a property of a fluid flowing adjacent the wall of the tube. An oxidation catalyst is deposited on at least a portion of the tube.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmenter has a gas flowpath. A number of vanes extend into the gas flowpath. A number of augmenter fuel conduits have outlets along at least some of the vanes. At least one burner discharge outlet is along at least one of the vanes for discharging a pilot gas.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine using a rich-lean catalytic combustion system includes a rich catalytic burner and a lean catalytic burner. The rich catalytic burner includes a rich catalytic reactor and a heat exchanger. The rich catalytic reactor catalytically burns a fuel rich mixture to provide a heated fuel. The heat exchanger receives a stream of air that absorbs a portion of the heat from the catalytic burning of the fuel rich mixture to keep the reaction in the rich catalytic reactor at or below a threshold temperature. A resulting heated air from the heat exchanger and the heated fuel are mixed in a mixing zone to provide a heated fuel-air mixture. The lean catalytic burner receives and burns the heated fuel-air mixture.

Abstract: An improved method of burning a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion system includes burning the fuel in a main burner under fuel-lean conditions to produce a main flame and burning a low heating value fuel in a pilot burner to stabilize the main flame and limit the amount of NO.sub.x produced in the pilot burner. The pilot fuel can inherently have a low heating value, can be a diluted high heating value fuel, or can be made by partially oxidizing a high heating value fuel. An improved combustion system for burning a hydrocarbon fuel with limited NO.sub.x emissions has a main burner, a pilot burner, and a partial oxidation stage capable of converting a high heating value fuel to a low heating value fuel in a partial oxidation reaction. The system also has means for burning the low heating value fuel in the pilot burner. The system can include means for removing heat from the partial oxidation stage or low heating value fuel to lower the temperature of the pilot flame.

Abstract: A method of combusting a hydrocarbon fuel includes mixing the fuel with a first air stream to form a fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio of greater than 1 and partially oxidizing the fuel by contacting it with an oxidation catalyst to generate a heat of reaction and a partial oxidation product stream. The partial oxidation product stream is mixed with a second air stream and completely combusted in a main combustor at a condition at which appreciable quantities of thermal NO.sub.x are not formed to generate an effluent gas stream, thereby generating an effluent gas stream containing decreased amounts of thermal and prompt NO.sub.x. A system for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel includes, in combination, means for mixing the fuel with a first air stream, a catalytic oxidation stage containing an oxidation catalyst, means for mixing the partial oxidation product stream with a second air stream, and a main combustor capable of completely combusting the partial oxidation product stream.

Abstract: A heat source, may be on a high speed vehicle, may be cooled by transferring thermal energy from the heat source to an endothermic fuel decomposition catalyst in order to heat the catalyst to a temperature sufficient to crack or dissociate at least a portion of an endothermic fuel stream. The endothermic fuel is selected from the group consisting of normal paraffinic hydrocarbons and methanol. The heated endothermic fuel decomposition catalyst is contacted with the endothermic fuel stream at a liquid hourly space velocity of at least about 10 hr.sup.-1 to cause the endothermic fuel stream to crack or dissociate into a reaction product stream.

Abstract: A heat source, which may be on a high speed vehicle, may be cooled by transferring thermal energy from the heat source to an endothermic fuel decomposition catalyst to heat the catalyst to a temperature sufficient to crack at least a portion of an endothermic fuel stream. The endothermic fuel is selected from the group consisting of isoparaffinic hydrocarbons, blends of normal and isoparaffinic hydrocarbons, and conventional aircraft turbine fuels. The heated endothermic fuel decomposition catalyst is contacted with the endothermic fuel stream at a liquid hourly space velocity of at least about 10 hr.sup.-1 to cause the endothermic fuel stream to crack into a reaction product stream.