Abstract: A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

Abstract: A mixing structure can include a body having first conduits, mixture conduits, and second conduits extending through the body to the internal volume. The first conduits may be closer to a first side of the body than the mixture conduits and the second conduits. The second conduits may closer to another side of the body than the first conduits and the mixture conduits. The internal volume may receive liquid streams from an injector. The first conduits and the second conduits may receive gas streams from outside the body. The body may thermally modify the gas streams and entrain the gas streams into the liquid streams in the internal volume. The mixture conduits may be positioned to direct the gas streams entrained into the liquid streams out of the body in directions directed toward the second side of the body and away from the first side of the body.

Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas (e.g., air) from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also includes one or more upper channels and one or more lower channels that are configured to provide a substantially similar amount of flow relative to each other to the interior volume The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.

Abstract: A system and method of igniting a coal air-fuel mixture, including a burner having a burner tube operable to carry a flowing mixture of fuel and air to a furnace for combustion therein and a first flow directing device disposed within the tube, operable to direct a first portion of the flowing fuel and air mixture to a location in the burner tube. The system also includes a laser igniter within the burner tube, the laser igniter including a laser tube having a first end with a laser light input and a second end with a light output, and a laser light source operably coupled to the laser light input. The laser light source, including a laser. The laser ignitor directing photons from the light output at the location in the burner tube to ignite at least a part of the first portion of the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a frame and a pair of fuel injection bodies coupled to the frame. The frame has interior sides that define an opening for passage of a first fluid. Inlet flow paths for the first fluid are defined at least between the interior sides of the frame and the respective fuel injection bodies. Each fuel injection body defines a fuel plenum and includes at least one fuel injection surface that defines a plurality of fuel injection holes in communication with the fuel plenum. An outlet member is located downstream of, and in fluid communication, with the inlet flow paths. The outlet member is configured to produce discrete outlet flow paths exiting the outlet member via struts, flow diverters, and/or separate outlet members.

Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas (e.g., air) from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also includes one or more upper channels and one or more lower channels that are configured to provide a substantially similar amount of flow relative to each other to the interior volume The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.

Abstract: A fuel and gas mixing structure for an engine is provided. This mixing structure includes a body configured to be positioned between a fuel injector and a cylinder of an engine. The body defines an interior volume that is configured to receive gas from outside the body and to receive one or more streams of fuel from the fuel injector in the interior volume. The body also defines one or more mixture conduits configured to conduct plumes of the fuel and gas, while mixing, from the interior volume to one or more exit ports and therethrough to the cylinder.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a frame and a pair of fuel injection bodies coupled to the frame. The frame has interior sides that define an opening for passage of a first fluid. Inlet flow paths for the first fluid are defined at least between the interior sides of the frame and the respective fuel injection bodies. Each fuel injection body defines a fuel plenum and includes at least one fuel injection surface that defines a plurality of fuel injection holes in communication with the fuel plenum. An outlet member is located downstream of, and in fluid communication, with the inlet flow paths. The outlet member is configured to produce discrete outlet flow paths exiting the outlet member via struts, flow diverters, and/or separate outlet members.