Abstract: A novel catalytic reactor is provided for controlling the contact of a limiting reactant with a catalyst surface. A first flow vessel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface has a catalyst deposited on at least a portion thereof. A second flow vessel is positioned within the first flow vessel and the second flow vessel defines a porous surface designed to deliver a fluid uniformly to at least a portion of the interior surface of the first flow vessel.

Abstract: A method for low NOx combustion, without premixing of fuel and air prior to passage to a combustor, is provided wherein a fuel is injected into a reaction zone via an eductor thereby inducing an air flow and producing a fuel-rich mixture. The fuel-rich mixture is reacted and produces partial reaction products plus heat. A portion of the heat is to transferred to a cooling air stream and the cooled partial reaction products are brought into contact with the heated cooling air stream for combustion. Increased injection of the fuel results in an increased induction of the air flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for an aerospace gas turbine engine comprising two stages wherein each stage defines an inlet and an exit. The second stage inlet is in fluid communication with the first stage exit such that a first flowpath is defined and it passes substantially through the second stage. A plurality of flow channel tubes is positioned within the second stage and each flow channel tube passes sealingly through a header plate positioned upstream of the second stage inlet thereby defining a second flowpath that also passes substantially through the second stage. The first flowpath exit and the second flowpath exit are positioned adjacent and proximate to one another to provide for the generation of microflames or microflame jets exiting the second stage from between and around the flow channel tube exits. The first stage of the combustor provides a gasifier and a reformer.

Abstract: A novel catalytic reactor is provided for controlling the contact of a limiting reactant with a catalyst surface. A first flow vessel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface has a catalyst deposited on at least a portion thereof. A second flow vessel is positioned within the first flow vessel and the second flow vessel defines a porous surface designed to deliver a fluid uniformly to at least a portion of the interior surface of the first flow vessel.

Abstract: A novel catalytic reactor is provided for controlling the contact of a limiting reactant with a catalyst surface. A first flow vessel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the interior surface has a catalyst deposited on at least a portion thereof. A second flow vessel is positioned within the first flow vessel and the second flow vessel defines a porous surface designed to deliver a fluid uniformly to at least a portion of the interior surface of the first flow vessel.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the operating temperature of a catalytic reactor using a closed-loop system that provides for varying the reactor input and other operating parameters in order to maintain the operating temperature of the reactor at or near the initial setpoint temperature for operation of the reactor. In one example, maximum and minimum operating temperatures with a catalytic partial oxidation reactor are controlled, as well as maintaining control over the corresponding minimum required ratio of oxygen atoms to carbon atoms, such that the operating temperature within the reactor is maintained below the material limits but above threshold temperatures for coking.

Abstract: A method for operating a hydrogen-fueled gas turbine is provided wherein a supply of fuel is passed to a gas turbine combustor, and a supply of nitrogen and sufficient air to provide at least sufficient compressed air to the gas turbine for fuel combustion is passed to a compressor. A sufficient portion of the compressor discharge flow is passed to a combustor for fuel rich combustion of the fuel flow to the combustor and the fuel is combusted to produce hot combustion gases that are, in turn, passed to a turbine.

Abstract: A novel method is provided for in situ combustion and recovery of oil from underground reservoirs including injecting oxygen into the reservoir at a region near the reservoir floor, establishing a combustion front wherein hot combustion gases rise at the combustion front, withdrawing hot combustion gases from a region near the reservoir ceiling, and extracting oil from a horizontal production well near the reservoir floor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combustor for an aerospace gas turbine engine comprising two stages wherein each stage defines an inlet and an exit. The second stage inlet is in fluid communication with the first stage exit such that a first flowpath is defined and it passes substantially through the second stage. A plurality of flow channel tubes is positioned within the second stage and each flow channel tube passes sealingly through a header plate positioned upstream of the second stage inlet thereby defining a second flowpath that also passes substantially through the second stage. The first flowpath exit and the second flowpath exit are positioned adjacent and proximate to one another to provide for the generation of microflames or microflame jets exiting the second stage from between and around the flow channel tube exits. The first stage of the combustor provides a gasifier and a reformer.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a heated product stream downhole is provided wherein a fuel rich mixture is reacted downhole by contact with a catalyst to produce a partially reacted product stream, the fuel rich mixture comprising fuel and oxygen. The partially reacted product stream is brought into contact with an oxidant thereby igniting combustion upon contact producing a combustion product stream. The combustion product stream may be cooled by injecting a diluent flow such as water or CO2. The cooled combustion product stream may be injected into oil bearing strata in order to reduce the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil.

Abstract: A method is provided for achieving low NOx in the operation of a non-premixed combustion system by reacting a fuel-rich mixture to produce partial reaction products plus heat, transferring a portion of the heat to a bypass air stream, and passing the cooled partial reaction products into non-premixed contact and combustion with a stoichiometric portion of the heated bypass air stream. A supply of fuel and a supply of air is provided; and a fuel-rich mixture is formed and reacted to produce partial reaction products plus a heat of reaction. A portion of the heat of reaction is transferred to a bypass air stream and the cooled partial reaction products are passed into non-premixed contact and combustion with a stoichiometric portion of the heated bypass air stream.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a coal gasifier, preferably an oxygen-blown two zone-coal gasifier, without the need for the addition of water and producing a high LHV-content coal product fuel gas from coal. A first supply of coal, preferably dry coal, first supply of carbon dioxide, and a supply of oxygen are passed into a high pressure combustion vessel wherein the coal reacts with the oxygen and carbon dioxide to form an exothermic zone producing a combustion temperature in excess of the melting point of the ash in the coal. This in turn produces a melted ash and a combustion product gas comprising carbon monoxide. The melted ash is drained or otherwise removed for disposal and the combustion product gas subsequently is passed into an entrained flow reaction vessel. A second supply of dry coal and a second supply of carbon dioxide are injected into the entrained flow reaction vessel wherein the coal thermally reacts with the combustion product gas and the carbon dioxide and produces a product fuel gas.

Abstract: A method is provided for achieving low NOx operation of homogeneous charge, lean burn reciprocating internal combustion engines. The method incorporates providing a fuel-air compression charge having a lean fuel-air ratio of less than the lean flammable limit, compressing the fuel-air compression charge to raise the adiabatic flame temperature to a predetermined value above the lean flammable limit, and igniting the compressed charge for combustion. A non-platinum oxidation catalyst may be included to control carbon monoxide emissions in the exhaust.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a lean-burn homogeneous charge reciprocating internal combustion engine that includes providing an unthrottled fuel-air compression charge having a lean fuel-air ratio, passing the fuel-air compression charge to fill no more than sixty percent of a cylinder within the internal combustion engine, compressing the fuel-air compression charge within the cylinder, igniting the compressed fuel-air compression charge for combustion, and passing exhaust resulting from the combustion to a NOx removal system. A non-platinum oxidation catalyst may be used to control carbon monoxide emissions in the exhaust Engine power may be varied by controlling the engine speed with a continuously variable transmission, by varying the applied engine load to charge a hybrid system battery, or by varying the amount of the lean fuel-air mixture charged.

Abstract: A method of lowered NOx combustion is taught wherein the kinetic rate of NOx formation is reduced for a given combustion temperature in a gas turbine combustor. A supply of fuel is provided along with a supply of ambient air in sufficient quantity to form a fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio greater than about 0.55 when mixed with the fuel. The fuel/air mixture is mixed with a supply of cooled combustion gases in sufficient quantity such that the oxygen content of the resulting air mixture is less than about 18 percent. The resulting air mixture is then passed into the combustor.

Abstract: A method for the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons is provided wherein an endothermic catalyst and an oxidation catalyst are positioned upon a short channel-length metallic substrate; the endothermic catalyst positioned under a surface layer of the oxidation catalyst positioned on the metallic substrate. A fuel-rich supply of hydrocarbons and oxygen is then passed over the substrate. The method includes providing an oxidation catalyst on at least a portion of a surface of the metallic substrate wherein a hydrocarbon is oxidized by an oxygen mass-transfer-limited reaction on the oxidation catalyst surface; and providing an endothermic catalyst on the metallic substrate below the oxidation catalyst surface whereby an endothermic reaction follows the oxygen mass-transfer-limited reaction below the oxidation catalyst surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a heated product stream downhole is provided wherein a fuel rich mixture is reacted downhole by contact with a catalyst to produce a partially reacted product stream, the fuel rich mixture comprising fuel and oxygen. The partially reacted product stream is brought into contact with an oxidant thereby igniting combustion upon contact producing a combustion product stream. The combustion product stream may be cooled by injecting a diluent flow such as water or CO2. The cooled combustion product stream may be injected into oil bearing strata in order to reduce the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil.

Abstract: A method for generating a heated product stream downhole is provided wherein a fuel rich mixture is reacted downhole by contact with a catalyst to produce a partially reacted product stream, the fuel rich mixture comprising fuel and oxygen. The partially reacted product stream is brought into contact with an oxidant thereby igniting combustion upon contact producing a combustion product stream. The combustion product stream may be cooled by injecting a diluent flow such as water or CO2. The cooled combustion product stream may be into an oil bearing strata in order to reduce the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil.

Abstract: A system and a method for improving the thermal efficiency for power production from coal is provided. The system utilizes a gasifier reactor for the conversion of coal to a hot high-pressure fuel gas wherein the fuel gas contains carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The system includes a flow chamber to mix the fuel gas with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a combusted fuel rich product gas that is then passed to a turbine engine connected to the flow chamber. The turbine engine defines a turbine exhaust duct to feed exhaust gas to a reheat combustor and a heat recovery boiler connected to the reheat combustor provides steam to a steam turbine system.

Abstract: A method is provided for maximizing the production of electrical energy from coal by improving the thermal efficiency of gasifiers used in integrated coal gasification combined cycle gas turbine (IGCC) systems. Coal is reacted in a gasifier to produce a product fuel gas containing carbon monoxide from combustion of the carbon of the feed coal, plus additional carbon monoxide from the reduction of carbon dioxide, wherein the reaction of carbon monoxide with water is avoided to conserve the work potential of the product fuel gas which will increase the efficiency of conventional gas turbine systems and high temperature fuel cells. Combustion of the product fuel gas with oxygen produces carbon dioxide which is readily recovered from the exhaust by removal of water, such as from combustion of hydrogen in the coal, and molecular hydrogen from the coal may recovered by permeation through a hydrogen permeable membrane.