Regenerative combustion device
First Claim
1. A regenerative combustion device, comprising:
- a combustion zone comprising a space at least partially bounded by a subterranean surface of a well;
chemicals contained within the combustion zone, having a first equilibrium state, and a second combustible state;
means for transforming the chemicals from the first equilibrium state to the second combustible state; and
an igniter configured to ignite the chemicals in the second combustible state, wherein the chemicals in the first equilibrium state comprise an aqueous solution of water and an electrolyte and the chemicals in the second combustible state comprise gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen and wherein combustion products of the ignition are contained within the combustion zone, and the chemicals are selected such that the combustion products substantially reversibly transform into the chemicals in the first equilibrium state following combustion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A regenerative combustion device having a combustion zone, and chemicals contained within the combustion zone, such as water, having a first equilibrium state, and a second combustible state. Means for transforming the chemicals from the first equilibrium state to the second combustible state, such as electrodes, are disposed within the chemicals. An igniter, such as a spark plug or similar device, is disposed within the combustion zone for igniting combustion of the chemicals in the second combustible state. The combustion products are contained within the combustion zone, and the chemicals are selected such that the combustion products naturally chemically revert into the chemicals in the first equilibrium state following combustion. The combustion device may thus be repeatedly reused, requiring only a brief wait after each ignition to allow the regeneration of combustible gasses within the head space.
59 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A regenerative combustion device, comprising:
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a combustion zone comprising a space at least partially bounded by a subterranean surface of a well;
chemicals contained within the combustion zone, having a first equilibrium state, and a second combustible state;
means for transforming the chemicals from the first equilibrium state to the second combustible state; and
an igniter configured to ignite the chemicals in the second combustible state, wherein the chemicals in the first equilibrium state comprise an aqueous solution of water and an electrolyte and the chemicals in the second combustible state comprise gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen and wherein combustion products of the ignition are contained within the combustion zone, and the chemicals are selected such that the combustion products substantially reversibly transform into the chemicals in the first equilibrium state following combustion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A regenerative seismic sound source for seismological surveys comprising:
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a chamber at least partially bounded by a subterranean surface of a well and containing a liquid electrolyte and a head space;
a plurality of electrodes disposed in contact with the liquid electrolyte;
an igniter disposed in the head space; and
an electrical power source configured to provide electrical power to the electrodes so as to cause the electrolyte to form a combustible mixture within the head space and also to the igniter so as to ignite the combustible mixture within the head space and produce combustion products therefrom, the combustion products being entirely contained within the chamber, the combustible mixture being of a composition such that the combustion products substantially reversibly transform back into liquid electrolyte over time following combustion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system for conducting seismological surveys comprising:
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a subterranean well;
a regenerative seismic sound source comprising;
a combustion zone at least partially bounded by a surface of the subterranean well;
chemicals contained within the combustion zone, having a first equilibrium state, and a second combustible state;
means for transforming the chemicals from the first equilibrium state to the second combustible state;
an igniter for igniting combustion of the chemicals in the second combustible state;
a positioning device configured to position the regenerative seismic sound source within the well;
an electrical power source coupled to the means for transforming the chemicals so as to transform the chemicals from the first equilibrium state to the second combustible state, and also coupled to the igniter to cause ignition and combustion of the combustible chemicals within the combustion zone; and
sensors for detecting seismic waves produced by the seismic sound source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of conducting seismological surveys, the method comprising:
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positioning a regenerative combustion device at a first location within a subterranean well, wherein the combustion device has a combustion zone which is bounded at least partially by a surface of the subterranean well;
providing the regenerative combustion device with a supply of chemicals comprising aqueous solution of water and at least one electrolyte selected to produce a combustible gas having combustion products substantially transformable into the supply of the chemicals;
providing electrical current to the regenerative combustion device to cause production of a combustible gas within the combustion zone through electrolysis of at least a portion of the supply of chemicals, and to ignite the combustion of the combustible gas within the combustion zone; and
detecting seismic waves produced in the ground as a result of the combustion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of performing regenerative combustion, the method comprising:
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forming a combustion chamber bounded at least in part by a subterranean surface;
disposing a liquid electrolyte within the combustion chamber;
creating a combustible mixture from at least a part of the liquid electrolyte;
igniting the combustible mixture and producing combustion products therefrom;
retaining the combustion products within the combustion chamber; and
substantially reversibly transforming the combustion products back into liquid electrolyte. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification