Gradual oxidation with heat exchange media
First Claim
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1. A system for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
- an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured (a) to receive a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet, and (b) to maintain an oxidation process of the gas; and
heat exchange media disposed within the reaction chamber, the media being hotter than an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel;
a circulation path configured to circulate the media outside the reaction chamber;
a controller, comprising;
a detection module that detects (i) when an internal temperature of the reaction chamber is above a flameout temperature of the fuel and (ii) when a reaction chamber inlet temperature of the fuel is lower than the autoignition temperature of the fuel; and
a correction module that outputs instructions, based on the internal temperature and/or the inlet temperature detected by the detection module, to control a speed at which the media circulates through the circulation path such that an adiabatic temperature within the reaction chamber is below the flameout temperature of the mixture.
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Abstract
Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
332 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured (a) to receive a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet, and (b) to maintain an oxidation process of the gas; and heat exchange media disposed within the reaction chamber, the media being hotter than an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel; a circulation path configured to circulate the media outside the reaction chamber; a controller, comprising; a detection module that detects (i) when an internal temperature of the reaction chamber is above a flameout temperature of the fuel and (ii) when a reaction chamber inlet temperature of the fuel is lower than the autoignition temperature of the fuel; and a correction module that outputs instructions, based on the internal temperature and/or the inlet temperature detected by the detection module, to control a speed at which the media circulates through the circulation path such that an adiabatic temperature within the reaction chamber is below the flameout temperature of the mixture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to receive a gas mixture comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet, the oxidizer configured to maintain an oxidation process of the gas mixture within the reaction chamber; and a recirculation pathway that directs at least a portion of product gas, after oxidation within the reaction chamber, toward the inlet of the reaction chamber and introduces the product gas into the reaction chamber at the inlet, the product gas being hotter than an auto-ignition temperature of the gas mixture; wherein introduction of the product gas increases an inlet temperature of the gas mixture to be above the autoignition temperature of the gas mixture; a controller, comprising; a detection module that detects (i) when an internal temperature of the reaction chamber is above a flameout temperature of the fuel and (ii) when a reaction chamber inlet temperature of the fuel is lower than the autoignition temperature of the fuel; and a correction module that outputs instructions, based on the internal temperature and/or the inlet temperature detected by the detection module, to control a speed at which the product gas circulates through the recirculation path such that the reaction chamber inlet temperature of the fuel is higher than the autoignition temperature of the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 19)
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12. A system for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to receive a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel through the inlet, the oxidizer configured to maintain an oxidation process of the gas within the reaction chamber; and heat exchange media disposed within the reaction chamber, the media being hotter than an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel; a circulation path configured to circulate the media outside the reaction chamber; a controller, comprising; a detection module that detects (i) when an internal temperature of the reaction chamber is above a flameout temperature and (ii) when a reaction chamber inlet temperature of the fuel is lower than the autoignition temperature of the fuel; and a correction module that outputs instructions to control a speed at which the media circulates through the circulation path (i) to maintain an adiabatic temperature within the reaction chamber below the flameout temperature of the fuel and (ii) to maintain the reaction chamber inlet temperature of the fuel to be greater than the autoignition temperature of the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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Specification