Gradual oxidation with heat control
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
- receiving a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel into an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to maintain an oxidation process;
directing the gas, received from the inlet, in a first direction through a first channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the first channel;
directing the gas, received from the first channel, in a second direction through a second channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the second channel;
directing the gas, received from the second channel, to the outlet; and
heating the gas in the first channel with heat transferred from the second channel through a membrane separating the first channel from the second channel, such that (i) a temperature of at least some of the gas in the first channel is maintained above an autoignition threshold of the fuel, and (ii) the reaction chamber maintains oxidation of the fuel within the reaction chamber without a catalyst;
wherein the gas has a first temperature at an inlet side of the first channel, a second temperature, greater than the first temperature, at an outlet side of the first channel, and a third temperature, less than the second temperature, at an inlet side of the second channel.
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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.
371 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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receiving a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel into an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to maintain an oxidation process; directing the gas, received from the inlet, in a first direction through a first channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the first channel; directing the gas, received from the first channel, in a second direction through a second channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the second channel; directing the gas, received from the second channel, to the outlet; and heating the gas in the first channel with heat transferred from the second channel through a membrane separating the first channel from the second channel, such that (i) a temperature of at least some of the gas in the first channel is maintained above an autoignition threshold of the fuel, and (ii) the reaction chamber maintains oxidation of the fuel within the reaction chamber without a catalyst; wherein the gas has a first temperature at an inlet side of the first channel, a second temperature, greater than the first temperature, at an outlet side of the first channel, and a third temperature, less than the second temperature, at an inlet side of the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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receiving a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel into an oxidizer having a first reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the first reaction chamber being configured to maintain an oxidation process of the fuel; directing the gas, received from the inlet, in a first direction through first channels within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the first channels; directing the gas, received from the first channels, in a second direction through second channels within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the second channels; directing the gas, received from the second channels, to the outlet; and heating the gas in the first channels with heat transferred from the second channels through membranes separating the first channels from the second channels, such that a temperature of at least some of the gas in the first channels is above an autoignition threshold of the fuel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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receiving a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel into an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to maintain an oxidation process; directing the gas, received from the inlet, in a first direction through a first channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the first channel; directing the gas, received from the first channel, in a second direction through a second channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the second channel; directing the gas, received from the second channel, to the outlet; and heating the gas in the first channel with heat transferred from the second channel through a membrane separating the first channel from the second channel, such that (i) a temperature of at least some of the gas in the first channel is maintained above an autoignition threshold of the fuel, and (ii) the reaction chamber maintains oxidation of the fuel within the reaction chamber without a catalyst; wherein directing the gas, received from the second channel, comprises directing the gas through a third channel within the reaction chamber; wherein directing the gas through the third channel comprises directing the gas in the first direction, counter to the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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receiving a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel into an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to maintain an oxidation process; directing the gas, received from the inlet, in a first direction through a first channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the first channel; directing the gas, received from the first channel, in a second direction through a second channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the second channel; directing the gas, received from the second channel, to the outlet; and heating the gas in the first channel with heat transferred from the second channel through a membrane separating the first channel from the second channel, such that (i) a temperature of at least some of the gas in the first channel is maintained above an autoignition threshold of the fuel, and (ii) the reaction chamber maintains oxidation of the fuel within the reaction chamber without a catalyst; wherein directing the gas, received from the second channel, comprises directing the gas through a third channel within the reaction chamber; wherein the third channel is disposed on opposite sides of the second channel along a length of the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for oxidizing fuel, comprising:
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receiving a gas comprising an oxidizable fuel into an oxidizer having a reaction chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the reaction chamber configured to maintain an oxidation process; directing the gas, received from the inlet, in a first direction through a first channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the first channel; directing the gas, received from the first channel, in a second direction through a second channel within the reaction chamber while oxidizing at least some of the gas in the second channel; directing the gas, received from the second channel, to the outlet; and heating the gas in the first channel with heat transferred from the second channel through a membrane separating the first channel from the second channel, such that (i) a temperature of at least some of the gas in the first channel is maintained above an autoignition threshold of the fuel, and (ii) the reaction chamber maintains oxidation of the fuel within the reaction chamber without a catalyst; wherein directing the gas, received from the second channel, comprises directing the gas through a third channel within the reaction chamber; wherein the first channel extends through a first plate on an inlet side of the reaction chamber and the third channel extends through a second plate on an outlet side of the reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification