GB2089964A - Combustion Process - Google Patents

Combustion Process Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2089964A
GB2089964A GB8041168A GB8041168A GB2089964A GB 2089964 A GB2089964 A GB 2089964A GB 8041168 A GB8041168 A GB 8041168A GB 8041168 A GB8041168 A GB 8041168A GB 2089964 A GB2089964 A GB 2089964A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
combustion
plasma
chamber
combustion process
electric discharge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8041168A
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GB2089964B (en
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UK Secretary of State for Defence
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UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by UK Secretary of State for Defence filed Critical UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority to GB8041168A priority Critical patent/GB2089964B/en
Publication of GB2089964A publication Critical patent/GB2089964A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2089964B publication Critical patent/GB2089964B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN  A CARRIER GAS OR AIR 
    • F23C99/00—Subject-matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F02C3/00—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid
    • F02C3/20—Gas-turbine plants characterised by the use of combustion products as the working fluid using a special fuel, oxidant, or dilution fluid to generate the combustion products
    • F02C3/30—Adding water, steam or other fluids for influencing combustion, e.g. to obtain cleaner exhaust gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02C—GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F02C7/00—Features, components parts, details or accessories, not provided for in, or of interest apart form groups F02C1/00 - F02C6/00; Air intakes for jet-propulsion plants
    • F02C7/26—Starting; Ignition
    • F02C7/264—Ignition

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Abstract

A combustion process includes the step of continuous injection (preferably in a series of pulses) into, or generation of, plasma in a combustion chamber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Combustion Process The present invention relates to combustion processes, and in particular to the combustion of fuel/air mixtures in the combustion chambers of gas turbine engines.
It is becoming increasingly important that combustion processes be efficient, not only to ensure maximum utilisation of combustible fuel resources but also to minimse the formation of undesirable combustion products.
According to the present invention a combustion process includes the continuous injection into, or generation of plasma in a combustion chamber.
The plasma is generated by passing an electric discharge through a suitable substance, which can advantageously be a hydrocarbon compound, as it is introduced into the combustion chamber.
In one process the injection of plasma is effected in a series of pulses. Pulses are preferably of the order of thirty milliseconds apart.
It has been found that after passing the electric discharge through a substance as it is introduced into a combustion chamber (the discharge taking of the order of one microsecond) the combustion process within the chamber proceeds with greater efficiency for a period of the order of thirty milliseconds.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing of a combustion chamber.
A combustion chamber 10 having a fuel supply 11 and secondary air holes 12 has a plasma feed 1 3. The plasma feed 13 has a substance supply pipe 14 and electric leads 1 5 whereby an electric discharge can be pulsed by a switch 1 6 across the feed 13.
In use, when combustion is taking place within the chamber 10 a substance such as hydrogen or, preferably, a hydrocarbon such as methane, is supplied through the pipe 14, turned into plasma by electrical discharge from the leads 15, and passed from the feed 13 into the chamber 10.
The presence of the plasma improves the combustion process within the chamber 1 0.
Some modern ignitors use the introduction of plasma into a combustion chamber 10 to initiate combustion within the chamber. A combustion process according to the invention might, therefore, use an igniter as a plasma feed 1 3 to contiuously introduce plasma to the chamber 10 after ignition.
Alternatively plasma may be generated within the chamber by passing an electric discharge between two electrodes within the chamber.
Claims
1. A combustion process including the step of continuous injection of plasma into, or generation of plasma in, a combustion chamber.
2. A combustion process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plasma is generated by passing an electric discharge through a suitable substance.
3. A combustion process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the substance is a hydrocarbon compound.
4. A combustion process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon compound is methane.
5. A combustion process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the plasma is injected in a series of pulses.
6. A combustion process as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pulses are of the order of thirty milliseconds apart.
7. A combustion process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plasma is generated by an electric discharge between two electrodes in the chamber.
8. Combustion apparatus having a combustion chamber and means for providing and igniting a combustible mixture within the chamber, including means for continuously injecting therein a plasma.
9. Combustion apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plasma is injected in a series of pulses.
10. A combustion process substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
11. A combustion process substantially as herein described.
1 2. Combustion apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Combustion Process The present invention relates to combustion processes, and in particular to the combustion of fuel/air mixtures in the combustion chambers of gas turbine engines. It is becoming increasingly important that combustion processes be efficient, not only to ensure maximum utilisation of combustible fuel resources but also to minimse the formation of undesirable combustion products. According to the present invention a combustion process includes the continuous injection into, or generation of plasma in a combustion chamber. The plasma is generated by passing an electric discharge through a suitable substance, which can advantageously be a hydrocarbon compound, as it is introduced into the combustion chamber. In one process the injection of plasma is effected in a series of pulses. Pulses are preferably of the order of thirty milliseconds apart. It has been found that after passing the electric discharge through a substance as it is introduced into a combustion chamber (the discharge taking of the order of one microsecond) the combustion process within the chamber proceeds with greater efficiency for a period of the order of thirty milliseconds. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing of a combustion chamber. A combustion chamber 10 having a fuel supply 11 and secondary air holes 12 has a plasma feed 1 3. The plasma feed 13 has a substance supply pipe 14 and electric leads 1 5 whereby an electric discharge can be pulsed by a switch 1 6 across the feed 13. In use, when combustion is taking place within the chamber 10 a substance such as hydrogen or, preferably, a hydrocarbon such as methane, is supplied through the pipe 14, turned into plasma by electrical discharge from the leads 15, and passed from the feed 13 into the chamber 10. The presence of the plasma improves the combustion process within the chamber 1 0. Some modern ignitors use the introduction of plasma into a combustion chamber 10 to initiate combustion within the chamber. A combustion process according to the invention might, therefore, use an igniter as a plasma feed 1 3 to contiuously introduce plasma to the chamber 10 after ignition. Alternatively plasma may be generated within the chamber by passing an electric discharge between two electrodes within the chamber. Claims
1. A combustion process including the step of continuous injection of plasma into, or generation of plasma in, a combustion chamber.
2. A combustion process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plasma is generated by passing an electric discharge through a suitable substance.
3. A combustion process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the substance is a hydrocarbon compound.
4. A combustion process as claimed in claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon compound is methane.
5. A combustion process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the plasma is injected in a series of pulses.
6. A combustion process as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pulses are of the order of thirty milliseconds apart.
7. A combustion process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plasma is generated by an electric discharge between two electrodes in the chamber.
8. Combustion apparatus having a combustion chamber and means for providing and igniting a combustible mixture within the chamber, including means for continuously injecting therein a plasma.
9. Combustion apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the plasma is injected in a series of pulses.
10. A combustion process substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
11. A combustion process substantially as herein described.
1 2. Combustion apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB8041168A 1980-12-23 1980-12-23 Combustion process Expired GB2089964B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8041168A GB2089964B (en) 1980-12-23 1980-12-23 Combustion process

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8041168A GB2089964B (en) 1980-12-23 1980-12-23 Combustion process

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2089964A true GB2089964A (en) 1982-06-30
GB2089964B GB2089964B (en) 1984-10-17

Family

ID=10518189

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8041168A Expired GB2089964B (en) 1980-12-23 1980-12-23 Combustion process

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2089964B (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2089964B (en) 1984-10-17

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