US3621658A - Combustion process - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS INVENTED IN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE COMBUSTION PROCESS DISCLOSED IN APPLICATION SER. NO 701,254 AND PAT. NO. 3365880 WHICH COMPRISES GENERALLY CONTROLLABLY INTRODUCING SEPARATELY AND SEQUENTIALLY PREDETERMINED AMOUNTS OF A FUEL AND AIR OR A PREBLENDED FUEL-AIR COMBUSTION MIXTURE AND A MASS OF A DISPLACEABLE INERT MASS, USUALLY A GAS, INTO A COMBUSTION ZONE AND UTILIZING THE HEAT OF COMBUSTION FROM RAPID COMBUSTION OF THE FUEL-AIR COMBUSTION ZONE DURING OPERATION WITH A MAGNETIC FIELD MASS. THE PRESENT IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES ENCOMPASSING THE COMBUSTION ZONE DURING OPERATION WITH A MAGNETIC FIELD THEREBY CONFINING AND DIRECTING THE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS TOWARD THE EXHAUST OF SAID COMBUSTION ZONE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY GENERATING ELECTRICAL POWER THEREIN.

Description

United States Patent O 3,621,658 COMBUSTION PROCESS John J. Grebe, Sun City, Ariz. (11604 114th Drive, Youngstown, Ariz. 85363) No Drawing. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 701,254, Jan. 29, 1968, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 584,916, Oct. 6, 1966, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 480,519, Aug. 17, 1965. This application June 16, 1969, Ser. No. 833,770

Int. Cl. F231- 1/12; (106d 5/08 U.S. Cl. 60-205 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DHSCLOSURE This invention is an improvement in the combustion process disclosed in application Ser. No. 701,254 and Pat. No. 3,365,880 which comprise generally controllably introducing separately and sequentially predetermined amounts of a fuel and air or a preblended fuel-air combustion mixture and a mass of a displaceable inert mass, usually a gas, into a combustion zone and utilizing the heat of combustion from rapid combustion of the fuel-air combustion zone during operation with a magnetic field mass.

The present improvement comprises encompassing the combustion zone during operation with a magnetic field thereby confining and directing the combustion products toward the exhaust of said combustion zone and simultaneously generating electrical power therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 701,254, filed Jan. 29, 1968, which in turn was a continuation-in-part af application Ser. No. 584,916, field Oct. 6, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,365,880, which in turn was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 480,519, filed Aug. 17, 1965, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to energy conversion and more particularly is concerned with an improvement in the combustion process and apparatus for generating high kinetic energy, high pressure gases as disclosed in the parent applications set forth herein-before and useful electrical power.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved combustion system giving previously unexpected high kinetic energy and highly efiicient energy conversion as well as electrical power generation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved combustion process for jet engine operation, turbine electrical assemblies and the like where substantially complete consumption of combustion air is possible and wherein high kinetic energies and high electrical power generation are obtained while simultaneously cooling burner metal surfaces, turbine nozzles, turbine blades and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved combustion system based on the disclosure in applications Ser. No. 701,254, Ser. No. 584,916 and Ser. No. 480,519 whereby a highly efficient kinetic energy working gas stream and electrical power output are realized.

These and other objects and advantages readily will become apparent from the detailed description presented hereinafter.

In general in accordance with the disclosure of the parent applications, Ser. No. 701,254 and 584,916, for example, a displaceable inert mass and an explosive fueloxidizer mixture are separately provided in an explosion chamber in a manner such that at least a portion of the inert mass is in front of the fuel-oxidizer mixture and the "ice explosion chamber is cushioned by the displaceable inert mass. The fuel-oxidizer mixture is explosively fired thereby accelerating the displaceable mass in front of the high velocity, high energy combustion products. The inert mass also serves to cushion the combustion chamber and any hardware associated therewith such as one-way check valves, metering equipment and the like from the explosive surge upon combustion. The process is repeated on an orderly cyclic sequence and the resulting high velocity high kinetic energy working product stream is directed from the explosion chamber and energy extracted therefrom.

In one particular embodiment of this combustion process a predetermined quantity of an inert gas from a supply source is passed through a check valve into an explosion combustion tube; i.e. explosion chamber, fitted for pulsed explosive ignition of a fuel-oxidizer combustion mixture; a mixture of fuel and oxidizer, or fuel alone if the oxidizer also is employed as both the oxidizer and the inert gas, the fuel being metered to provide a predetermined fuel-oxidizer mixture is fed into the chamber, the quantities of said fuel and oxidizer in the combustion mixture being at a ratio to provide an explosive mixture which gives a predetermined gaseous exhaust product temperature and pressure upon substantially instantaneous ignition; an additional, usually smaller quantity of inert gas is introduced into the explosion chamber behind the explosive mixture; the explosive fuel-oxidizer combustion mixture is substantially instantaneously ignited in the chamber thereby providing high temperature-high velocity gaseous combustion products compressed and accelerated by the explosive combustion surge. The small slug of inert gas behind the combustion products serves as a butler, acting much like a spring and momentarily at the instant of ignition of the fuel-oxidizer mixture protects the check valve and other hardware and structural members facing the explosion chamber from direct contact by the shock and high temperature of the instantaneous combustion. This slug then becomes a part of the inert gas mass during the next cycle of operation. The hot high velocity compressed and accelerated gaseous combustion products thus become intermittently blended, i.e. slugged. with the cooler inert gas in front. The inert gas mass in front of the combustion products thereby becomes heated and accelerated by the shock waves from the explosive combustion. i.e. the peak of the explosive energy, providing a resultant high temperature-high velocity working gas stream of the entire gaseous mass which is directed toward a venturi nozzle system, for example, with high kinetic energy.

Ordinarily this high velocity working gas stream is directed to a turbine wheel of a turobjet propulsion engine. exhausted through a thrust producing rocket engine exhaust nozzle or fed to a reciprocating engine. an i ertial loading mass, like a blast mat, a mechanical drive or an electrical power generator as in a power plant or the like, such as air at a rocket exit.

The additions of inert gas, fuel and/or a predet rmined fuel-oxidizer mixture and the small following cushion of inert gas to the combustion tube are carried out on a cyclic basis, ordinarily employing a plurality of units in combination thereby assuring continuity of operation. Conveniently, introduction of these components can be controlled by a valve assembly operated by a programmer.

Now, unexpectedly, I have found that the useful combustion process of the parent applications incorporated by reference herein can be still further improved by encompassing the combustion zone, i.e. explosion chamber. during operation with a magnetic field. e.g. field coils, thereby confining and directing the combustion products toward the exhaust and simultaneously generating electrical power.

In actual practice where the principal interest is in generating electrical power by means of the present improved process, the magnetic field may be of the type that is employed to produce direct current as in a standard magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator by directing positive ions to an electrode on one side and electrons to another electrode on the other side of the unit, or it may be of a construction such that it operates by conventional methods of plasma flow control.

In these operations positive ions and electrons are channelled through the central portion of a magnetic coil. Surges in the flow of plasma during the explosive combustion push the magnetic lines of force into a smaller area around the perimeter and thus cause a surge of electrical current in the magnetic field coils. The resulting electrical surges can be recovered as usable electrical power in exactly the same manner as in a standard induction alternator generator, except that in the present process the plasma serves the same function as the windings of the rotor in a standard generator and induces the power surges in the stator.

The frequency of the explosive ignitions in the combustion zone governs to a marked extent the frequency of the resulting generated electrical current. Depending upon the assembly employed this can be varied over a wide range. Ordinarily, it is preferred that the generated power currents have a frequency of from about to about 1000 times or more greater than the frequency of the explosive combustions. Further, if a multiplicity of combustion assemblies are employed, as preferred, the individual electrical power surges in any one combustion unit can be controllably blended with those from others of the integrated system thereby effectively averaging and smoothing the overall output and equalizing the power flow.

The resulting electrical current can be passed through a solid state converter, for example, for use as direct current or fixed frequency alternating current, if desired.

In use of the present improved process in large scale combustion assemblies primarily for electrical power generation, additional benefit and still further increased power extraction is realized by adding to the explosive combustion mass easily dissociated salts that readily are thermally broken into positive and negative ions at temperatures below those at which electrons are produced in sufficient quantities for MHD power extraction. Alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts are particularly effective. Exemplary, but not limiting operable salts include lithium-, sodiumand potassium nitrides, -phosphides and -su.lfides.

Of course, it is to be understood that the high velocity-high kinetic energy working gas stream itself is usable to drive a turbine-generator assembly or do other useful work.

In use of the present improved process primarily for generation of a high velocity-high kinetic energy working product stream, e.g. as in a process of jet propulsion, the prime interest is in converting the kinetic energy of the high temperature gaseous combustion products into linear flow velocity of an increasing mass of air or other gaseous media. In such operations, the magnetic field serves to direct electrically charged particles, e.g. ions and electrons, toward the exhaust as well as mixes these particles with the cool air or other inert gas mass that protects the hardware and shell of the explosive combustion chamber from the initial shock and heat of the substantially instantaneous explosive combustion surges. The air or other gas mass is lighter than the added electrical windings for shielding the structure of the explosion chambers. Nevertheless, the advantage of increased jet engine operational efficiency realized by directing electrical spark discharges through the mass of gaseous fuel and air by a magnetic field while simultaneously generating electrical power for use during flight or other operation of a craft powered by the jet engines mentioned hereinbefore, attests to the practical, operable improvement of the present invention.

Usually a petroleum hydrocarbon, e.g. methane, acetylene and the like, is employed as the fuel and air as the oxidizer. However, it is contemplated that other fueloxidizer systems also can be used; e.g. divers liquid (ammoniacal solution of ammonium nitrate) can be burned with air or oxygen as oxidizer. Similarly, light metal hydrides such as LiH, NaH, MgH metal carbides such as Ca C Na C etc. and liquid hydrogen and the like fuels can be employed. Mixed cracked gaseous products containing, for example, formaldehyde, COS, ethers, ketene, carbon monoxide, peroxides such as the organic peroxides and hydrogen peroxide, ketones, aldehydes and the like are particularly suitable additaments for incorporation into the fuel-air combustion mixture to assure substantially instaneous ignition throughout the combustible mass. These can be introduced from a supply reservoir or, alternatively, be prepared as required by auxiliary cracking techniques using a mixture of impure light hydrocarbons, hydrogen and oxygen containing raw material. To assure the optimum in operability, it is essential that these additives be substantially free of ions and free radicals before being introduced into the fuel-air mixture before combustion. The presence of the latter moieties in the combustion mixture could lower the ignition temperature and cause undesirable pre-ignition. These moieties can be removed by conventional techniques, for example, passage through catalytic screens as employed in miners safety lamps.

The actual metering of the fuel or fuel-air mixture and inert gas into the combustion tube in a predetermined sequence can be achieved by controlled valving using electrical, hydraulic, mechanical or other systems which in turn are programmed or otherwise meshed or synchronized with the combustion initiation operation. The ignition of the fuel vaporized or atomized into the burner tube can be by single spark, multiple spark, spark discharge along the length of the combustion chamber, laser beams entering through pinholes, positive ion beams, electron gun beams or other igniting means such as radiant energy absorbers which can be ignited by a high energy radiant energy discharge and in turn ignite the fuel-air combustion mixture. Illustrative of operable radiant energy absorbers which react exothermically upon ignition are carbon disulfide, nitrogen oxides, acetylene, methylacetylene, diacetylene, ethylene, propylene, HCN, cyanogen derivatives, hydrogen-chlorine mixtures, hydrogen-bromine mixtures and the like. The spark generation or other initiation readily can be timed or programmed to coincide with the completion of the explosive fuel-air mixture in the burner tube. The actual choice of ignition system to be employed in a given process depends on the prime utility to which it is to be put. For example, with electron gun or laser ignition, or other positive control of high speed ignition throughout the explosive mass, the radiation sensitive fuels listed hereinbefore offer limited additional advantages. For large electrical power generating plants, wherein electrical current generation is of prime interest, electrical ignition is more important than the radiant energy absorbers. For propulsion or other utilities wherein the high velocity-high kinetic energy working gas stream is of prime interest, the latter ignition means become more important.

Generally in the practice of the present invention, a plurality of combustion chambers ranging from two to about twelve in number and usually from about four to about eight are employed in combination. In such operations, the resulting working gas stream produced from each chamber is brought into communication with the load, e.g. a turbine or other device to be driven or 0perated by the high energy working gas stream.

Although for some operations the process is carried out using a single combustion chamber assembly, for most operations if the number of combustion chambers is less than two, it may become somewhat difficult to maintain a smooth high temperature combustion product gas feed to the venturi jet or jets or provide an equalized electrical power flow. More than twelve burners can be used although with larger number there may be some difliculty of placement and location of these in a boiler or engine system, particularly in smaller-sized equipment.

Combustion or explosion tubes can be constructed in accordance with recognized burner design. They can be equipped with a multiplicity of igniters as well as other devices to assure substantially instantaneous ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the explosion zone with complete combustion of the explosive fuel gas combustion mixture. Additionally, the wall of the combustion zone can be designed to provide a reflecting surface for redistributing heat and light radiation as well as shock waves away from the metal and toward the discharge area thereby assuring that the maximum energy is directed to the working gas stream.

Preceding the entrance of the explosion zone to each burner tube there is positioned a substantially one way passage which prevents high pressure reverse fluid flow such as, for example, a pressure resistant shock wave trap, a controlled poppet or sleeve valve or an appropriate one way check valve. This one way passage, i.e. shock wave trap or check valve, is of a design which assures that the combustion product gases cannot exit back through the entrance of the combustion tube but must go through the exit, i.e. exhaust, and pass to a nozzle of a turbine or other apparatus to do useful work. The electromagnetic field at the inner side of such mechanical valves or shock wave traps may further restrain reverse flow of hot ionized gases and protect the inlet structures, while generating a pulse surge of electrical power in accordance with the improved process set forth herein.

Air inlet tubes, shock wave traps or check valves, explosive burning tubes, venturi jets and magnetic coils can be fabricated from structural materials currently in use and designed to withstand the temperatures and pressures of operation.

The actual design of these components can be varied depending on the size of the power application or type of jet engine, desired thrust, desired horsepower or kilowatts of electrical energy and the like required or desired for a given operation as is understood by one skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a combustion process which comprises;

(1) separately introducing a displaceable inert mass and an explosive fuel-oxidizer mixture into an explosion chamber to provide at least a portion of the inert mass in front of the fuel-oxidizer mixture and cushioning of said explosive chamber by said displaceable inlet mass,

(2) explosively firing said fuel-oxidizer mixture thereby accelerating the displaceable mass in front of the resuling high velocity, high energy combustion products, and

(3) repeating steps (1) and (2) in an orderly cyclic sequence thereby producing a high velocity-high kinetic energy working product stream the improvement comprising encompassing the explosion chamber with a magnetic field and passing the combustion products through said magnetic field thereby confining and directing the combustion products towards the exhaust of said explosion chamber and simultaneously generating electrical power.

2. The improved combustion process as defined in claim 1 wherein the combustion products are passed through a magnetic field which produces direct current by directing positively and negatively charged particles to separate electrodes.

3. The process as defined in claim 2 wherein additaments promoting substantially instantaneous ignition of the fuel-oxidizer mixture are incorporated therein.

4. The process as defined in claim 2 and including the step of adding to the combustion products easily dissociable salts that readily are thermally broken into positive and negative ions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,041,824 7/1962 Behrman 203 3,185,871 5/1965 Bodine 60-39.76 3,293,852 12/1966 Galli et al 60-264 X 3,449,913 6/ 1969 Grebe 60-3976 3,527,055 9/1970 Rego 6O224 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,952 2/1956 Germany.

BENJAMIN R. PADGETT, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

may UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5 Dated November 23, 1971 Invcncor(s) John Grebe It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent .md that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

lumn 1, line 24, change 'zone during operation with a magnetic field" to correctly read --mixture to accelerate the inert displaceable-- Column 1, line .37, change "field" to --iiled-- Column 5, line 4, change "number" to --numbere-- Signed and sealed this 27th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents