Patent ID: 11859817
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A combustion burner assembly, comprising:
a fuel source;
an air source;
a furnace;
a fuel transport tube to transport a mixture of fuel from the fuel source and air from the air source to the furnace;
a laser igniter configured to ignite the mixture of fuel and air carried through the fuel transport tube to the furnace, the laser igniter including:
a laser source;
a laser tube to deliver a beam of laser light from the laser source to the mixture of fuel and air in the fuel transport tube; and
an ignition tube disposed within the fuel transport tube to receive a portion of the mixture of fuel and air flowing through the fuel transport tube, wherein the beam of laser light heats and ignites the mixture of fuel and air in the ignition tube, wherein the ignition of the mixture of fuel and air in the ignition tube occurs in a multiple of ignition stages; and

a flow control device configured to reduce a velocity of air coming out of the laser tube to a velocity that is slower than a velocity of the flow of the mixture of fuel and air in the fuel transport tube, creating a recirculation zone in a region between an outlet of the laser tube and an inlet to the ignition tube, wherein the mixture of fuel and air carried in the fuel transport tube recirculates for more exposure in the recirculation zone to the beam of laser light prior to entering the ignition tube.