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

Claim 16:
17. A method of igniting fuel for combustion in a burner assembly, comprising:
transporting a flow of a mixture of fuel from a fuel source and air from an air source to a furnace with a fuel transport tube;
directing a portion of the flow of the mixture of the fuel and air through an inlet of an ignition tube placed within the fuel transport tube;
directing a beam of laser light from a laser tube into the fuel transport tube towards the mixture of the fuel and air carried through the ignition tube;
heating and igniting the mixture of the fuel and air carried through the ignition tube in a multiple of stages;
supplying the heated and ignited mixture of the fuel and air from the ignition tube to the furnace; and
reducing 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.