Patent ID: 6269882
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: E21B,F23C,Y02E

Abstract:
A method to ignite a flameless combustor comprising:providing an axial combustion chamber in communication with an inlet for oxidant at one end and in communication with a combustion product outlet at the other end;providing a fuel conduit within the axial combustion chamber, the fuel conduit defining a fuel volume, the fuel volume in communication with a fuel supply, and in communication with the combustion chamber through a plurality of orifices located along the fuel conduit;passing an oxidant selected from the group consisting of nitrous oxide and supplemental oxygen to the combustion chamber;passing a stream of fuel to the fuel volume;heating the stream of fuel, oxidant, or both the stream of fuel and oxidant to a temperature that results in reaction of the oxidant and the fuel when fuel combines with the oxidant;continuing to pass the oxidant to the combustion chamber and fuel to the fuel conduit until the temperature within the combustion chamber exceeds an autoignition temperature of the fuel in air; andreplacing the oxidant with air after the temperature within the combustion chamber exceeds the autoignition temperature of the fuel in air.