Patent ID: 7837462
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: F23C,F23N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: delivering fuel and oxidant to a combustion chamber at target rates that together have a target fuel-to-oxidant ratio, while delivering no additional oxidant to the combustion chamber, by: a) delivering the entire target rate of oxidant and a first partial target rate of fuel together in a fuel-lean primary reactant stream that is directed into the combustion chamber to define a primary combustion zone; b) simultaneously delivering a second partial target rate of fuel as second stage fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber separately from the primary reactant stream under high temperature conditions that cause the second stage fuel to auto-ignite without requiring a combustion catalyst and thereby to define a secondary combustion zone beside the primary combustion zone; and c) simultaneously delivering the balance of the target rate of fuel at a third partial target rate as third stage fuel that is injected into the combustion chamber under high temperature conditions that cause the third stage fuel to auto-ignite without requiring a combustion catalyst and thereby to define a tertiary combustion zone downstream of the primary and secondary combustion zones.