Patent ID: 6269625
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: F02C,F23C,F23R,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of preheating a catalytic combustor disposed upstream of an expansion turbine, the catalytic combustor being at ambient temperature, the method comprising the steps of:A) rotating the turbine;B) providing a medium treatable to produce a preheat fuel which when mixed with air forms a preheat air/fuel mixture capable of lighting-off at ambient temperature in the catalytic combustor;C) treating the medium to produce the preheat fuel; immediately thereafterD) mixing the fuel with air to produce the pre-heat air/fuel mixture which is delivered to, and oxidized in, the catalytic combustor, to produce heat; andE) replacing the pre-heat air/fuel mixture with a steady-state air/fuel mixture having a higher light-off temperature than the pre-heat air/fuel mixture, when the catalytic combustor has been heated to the light-off temperature of the steady-state air/fuel mixture.