Patent Publication Number: US-6216613-B1

Title: Combustion process

Description:
This is a Divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/897,939, filed on Jul. 21, 1997. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a coal combustor and, more specifically, will be referred to as an entropic reactor for the combustion of coal in fossil burning plants, such as utility plants. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Most fossil burning plants, such as utility plants, presently utilize a burning or firing combustion process in which most of the thermochemical reaction takes place beyond the burner duct port in the furnace work chamber. Further oxidation of the unburned fuel particles exiting the burner is termed “residual-combustion” and equates to a degree of inefficiency. The negative resultant aspects following initial combustion in the burner effects the reformulation of unburned hydrocarbons having a higher ratio of carbon to hydrogen, an added detriment to the further completion of combustion. In order to finalize combustion, excessive amounts of combustion air must be introduced into the work chamber and various methods of under/over firing with gaseous fuels must be utilized to effect “reburn.” This results in over-voluminous, inefficient and high cost boiler structures. 
     Past attempts by various firms knowledgeable in the art of thermochemical combustion to develop a combustor designed to complete all oxidizing rate-reactions have failed. During the 1980s the DOE funded millions of dollars to such projects. Operationally, the then designed combustors thermochemically failed to totally oxidize the carbonic elements. This resulted in a graphitic “char” formation causing clogging and eventual shutdown of the process. 
     Present firing combustion processes also exhibit post combustion problems which adversely affect the environment. Pollutants formed by sulfurous compounds and nitrous oxides and particulates, unless treated by expensive control systems, typically result from presently utilized combustion processes. A more advanced thermotechnical method for the oxidative combustion of hydrocarbons is desirable in order to eliminate or reduce problems associated with these pollutants. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a new and improved thermotechnology for the design of a combustor for use in, for example, steam generation in the boiler of a utility power plant. The disclosed Entropic Reactor-Combustor (ER-C) structure includes a reactor chamber, combustion chamber, and discharge chamber serially connected along a central axis. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the structure is formed as a single-cell entropic-reactor combustor (ER-C). In this embodiment, each chamber is made of a high temperature and corrosion resistant material such as a refractory/ceramic material. These refractory chambers define, respectively, a reactor zone, combustion zone, and discharge zone that extend through the refractory. 
     According to an illustrated embodiment of the invention, the combustion chamber comprises a venturi and the discharge chamber comprises a diverging nozzle. The single-cell ER-C includes a ceramic baffle insert that is concentrically disposed within the forward end of the reactor chamber. According to the invention, the baffle defines at least one coal-gas passage extending longitudinally through the baffle and includes means for communicating an air-fuel mixture to the reactor zone. A reactor core tube, made of a refractory material, is sealingly engaged by the baffle. The core of the tube is in fluid communication with the coal-gas passage. The tube extends longitudinally through a portion of the reactor zone and terminates into the combustion zone. The reactor core tube communicates a coal-gas mixture from the coal-gas passage to the combustion zone. Means are provided for burning the air-fuel mixture in the reactor zone thereby heating the reactor core tube. The coal-gas mixture passing through the reactor core tube is thereby heated by conduction through the tube before entry into the combustion zone. 
     By irradiating the coal-gas mixture with heat energy the volumetric specific heat of the mixture is substantially raised. It is believed that this irradiation (which may be termed photolytic irradiation) ionizes the coal molecule and causes a debonding of its molecular structure. A molecular reformation of the coal and gas takes place that creates a new fuel mixture before the mixture is discharged from the reactor core tube. This restructuring of the coal-gas mixture effects a more effective and efficient burning upon combustion in the combustion chamber so that carbon by-products or graphitic build-up in the work chamber is substantially reduced or eliminated. 
     According to a feature of the invention, the air fuel mixture is communicated by means of an array of fuel burner ducts spaced from and disposed around the coal-gas passage, and extending longitudinally through the ceramic baffle insert. Disposed around each fuel burner duct is an array of air supply ducts extending longitudinally through the ceramic baffle insert. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the combustion chamber includes a plurality combustion air supply pipes extending radially through the chamber and terminating into the combustion zone. The air supply pipes are equally spaced apart around the periphery of the combustion chamber. There are an even quantity of air supply pipes so that any pipe in the array is diagonally opposed from another pipe in the array. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the entropic reactor combustor (ER-C) comprises a plurality of cells that are used to achieve the desired amount of volumetric specific heat. The design of the reactor chamber is based on an array of planetarily positioned unitized cells. The reactor chamber comprises a ceramic baffle in concentric relation to the reactor core chamber. Extending longitudinally through the baffle, and spaced a distance from the reactor core center, is a first array of integrated ceramic entropic fuel tubes, or ducts, disposed on a first inner radius and a second array of relatively larger ceramic tubes, or ducts, disposed on a larger second radius. Interposed between the first and second radially disposed ducts is an array of corresponding cavity ducts, or gaps, which form a series of interspacial reactor core cells, or a continuous planetary circumferential reactor chamber. 
     A fuel mixture, such as pulverized coal and methane gas, is dispensed into the interspacial reactor core chamber cells through a series of pulverized coal/gas supply nozzles attached to the ends of the reactor core chamber cells. An entropic fuel, such as methane gas, and combustion air are combined in the first and second array of entropic fuel ducts through a series of air/gas mix supply nozzles attached to the ends of the tubes. The air/gas mixture, when burned in the multiple series of entropic fuel ducts, generates intense heat required for conductivity through the walls of the entropic fuel ducts enclosing the interspacial reactor core chamber. The conducted source of continuous heat from the outer surface of the reactor core chamber is radiated to the inner surface of the reactor core to heat the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture during passage through the reactor core chamber. 
     It is believed that in the disclosed apparatus the pulverized coal particles are initially subject to a sufficiently powerful thermalytically induced radiation to degratively decompose the molecular structure of the pulverized coal particles. The thermalytic process maximizes the entropy, and therefore, increases the internal electrostatic energy of the coal molecule. During further passage through the interspacial reactor core chamber the irradative exposure causes critical phase changes, promoting a vaporous/gaseous state. Concurrently, additional rapid operatives promoted by ionization and radicalization of the coal molecules effect requisite molecular reformations critical to subsequent detonative-oxidation of all carbonic elements of the coal particle in the downstream ER-C combustion chamber. 
     Unlike presently utilized conventional flame combustion devices or coal-firing systems, the ER-C thermal technology maximizes thermoflux and specific heats beyond the capability and efficiency of any existing flame syndrome burner. It is believed that, unlike existing industrial or utility power plants having lengthy time sequences for burning fuels by flame combustion, the ER-C process develops improved thermal efficiencies at lower costs. The ER-C substantially averts the problems involving the formation of flame cores resulting from reformed hydrocarbons having a higher ratio of carbon to hydrogen. Flame cores typically result in an undesirable graphitic phase blocking char formation. The high temperature reactions developed by the ER-C act to vaporize the inclusive inert minerals and promote further chemisms to atomize any potentially present tars/chars to a gaseous state. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the ER-C, when utilized with catalytic additives, can convert pollutant by-products, such as sulfur compounds and nitrous oxides into inert, stable compounds. Consequently, the post combustion and stack emissions control costs born by fossil burning plants operated by coal firing may be substantially reduced. 
     According to yet another feature of the invention, insulation is disposed around the periphery of the refractory material. 
     Additional features of the invention will become apparent and a fuller understanding obtained by reading the following detailed description made in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a section elevational view of a single cell entropic reactor combustor showing reactor, combustion, and discharge zones. 
     FIG. 2 is a section view of the FIG. 1 single cell entropic reactor combustor as seen from the plane  22  in FIG. 1 showing an array of air and fuel ducts. 
     FIG. 3 is a broken section elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the single cell entropic reactor combustor showing a diverging discharge nozzle. 
     FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of an entropic reactor combustor constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a section view of the FIG. 4 entropic reactor combustor as seen from the plane  5 — 5  in FIG. 4 showing first and second array ducts. 
     FIG. 6 is a section view of the FIG. 4 entropic reactor combustor as seen from the plane  6 — 6  in FIG. 4 showing an interspacial reactor chamber. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate the overall construction of a “single-cell” Entropic Reactor Combustor (single-cell ER-C)  10 . As shown in FIG. 2, the single-cell ER-C  10  includes a reactor chamber refractory  14 , combustion chamber refractory  16 , and discharge chamber refractory  18  connected in series and defining, respectively, a reactor chamber zone  14   a , combustion chamber zone  16   a  and discharge chamber zone  18   a . The combustion chamber refractory  16  includes a venturi passage defined by an inner wall  22  of the combustion chamber refractory  16 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the discharge chamber zone  18   a  may comprise a uniform cylindrical chamber or a diverging nozzle. Disposed around the periphery of each refractory chamber  14 ,  16 ,  18 , is a high temperature insulation material  15 ,  17 ,  19 , respectively, and a combustor support housing  20  connected to a end plate flange  23 . In concentric relation to the three chambers  14 ,  16 ,  18  is a ceramic baffle insert  30  which extends through an opening  101  in the end plate flange  23  and a reactor core tube  84 . An outer wall  34  of the ceramic baffle insert  30  sealingly engages the forward end of an inner wall  202  of the reactor chamber  14 . The reactor core tube  84  extends substantially the length of the reactor chamber zone  14   a  whereby one end of the reactor core tube  84  is sealingly engaged by a recess  39  in the ceramic baffle insert  30  and the other end is supported by a ceramic tube support  26  and terminates into the combustion chamber zone  16   a  of the single-cell ER-C  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the disclosed embodiment, the ceramic baffle insert  30  defines an array of entropic fuel burner ducts or pipes  64  and an array of air supply ducts  65  that are disposed around each fuel burner duct  64 . The fuel burner ducts  64  and air supply ducts  65  extend longitudinally through the ceramic baffle insert  30  and terminate into the reactor chamber zone  14   a  (as shown in FIG.  1 ). In the disclosed embodiment, there are five equally spaced fuel burner pipes  64  disposed on a radius r, and six equally spaced air supply ducts  65  surrounding each fuel burner pipe  64 . 
     A flanged combustion air chamber  110  is mounted to the end plate flange  23  by a plurality of fasteners or welds. The air chamber  110  allows combustion air to enter each air supply duct  65  at substantially the same volumetric flow rate and pressure. The fuel burner pipes  64  extend rearwardly through the air chamber  110  and are connected to an external entropic fuel supply source (not shown). Conventional sealing methods can be used to seal the interface between the fuel burner ducts  64  and the air chamber  110 . 
     In the disclosed embodiment, an entropic fuel, such as methane, and combustion air are entrained to burners and the products of combustion are routed through the reactor chamber zone  14   a . Conventional fuel burners (not shown) initiate and maintain the necessary pyrolytics for the supply of heat to the reactor core tube  84 . The burning of the entropic fuel in the reactor chamber zone  14   a  generates intense pyrolytic source heat for conduction through the wall of the reactor core tube  84 . 
     The ceramic baffle insert  30  further defines a pulverized coal/gas supply nozzle  85  which is in fluid communication with the reactor core tube  84  and a pulverized coal/gas supply passage  86  connected to an external coal/gas flow control source (not shown). According to the invention, a gas, such as methane, and pulverized coal particles are dispensed into the reactor-core tube  84  through the pulverized coal/gas supply nozzle  85 . 
     The reactor chamber  14  acts as a molecular reactor. The intense heat from the burning methane/air mixture in the reactor chamber zone  14   a  pyrolytically heats the reactor core tube  84 . The heated reactor core tube  84 , in turn, photolytically heats the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture flowing through the reactor core  84 . In effect, the chemisms that take place in the reactor core  84  radicalize the methane gas and pulverized coal. The coal particles and gas are irradiated with high energy photons within the reactor core tube  84 , thereby substantially raising the specific heat of the coal/gas fuel mixture. The photons reach an energy equal to or higher than that of an electron, which causes electrons to be continually emitted. It is believed that this photolytic irradiation ionizes, or degradates, the coal molecule, and causes a debonding of its molecular structure. The gas has a hydrogenolysis effect on the pulverized coal. In other words, two hydrogen atoms are freed from the methane gas molecule, and carbon atoms from the pulverized coal bond to these two freed hydrogen atoms. For this reason, it is necessary that the gas have a sufficient amount of hydrogen to degradate the coal molecule. The gas selected should preferably have a high hydrogen to carbon ratio as in, for example, methane gas (CH 4 ). It is also believed that sublimation takes place during passage of the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture through the reactor core tube  84 ; that is, the irradative exposure causes a phase change in the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture to a vaporous/gaseous state. The new fuel comprises a new group of combustible chemisms that is in the form of a vapor upon discharge from the reactor chamber  14 . 
     Upon entry into the combustion chamber zone  16   a , the new fuel undergoes detonative oxidation combustion. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the oxidizing media used to oxidize the new fuel flows perpendicular to the path of the new fuel. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of combustion air supply pipes  54  extend radially inward through the combustion chamber refractory  16  and terminate into the combustion chamber zone  16   a  via respective air inlet openings  56  defined by the inside wall  22  of the combustion chamber refractory  16 . The air supply pipes  54  are in communication with a combustion air manifold  52  connected to a combustion air supply source (not shown). In the disclosed embodiment, the air supply pipes  54  are equally spaced apart to form a planetary spoked pattern  55 . The air supply pipes  54  are positioned so that the flow of combustion air into the combustion chamber zone  16   a  is perpendicular to the flow of the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture discharged from the reactor core tube  84 . As shown in FIG. 1, an even amount of air supply pipes  54  is preferably used so that flow from one air supply pipe  54  collides with flow from its opposing air supply pipe  54 . It is believed that the use of counterflow directed air supply pipes  54  facilitates turbulence in the combustion chamber zone  16   a  and substantially promotes uniform and instant exposure of the surface areas of coal particles to oxidative rate reactions. 
     The present invention provides significant advantages over conventional burner-type systems. It is believed that by hydrogenating the coal molecule before combustion, that the build-up of unburned hydrocarbons that is found in flame combustion or coal-firing systems is substantially reduced. According to the present invention, the pulverized coal is treated in such a manner that there is no substantial development of double bond carbon elements to produce a graphite. As alluded to above, it is believed that the carbon adheres to the free hydrogen and then becomes a liquid that is later vaporized. Consequently, the ER-C  10  substantially prevents reformed hydrocarbons and graphitic formation that is characteristic of a conventional burner or flame-type system. 
     A bench test model was constructed and tested to demonstrate the principles of the invention with the following dimensions and operating parameters. The reactor chamber zone  14   a  has a diameter of 10.01″ (25.0 cm), length 24.0″ (60.0 cm), circumference 31.42″ (78.54 cm), and volume 1700″ 3  (26,800 cm 3 ). The reactor core ceramic tube  84  has a diameter of 3.0″ (7.5 cm), length 24.0″ (60.0 cm), circumference 9.42″ (23.6 cm), and volume 168.0″ 3  (2652 cm 3 ). The combustor chamber zone  16   a  has a diameter of 8.0″ (20.0 cm), length 10.0″ (25.0 cm), circumference 25.1″ (62.8 cm), and volume 510″ 3  (8000 cm 3 ). 
     The ceramic baffle insert includes an array of five entropic fuel burner ducts  65 , each duct having a diameter of ⅜ inches. The volumetric flow rate of methane gas through each duct  65  is 371 ft 3 /h (10.5 m 3 /h). Combustion-air is communicated to the reactor core chamber  14   a  via an array of five air supply ducts  65  that are disposed around each fuel burner duct  64 . Each air supply duct  65  is preferably ⅜ inches in diameter. There are a total of 25 air supply ducts  65 . The volumetric flow rate of the combustion air is about 3175 ft 3 /h (90 m 3 /h). The ratio of the circumferential surface area of the refractory reactor chamber zone  14   a  to the volume of the reactor chamber zone  14   a  is 1.0/2.5 (based on 4712 cm 2 /26800 cm 3 , or 754″ 2 /1700″ 3 ). 
     The mass flow rate of the pulverized coal particles dispensed into the reactor core tube  84  through the pulverized coal/gas supply passage  86  and nozzle  85  is about 80 lb/h (36 kg/h, or 10 grams/s). The volumetric flow rate of the methane gas through the passage  86  and nozzle  85  is 380 ft 3 /h (10.8 m 3 /h, or 3000 cm 3 /s). The resulting ratio of methane gas to pulverized coal is 300 cm 3 /s gas to 1.0 gram/s pulverized coal. A preferred diameter of the pulverized coal/gas supply passage is 1.15″ (3.125 cm). The circumferential surface area of the reactor core tube  84  (based on the internal diameter) is 226″ 2  (1415 cm 2 ). The ratio of the circumferential surface area of the reactor core tube  84  to the core volume of the reactor core tube is 226″ 2 /168″ 3  (1415 cm 2 /2640 cm 3 ). 
     The ER-C  10  includes four equally spaced radially positioned combustion air supply pipes  54  for directing air flow perpendicular to the flow of the reformulated pulverized coal/gas fuel expelled from the reactor core tube  84 . Each pipe  54  has a diameter of 2.0″ (5.0 cm). The combustion air flow rate through each air supply pipe  54  is about 360 m 3 /h (90 m 3 /h). The venturi defined by the wall  22  of the combustion chamber refractory  16  is approximately a 25 cm:20 cm reduction in cross-sectional area. The volumetric flow rate of the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture expelled by the nozzle  85  enters the combustor combustion chamber zone  16   a  at approximately 13,000 cm 3 /s (46.8 m 3 /h). 
     The temperature in the reactor chamber zone  14   a  was approximately 3000-3200 degrees F. The temperature realized by the coal/gas fuel mixture in the combustion chamber zone  16   a  was approximately 2400-2600 degrees F. The temperature of the combustor chamber was about 3300-3500 degrees F. The power output realized was approximately 360,000 KCal/h (1,500,000 Btu/h). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, another preferred embodiment is illustrated showing the overall construction of a “multi-cell” Entropic Reactor-Combustor (ER-C)  310  for converting chemical energy of a fossil fuel to thermal energy for use in an industrial or utility power generation plant. As shown in FIG. 5, the multi-cell ER-C  310  includes a reactor chamber refractory  314 , combustion chamber refractory  316 , and discharge chamber refractory  318  connected in series and encased in a combustor support housing  320  with a end plate flange  323 . The chambers  314 ,  316 ,  318  define, respectively, a reactor chamber zone  314   a , combustion chamber zone  316   a , and discharge chamber zone  318   a . In concentric relation to the three chambers  314 ,  316 ,  318  is an alloy tube  325  extending through the reactor chamber zone  314   a  to the entry of the combustion chamber zone  316   a  which defines an inner oxidizing media or combustion-air manifold  322  for controlling flow of oxygen or air to the combustion chamber zone  316   a . An outer ceramic baffle insert  330  and an inner ceramic baffle insert  331  are circumferentially positioned between the alloy tube  325  and the reactor chamber  314 . 
     In communication with the inner air manifold  322  are a plurality of radial air supply ducts  340  extending outward to openings  341  in the alloy tube  325 . As shown in FIG. 4, an outer oxidizing media or combustion-air manifold  352  also has a plurality of radial air supply ducts  354  extending inward to openings  356  in the combustion chamber  316 . 
     The inner ceramic baffle insert  331  defines an array  360  of integrated entropic fuel burner ducts  364  disposed on a first radius R 1  and the outer ceramic baffle insert  330  defines an array  370  of larger entropic fuel burner ducts  374  disposed on a larger second radius R 2 . Between the first and second radially disposed entropic fuel ducts  364 ,  374  is an array  80  of configurated cells  384  disposed on an intermediate radius R. The open spaces or voids of the cells  384  form a continuous circumferential chamber, or an interspacial reactor core  385 . 
     A generally circular baffle support flange-plate  410  is mounted to the end plate flange  323  by a plurality of bolts  402 . The baffle support plate  410  is further connected to an interior baffle support plate  400  having an opening  401 . The alloy tube  325  and the inner combustion-air manifold  322  extend through the opening  401  to an external air supply header (not shown). 
     FIG. 5 shows a section view of the ceramic entropic fuel ducts  364 ,  374 . At their upstream end  361 ,  371  the ducts  364 ,  374  begin at the baffle support plates  400 ,  410  and are in communication with a plurality of entropic fuel supply nozzles  450  connected to an external fuel supply source and a combustion air ratioing device (not shown). The radially disposed ducts  364 ,  374  extend the length of the ceramic baffle inserts  330 ,  331  to outlets  362 ,  372 , respectively, adjacent the entrance of the combustion chamber zone  316   a.    
     FIG. 6 shows a section view of the array  380  of the reactor-core cells  384  which form the circumferentially configured reactor core chamber  385 . At their upstream end  381  the cells  384  begin at the baffle support plates  400 ,  410  and are in communication with a plurality of pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture supply nozzles  460  which are connected to an external fuel flow control source (not shown). The interspacial reactor core  385  extends the length of the ceramic baffle inserts  330 ,  331  and terminates at a mix/ignition zone  382  located near the entrance of the combustion chamber zone  316   a . A fossil fuel, such as pulverized coal, and a gas, such as methane, are dispensed into the interspacial reactor chamber  385  through the fuel supply nozzles  460 . 
     In the disclosed embodiment, an entropic fuel, such as methane, and combustion air are entrained to burners and the products of combustion are routed through the first and second arrays  360 ,  370  of the entropic fuel ducts  364 ,  374 . Conventional fuel burners (not shown in detail) initiate and maintain the necessary pyrolytics for the supply of heat to the multiple ducts  364 ,  374 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the outer combustion-air manifold  352  supplies oxygen or air to a plurality of radially extending air supply ducts  354  and inward to air inlet openings  356  in the combustion chamber  316  (as shown in FIGS.  5  and  6 ). Combustion air is also simultaneously dispensed from the inner combustion-air manifold  322  outward to a plurality of radially extending air supply ducts  340  and air inlet openings  341  in the combustion chamber  316 . 
     The use of a multi-cell ER-C  310  for fossil fuel provides several advantages over conventional burner-type systems. The burning process of entropic fuel in the ducts  364 ,  374  of the ceramic baffle inserts  330 ,  331  generates intense pyrolytic source heat for conduction through duct walls  368 ,  378  of the first and second arrays  360 ,  370  of the entropic fuel ducts  364 ,  374 . The reactor chamber  385  utilizes an array  380  of unitized “cells”  384  which bound the interspacial reactor chamber  385 . It is believed that the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture, upon entry into the cells  384 , undergoes a mechanical procedure to disperse and diffuse the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture to effect a reduction to a decimated {fraction (1/10000)} of original volumetric mass. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the outer air supply or oxidizing media ducts  354  are equally spaced apart by an angle alpha to form a planetary spoked pattern  355 . The inner air supply or oxidizing media ducts  340 , which are equal in number to the outer air supply ducts  354 , are also equally spaced apart by an angle alpha on a corresponding planetary spoked pattern  344 . As shown in FIG. 4, the convergently spoked pattern  355  is relatively offset from the divergently spoked pattern  344  by an angle of about ½ alpha. 
     It is believed that the use of the radially positioned inner/outer counterflow directed air supply ducts  340 ,  354  in offset relation facilitates turbulence near the mix/ignition zone  382  in the combustion chamber  316  and results in diffusivity to maximize the dispersive mixing and particle distribution of the reactives, air and fuel, in the combustion chamber  316 . As a result, the heated pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture, or newly created fuel mixture, is uniformly and instantly exposed to the oxidative reaction. Pyrolytics effect the reaction-kinetics for reducing the size of the pulverized coal/gas mixture within the interspacial reactor chamber  385  with the further desirable aspect that the rate-reactions will increase as the molecular weight of the pulverized coal decreases. 
     The combustion technology of the ER-C  310  promotes a detonative-oxidation of the newly created pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture to entropically maximize the internal energy, or electrostatic potential, of the fuel molecule. The molecular structure of the pulverized coal and methane gas relative to the induced pyrolytics by the ER-C core  385  is electronically restructured. The resultant molecular reformations effect the critical chemisms for promoting positive phase changes of the coal molecule from solid to liquid to gas. 
     Like the single-cell ER-C  10  disclosed hereinabove, the multi-cell ER-C  310  utilizes the aspects of photolysis. The high density radiation in the interspacial reactor chamber  385  effects a radical restructuring of the reactants (for example, pulverized coal and methane) in a period of microseconds to a higher disbanding energy level, further maximizing the thermionically/plasmionically created excitation state of photons and electrons. These reactions promote molecular decomposition, degradation, radicalization, ionization and atomization of the pulverized coal. 
     The rapid ion-molecular rate-reactions effected by the multi-cell ER-C  310  maximize thermoflux and specific heats beyond the limit and efficiency of any present flame-syndrome burner system. Unlike the lengthy time sequences for the combustion of fuels experienced by existing deflagration devices, the ER-C  310  develops work chamber temperatures in excess of those presently attained by any industrial or utility plant, and at a lower cost. Averted by the ER-C  310  are the formation of flame cores resulting from reformed hydrocarbons having a higher ratio of carbon to hydrogen. The present invention eliminates or substantially reduces blocking char forming chemisms. 
     The multi-cell ER-C  310 , in combination with conventional catalytic additives, can effect chemisms to plasmionically combine sulfurous and nitrous pollutants and substantially convert them into inert stable compounds conforming to EPA mandated specifications. Eliminating this high price for emission control costs would reflect a higher profit margin for industrial or utility plant operations. 
     FIG. 5 shows an entropic-reactor combustor  10  incorporating the principles of the present invention. The size, shape, quantity, and configurative spacing of the entropic fuel ducts  364 ,  374  geometrically defines the corresponding cells  384  which structurally equate to the resultant interspacial reactor chamber  385 . Most preferably, the first array  360  includes twenty equally spaced ducts  364  disposed on a radius of approximately 32.0 cm (12.5 inches) to form a planetary pattern  366 . The second array  370  includes twenty equally spaced ducts  374  disposed on a radius of approximately 49.3 cm (19.4 inches) to form an outer planetary pattern  377 . Disposed approximately at the center point of the ducts  364 ,  374  initiating near the end plate flange  323  are entropic fuel nozzles  450 . In the preferred embodiment the planetary patterns  366 ,  377  have coincident concentric centers C and about equal angular displacements beta, where beta is approximately 18 degrees. 
     According to the invention, the interspacial reactor chamber  385  preferably includes an array  380  of twenty equally spaced gaps or cells  384  disposed on a radius of approximately 39.6 cm (15.4 inches) to form a circumferential planetary pattern  388 . The planetary pattern  388  is offset from the planetary patterns  366 ,  377  by an angle of about ½ beta, or approximately 9 degrees. Disposed approximately at the center of each of the reactor chamber cells  384  are fossil fuel nozzles  160 . 
     In the disclosed embodiment, the heat conducted through the walls  368 ,  378  of the ducts  364 ,  374  relates to the composition and thickness. A preferred thickness of approximately 30 mm (1.25 inches) would effect an optimum degree of heat transfer for effecting the requisite amount of radiant heat, or photolysis, in the interspacial reactor chamber  385 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5 of the preferred embodiment, it is seen that the refractory chambers  314 ,  316 ,  318  may comprise a concentrically unitized structure. The outer ceramic baffle  330  preferably comprises a generally circular insert having an external wall  334  which engages an internal wall  502  and outlet port  512  of the reactor chamber refractory  314 . An internal wall  335  of the inner ceramic baffle  331  engages an external wall  501  and outlet port  511  of the alloy tube  325 . The interfaces  525  may be formed with any ceramic material and bonding mortar. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the resident time of thermal exposure to the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture developed in the reactor chamber cells  384  relates to the length L of the ceramic baffles  330 ,  331  and the flow velocity of the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the length L is approximately 60 cm (24.0 inches). The velocity of the pulverized coal/gas fuel mixture through the interspacial reactor chamber cells  385  is approximately 1.0 meter (3.3 feet) per second. 
     According to the invention, oxidizing media or combustion-air is introduced in the combustion chamber zone  316   a  through the inner array of air supply ducts  340  from the inner combustion-air manifold  322 . Combustion-air is simultaneously introduced in the combustion chamber zone  316   a  through the outer array of air supply ducts  354  from the outer combustion air manifold  352 . The relative volumetric air flows from the outer/inner manifolds  352 ,  322  can be about: 1.0 cubic meter (35.3 cubic feet) per second/0.66 cubic meter (23.3 cubic ft) per second. 
     Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes to it without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.