Patent ID: 7296396

Claim:
A method of using a supersonic combustion air heater comprising: providing a starting pressure flow which is expanded through a throat, said pressure flow having a starting total pressure Po 1 ; providing a fixed geometry nozzle having a throat, converging area, and diverging area, wherein said throat is located between said converging area and said diverging area, wherein said diverging area is located downstream of said throat, wherein said throat withstands said pressure flow at Mach 1; providing an inlet air heater upstream of said nozzle to heat said starting pressure flow to a starting temperature defined as To 1 which is greater than 0° C.; providing at least one fuel injection means and at least one flame stabilization means located in said divergent area, wherein said fuel injection means includes a combustible fuel injection means for ignition and for increasing total temperature of said pressure flow in said diverging area, wherein said diverging area having Mach numbers greater than 1; and providing an exit plane adjacent and downstream to said diverging area, wherein said exit plane having a final total pressure Po 2 , and a final total temperature defined as To 2 , wherein said final total temperature is up to about 3000° C., wherein a first said fuel injection means and a first said flame stabilization means is located in said diverging area depending on the dimensions and configurations of said diverging area, said total temperature within said diverging area, and having a final Mach speed at said exit plane, wherein a total pressure ratio Po 2 /Po 1 of up to about 1 which is measured from said starting total pressure and said final total pressure, and said final Mach speed produced at said exit plane, wherein said final Mach speed is varied by heat addition in said diverging area by at least one said fuel injection means and at least one said stabilization means, wherein at said exit plane said final Mach speed is supersonic in a range from between about 1.5 to about 3.