Patent ID: 8490292

Claim:
A pulse combustion dryer apparatus, comprising: a tailpipe an air inlet passage a pulse combustor, in fluid communication with the air inlet passage to receive airflow through the air inlet passage and in fluid communication with the tailpipe; an igniter, positioned in proximity to the pulse combustor; and, a fluid diode positioned in the air inlet passage, the fluid diode includes an outer body, the outer body defines an outer body wall, the fluid diode includes an inner body, the inner body defines a first inner body wall and a second inner body wall, the inner body is disposed with respect to the outer body such that the first inner body wall and the outer body wall define an outer passage, the fluid diode includes one or more vanes secured to the first inner body wall and extended toward the outer body wall, the second inner body wall defines an inner passage, one or more inlet ports are disposed about the inner body generally proximate a diode first end to admit airflow into the inner passage and one or more outlet ports are disposed about the inner body to distribute airflow from the inner passage into the outer passage to create turbulence, including eddies and cross-flow; wherein the one or more vanes of the fluid diode generally prevents backflow of heated combustion products through the air inlet passage from the pulse combustor; and wherein a tailpipe length controls a period between ignitions by controlling a period of a compression wave and a rarefaction wave generated by the pulse combustor.