Patent ID: 7603841

Claim:
A trapped vortex combustor, comprising: a pressurizable plenum oriented along an axis defining an axial direction, said pressurizable plenum comprising a base and containment walls, said containment walls comprising a ceiling; an oxidant inlet for receiving a gaseous oxidant; a fuel inlet for receiving a gaseous fuel, said gaseous fuel comprising hydrogen; a first bluff body, said first bluff body extending between said base and said ceiling and having a rear wall; a second bluff body, said second bluff body located downstream from said first bluff body, said second bluff body extending between said base and said ceiling and having a front wall; a mixing zone downstream of said gaseous fuel inlet, said mixing zone upstream of said rear wall of said first bluff body, said mixing zone having a length along said axial direction sufficient to allow mixing of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant to form a lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture stream; wherein the pressurizable plenum, first bluff body, and second bluff body are sized and shaped to receive the premixed fuel and oxidant mixture stream at a velocity greater than the combustion flame speed resulting from combustion of the lean premixed fuel and oxidant mixture composition.