US2006003276A1PendingUtilityA1

Hydrogen gas fireplace

41
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jul 2, 2004Filed: Jul 2, 2004Published: Jan 5, 2006
Est. expiryJul 2, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Thomas Jerome BachinskiRobert Samuel WaddellDavid OjaDouglas Mark Holm
F24C 9/00F24B 1/1808F24C 3/006
41
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
0
Claims

Abstract

A burner for use in a hydrogen burning appliance that includes a gas enclosure defining a gas distribution chamber and a gas aperture, a burner having a combustion surface, a hydrogen gas source coupled to the gas enclosure, and a flame enhancement member positioned in a path of the combusting hydrogen. The hydrogen gas source supplies hydrogen gas to the gas chamber for distribution to the gas aperture for combustion of the hydrogen gas at the combustion surface. The flame enhancement member may alter properties of the flame such as the flame color.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A gas fireplace comprising: 
 a combustion chamber enclosure, the combustion chamber enclosure defining a combustion chamber;    a burner disposed within the combustion chamber, the burner defining apertures positioned to provide hydrogen gas to a surface of the burner for combustion; and    a flame enhancement member positioned relative to the surface of the burner to engage the combusting hydrogen thereby improving visibility of the combusting hydrogen.    
     
     
         2 . The gas fireplace of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen gas source configured to provide the hydrogen gas to the burner.  
     
     
         3 . The gas fireplace of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen gas source is an electrolyzer.  
     
     
         4 . The gas fireplace of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen gas source is a storage container.  
     
     
         5 . The gas fireplace of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen gas source is a chemical storage device.  
     
     
         6 . The gas fireplace of  claim 1 , wherein the flame enhancement member comprises porous metal foam, a metal screen, or a metal mesh.  
     
     
         7 . The gas fireplace of  claim 1 , further comprising an igniter for igniting the hydrogen gas at the surface of the burner.  
     
     
         8 . The gas fireplace of  claim 6 , wherein the igniter comprises a thermal sensor for monitoring the presence of the combusting hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         9 . The gas fireplace of  claim 1 , wherein the burner comprises a tube-shaped member defining apertures through which the hydrogen gas passes.  
     
     
         10 . The gas fireplace of  claim 1 , wherein the burner comprises a pan-shaped member defining apertures through which the hydrogen gas passes.  
     
     
         11 . The gas fireplace of  claim 1 , wherein the flame enhancement member comprises an ionizing material.  
     
     
         12 . A burner for use in a hydrogen burning appliance, the burner comprising: 
 a gas enclosure defining a gas distribution chamber and a gas aperture;    a burner having a combustion surface;    a hydrogen gas source coupled to the gas enclosure, wherein the hydrogen gas source supplies hydrogen gas into the gas chamber for distribution to the gas aperture for combustion of the hydrogen gas at the combustion surface; and    a flame enhancement member positioned in a path of the combusting hydrogen.    
     
     
         13 . The burner of  claim 12 , further comprising an igniter configured to ignite the hydrogen gas at the combustion surface.  
     
     
         14 . The burner of  claim 12 , wherein the flame enhancement member is coupled to the burner.  
     
     
         15 . The burner of  claim 12 , further comprising a hydrogen gas source to provide the hydrogen gas to the burner.  
     
     
         16 . The burner of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrogen gas source is an electrolyzer.  
     
     
         17 . The burner of  claim 12 , wherein the flame enhancement member comprises a porous metal foam.  
     
     
         18 . The burner of  claim 12 , wherein the ignition system comprises a thermal sensor for monitoring the presence of the combusting hydrogen.  
     
     
         19 . The burner of  claim 12 , wherein the gas distribution enclosure comprises a tube burner.  
     
     
         20 . A method for generating a visible hydrogen flame, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a gas enclosure that defines a gas distribution chamber and a combustion surface having a gas aperture formed therein;    supplying hydrogen gas to the gas distribution chamber;    passing the hydrogen gas out of the gas aperture;    combusting the hydrogen gas at the combustion surface; and    passing the combusting hydrogen gas through a flame enhancement member to alter a color of the combusting hydrogen gas.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of coupling the flame enhancement member to the combustion surface.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing an igniter for igniting the hydrogen gas at the surface of the burner.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the ignition system comprises a thermal sensor for monitoring the presence of the combusting hydrogen.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing a hydrogen gas source to supply hydrogen gas to the gas distribution enclosure.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the hydrogen gas source is an electrolyzer.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of providing oxygen gas to the combusting hydrogen.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the flame enhancement member comprises a porous metal foam.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the gas distribution enclosure comprises a tube burner.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of molding the flame enhancement member to the combustion surface.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of positioning the flame enhancement member at a spaced apart location from the combustion surface.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein passing the combusting hydrogen gas through a flame enhancement member includes ionizing the combustion hydrogen gas.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising mixing the hydrogen gas with another fuel prior to passing the hydrogen gas out of the gas aperture.  
     
     
         33 . A fire display assembly, comprising: 
 a burner defining at least one aperture positioned to provide hydrogen gas to a surface of the burner for combustion;    a flame enhancement member positioned relative to the surface of the burner to engage the combusting hydrogen thereby improving visibility of the combusting hydrogen; and    a support member configured to support the burner and flame enhancement member from vertically beneath the burner and flame enhancement member;    wherein the burner is open to ambient air on at least two sides.    
     
     
         34 . The fire display assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the burner is open to ambient air on all sides and vertically above the burner.  
     
     
         35 . A hydrogen gas burner, comprising: 
 a combustion surface defining a gas aperture configured for delivery of hydrogen gas to the combustion surface for combustion; and    a flame enhancement member positioned relative to the gas aperture to contact combusting hydrogen at the combustion surface;    wherein the flame enhancement member is configured to alter an appearance of the combusting hydrogen.    
     
     
         36 . The burner of  claim 35 , wherein the flame enhancement member comprises a solid material.  
     
     
         37 . The burner of  claim 36 , wherein the flame enhancement member comprises a porous metal foam.  
     
     
         38 . The burner of  claim 35 , wherein the flame enhancement member is formed directly on the combustion surface.  
     
     
         39 . The burner of  claim 35 , wherein the flame enhancement member is spaced apart from the combustion surface.  
     
     
         40 . The burner of  claim 35 , wherein the flame enhancement member is configured to improve visibility of combustion hydrogen.  
     
     
         41 . The burner of  claim 40 , wherein the flame enhancement member is configured to alter a color of combustion hydrogen.

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