Active magnetic control of a flame

Abstract

A combustion system can allow for the interaction of a magnetic field and an electrical current within a flame supported by a nozzle. The magnetic field can be generated by one or more electromagnets in proximity to or contact with the flame. The electrical current can be generated by a voltage potential difference generated between a first electrode and a second electrode located at tip and base regions of the flame, respectively. The interaction between the electrical current and the magnetic field can generate a force that can produce a constant lateral movement of ions within flame, generating a vortex that can enhance mixing of air and fuel. The speed and direction of this vortex can be controlled by actively varying the magnitude and direction of electrical currents applied in the one or more electromagnets and the electric current induced within the flame, as well as by varying the spatial relationship between these two factors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved combustion system, comprising:
 a nozzle configured to emit a flow stream including fuel into a combustion volume along a nozzle axis to support a flame;   electrodes configured to generate an electrical current through the flame from a first end to a second end; and   a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field across the flame;   wherein the magnetic field and the electrical current are oriented at an angle to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The improved combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the flame carries charged particles. 
     
     
         3 . The improved combustion system of  claim 2 , wherein the electrodes include at least a first and a second charging electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The improved combustion system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least first electrode is disposed adjacent to the flame and distal from the nozzle; and
 wherein the at least second charging electrode is disposed adjacent to the flame and proximate to the nozzle.   
     
     
         5 . The improved combustion system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a voltage power source in electrical communication with the first charging electrode and in electrical communication with the second charging electrode.   
     
     
         6 . The improved combustion system of  claim 5 , wherein the voltage power source is configured to be driven by an alternating current (AC) voltage source. 
     
     
         7 . The improved combustion system of  claim 5 , wherein the voltage power source is configured to apply a first voltage potential V 1  to the first electrode and a second voltage potential V 2  to the second electrode;
 wherein V 1  and V 2  are different from each other.   
     
     
         8 . The improved combustion system of  claim 4 , wherein first and second electrodes are configured to produce a voltage potential difference along a length of the flame between a tip region distal from the nozzle and a base region proximate to the nozzle selected to act upon charged particles in the flame to propel the charged particles lengthwise along the flame to generate a current flow through the flame. 
     
     
         9 . The improved combustion system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet includes a first electromagnet coil having a first plurality of helical turns wound about a first magnet axis. 
     
     
         10 . The improved combustion system of  claim 9 , further comprising an electromagnet voltage source operatively coupled to the first electromagnet coil and configured to cause current flow through the first electromagnet coil. 
     
     
         11 . The improved combustion system of  claim 10 , wherein the electromagnet voltage source is configured to cause the first electromagnet coil to form a first magnetic pole positioned facing the flame;
 wherein the first magnet axis is positioned at a right angle to the nozzle axis.   
     
     
         12 . The improved combustion system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second electromagnet coil defining a second magnet axis;   wherein the second electromagnet coil is positioned to form a second magnetic pole facing the flame;   wherein the first and second magnet axes are parallel such that first and second magnetic poles are opposite in polarity to form a magnetic field passing through the flame.   
     
     
         13 . The improved combustion system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 first and second magnetic field extenders respectively operatively coupled to the first and second electromagnet coils and configured to couple the magnetic fields generated by the first and second electromagnet coils to the flame.   
     
     
         14 . The improved combustion system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second magnet axes are disposed within a plane perpendicular to a direction of the current flow through the flame. 
     
     
         15 . The improved combustion system of  claim 9 , wherein the first magnet axis is disposed within a plane perpendicular to a direction of current flow through flame. 
     
     
         16 . The improved combustion system of  claim 9 , wherein the first electromagnet coil comprises a solenoid having a first region having a first number of turns wound about the magnet axis, a second region having a second number of turns less than the first number of turns wound about the magnet axis, and a third region having a third number of turns greater than the second number of turns wound about the magnet axis;
 wherein the solenoid is supported to pass through the flame such that the second region is centered on the nozzle axis.   
     
     
         17 . The improved combustion system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a magnetic circuit extender operatively coupled to the first magnetic coil and configured to couple the magnetic field generated by the first magnetic coil to the flame.   
     
     
         18 . A method for providing a vortex within a flame, comprising the steps of:
 discharging a flow stream including a mixture of fuel and air in a first direction through a nozzle into a combustion volume;   igniting the mixture to create a flame including a plurality of charged and uncharged species;   generating an electrical current through a length of the flame parallel to the first direction; and   generating a magnetic field through the flame oriented at right angle to the first direction and thereby also oriented at right angle to the electric current, wherein the magnetic field interacts with the electrical current to induce a lateral force on the plurality of charged species within the flame resulting rotational movement of the plurality of charged species.   
     
     
         19 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of charged and uncharged species further includes a plurality of ions. 
     
     
         20 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 19 , wherein the step of generating an electrical current includes providing at least a first and a second charging electrode. 
     
     
         21 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 20 , wherein the at least first electrode is disposed adjacent to or within the flame and distal from the nozzle, and wherein the at least second charging electrode is disposed adjacent to or within the flame and proximate to the nozzle. 
     
     
         22 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 21 , further includes a voltage power source in electrical communication with the at least first charging electrode and a voltage power source in electrical communication with the at least the second charging electrode. 
     
     
         23 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 22 , wherein the voltage power source is driven by an direct current (DC) or an alternating current (AC) voltage source. 
     
     
         24 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 22 , wherein the voltage power source in electrical communication with the at least first charging electrode applies a first voltage equal to V 1  and the voltage power source in electrical communication with the at least second charging electrode applies a second voltage equal to V 2 . 
     
     
         25 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 24 , wherein first voltage V 1  is different than second voltage V 2  thereby producing a voltage potential difference |V 1 -V 2 | along a length of the flame between a region distal from the nozzle (a tip region) and a region proximate to the nozzle (a base region), wherein the voltage potential difference acts upon the plurality of charged particles to move at least some of the charged particles along the length of the flame and thereby generate a current flow through the length of the flame in a flow direction from the base region to the tip region if V 1 <V 2  or from the tip region to the base region if V 1 >V 2 . 
     
     
         26 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 25 , wherein the step of generating a magnetic field through the flame includes providing at least a first electromagnet coil having a first plurality of helical turns wound about a first magnet axis, the at least first electromagnet coil further having an electric current passing through the first plurality of helical turns from a first end to a second end of the at least first electromagnet coil, wherein the first end of the first electromagnet coil is designated as a South magnetic pole and the second end of the first electromagnet coil designated as a North magnetic pole. 
     
     
         27 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 26 , wherein the North magnetic pole of the at least first electromagnet coil is positioned facing and proximate to or within the flame, wherein the first magnet axis is further positioned at right angle to the nozzle axis. 
     
     
         28 . The improved combustion system of  claim 27 , wherein the at least first electromagnet coil further includes a magnetic circuit extender attached to the North magnetic pole, the magnetic circuit extender including a ferromagnetic or a paramagnetic metal or alloy core, rod or bar. 
     
     
         29 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 28 , further includes providing a second electromagnet coil having a second plurality of helical turns of a conductor wound about a second magnet axis, wherein a first end of the second electromagnet coil is designated as a South magnetic pole and a second end of the second electromagnet coil is designated as a North magnetic pole when an electric current is passed through the second plurality of helical turns from the first end to the second end of the second electromagnet coil, wherein the second electromagnet coil South magnetic pole is disposed facing and adjacent to or within the flame opposite the at least first electromagnet coil North magnetic pole, wherein the second magnet axis is further positioned at right angle to the nozzle axis. 
     
     
         30 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second magnet axes are disposed in a collinear relationship. 
     
     
         31 . The improved combustion system of  claim 29 , wherein the second electromagnet coil may further include a second magnetic circuit extender attached to the second electromagnet coil South magnetic pole including a ferromagnetic or a paramagnetic metal or alloy core, rod or bar. 
     
     
         32 . The improved combustion system of  claim 27 , wherein the first magnet axis is disposed within a plane perpendicular to a flow direction of the current flow through a length of the flame. 
     
     
         33 . The method for providing a vortex within the flame of  claim 27 , wherein the first electromagnet coil further includes an elongated helical coil having a first region having a high number of turns wound about the magnet axis, a second region having a lower number of turns wound about the magnet axis, and a third region having a high number of turns wound about the magnet axis, and wherein the elongated helical coil passes through the flame such that the second region is centered within the flame in a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the current flow within the flame.