Rijke type combustion arrangement and method

Abstract

A process of producing heat energy for use in heat exchange with other fluids and substances so as to impart said heat energy to said fluid or substances which includes several steps. In a first step, a mixture of fuel and oxidant is ignited in a combustion zone or zones ( 16, 18, 98, 122 ) to create a combusted fuel mix which in the form of shockwaves are carried away from the combustion zone or zones ( 16, 18, 98, 122 ) to provide a low pressure area within the combustion zone or zones ( 16, 18, 98, 122 ). In a second step, said low pressure area causes partial return of the combusted fuel/oxidant mixture from a location remote of the combustion zones ( 16, 18, 98, 122 ) and also causes a new change of oxidant/fuel mixture to be transferred from the combustion zone or zones ( 16, 18, 98, 122 ) whereby incoming and returning hot gases are caused to ignite automatically without the aid of the ignition device used in the first step thereby causing a series of pulses or oscillations of successive return of hot gases and further changes of fuel/oxidant mixture to provide a process of production of energy which is self-sustaining and continuous.

The following amended claims replace all claims in the application: 
     
         1 . A process of producing heat energy for use in heat exchange with other fluids and substances so as to impart said heat energy to said fluids or substances which includes the steps of:
 (i) igniting a mixture of fuel and oxidant in a combustion zone or zones caused by an ignition device located in said combustion zone or zones to create a combusted fuel mix which in the form of shockwaves are conveyed away from the combustion zone or zones to provide a low pressure area within the combustion zone or zones; and   (ii) said low pressure area causing partial return of the combusted fuel/oxidant mixture from a location remote of the combustion zone or zones and also causing a new charge of oxidant/fuel mixture to be transferred into the combustion zone or zones whereby incoming and returning hot gases are caused to ignite automatically without the aid of the ignition device used in step (i) thereby causing a series of pulses or oscillations of successive return of hot gases and further charges of fuel/oxidant mixture to provide a process of production of energy which is self-sustaining and continuous.   
     
     
         2 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the combustion zone is separated into an inner and outer combustion zone wherein ignition devices are located in each of the inner and outer combustion zones. 
     
     
         3 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are provided a multiplicity of separate combustion zones which are in communication with each other whereby only a single ignition device is required. 
     
     
         4 . A process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the automatic ignition occurs at a detonation zone formed by a porous membrane located in inlet(s) of a planar member having spaces which form part of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         5 . A Rijke type combustion arrangement having at least one combustion zone having an associated ignition device wherein the or each combustion zone has one or more inlets or entrances and a flame retainer in the form of a porous membrane located in or adjacent to the or each inlet or entrance and there is further provided one or more conveying zones located adjacent the porous membrane for conveying hot gases away from the combustion chamber or space. 
     
     
         6 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 5  which is provided with inner and outer combustion zones each having an associated ignition device and a tube assembly having a plurality of tubes forming a multiplicity of separate conveying zones or passageways. 
     
     
         7 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  wherein each tube has an inner end wherein the inner ends of each of the tubes are each open to a different one of the inner and outer combustion zones and each porous membrane is in fluid communication with an associated inner end of each of the tubes. 
     
     
         8 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 5  which only has one conveying zone which is a single chamber located above the porous membrane and a combustion zone located closely adjacent to the porous membrane which includes the ignition device. 
     
     
         9 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  wherein each of the tubes are in flow communication with each other at an outlet end. 
     
     
         10 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  wherein there is provided a planar member adjacent each of the inner and outer combustion zones having apertures therein which form the inlet(s) of the inner and outer combustion chambers. 
     
     
         11 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the apertures are each defined by a cylindrical wall and the flame retainers are located between opposed ends of the cylindrical walls. 
     
     
         12 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  which includes a frequency adjustment device located at an outlet end of each tube as well as being located adjacent respective inner and outer combustion zones. 
     
     
         13 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each frequency and adjustment device located at an outlet end of each tube are in the form of a plurality of sleeves which are movably or slidably mounted to a respective tube. 
     
     
         14 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each inlet or entrance has a frequency adjusting sleeve which is movable relative to an adjacent inlet to allow adjustment of an inlet orifice depth which is a distance between a lip of the frequency adjustment sleeve and an associated porous membrane. 
     
     
         15 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the inner and outer combustion zones are separated by continuous partition having a peripheral edge which is serpentine. 
     
     
         16 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  wherein there is provided a ring of tube internal chambers which are alternatively open to the outer combustion zone and the inner combustion zone. 
     
     
         17 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 6  wherein there is provided a plurality of tube internal chambers which form an inner set of tube internal chambers and an outer set of tube internal chambers which are concentric with the inner set of chambers wherein the inner ends of the outer set of chambers are open to the outer combustion zone and the inner ends of the inner set of tube internal chambers are open to the inner combustion chamber. 
     
     
         18 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 5  which includes a fuel plenum and the inlet(s) of the combustion chamber(s) are open to the fuel plenum. 
     
     
         19 . A combustion arrangement as claimed in  claim 18  which includes a foci mixing chamber which is open to the fuel plenum for feeding fuel to the fuel plenum.