Method and apparatus for shaping a flame

Abstract

A flame may be selectively shaped by application of one or more electric fields, charge, or voltage proximate the flame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured for producing a selected flame shape, comprising:
 an input module configured to receive or generate data corresponding to a selected flame shape;   a logic module operatively coupled to the input module and configured to select an electrical energy configuration for applying electrical energy to the flame to cause the flame to take the selected flame shape; and   a drive module operatively coupled to the logic module and configured to output a signal selected to cause one or more electrical components to apply the electrical energy configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the selected flame shape includes a shape of one or more flames in a burner, boiler, furnace, or gas turbine. 
     
     
         3 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the input module, logic module, and drive module are embodied as computer executable instructions carried by a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer executable instructions configured to cause computer hardware to execute the functions of the input module, logic module, and drive module. 
     
     
         4 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the input module, logic module, and drive module are embodied as one or more electronic controllers configured to execute the functions of the input module, logic module, and drive module. 
     
     
         5 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the selected flame shape includes one or more of a flattened flame, a lengthened flame, a narrowed flame, a widened flame, a low emissivity flame, a high emissivity flame, a flame anchored proximate to a fuel source, a flame anchored distal from a fuel source, a lifted flame, a flame supported by a first fuel source, a flame supported partly by the first fuel source and partly by a second fuel source, a flame supported by the second fuel source and not by the first fuel source that had previously supported the flame, a low heat output flame, a high heat output flame, a high reaction rate flame, a low reaction rate flame, a fuel-rich flame, a diluted fuel flame, a flame selected to transfer heat at least primarily to a first heat transfer surface, a flame selected to transfer heat to the first heat transfer surface and to a second heat transfer surface different from the first heat transfer surface, a flame selected to transfer heat at least primarily to the second heat transfer surface and substantially not to the first heat transfer surface that had previously received heat from the flame, a low particulate output flame, a high particulate output flame, a high swirl flame, a low swirl flame, a high majority charge density flame, a low majority charge density flame, or a neutrally charged flame. 
     
     
         6 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the selected flame shape includes a sequence of selected flame shapes. 
     
     
         7 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , further comprising: a human interface operatively coupled to or forming a portion of the input module and configured to receive a user selection of the selected flame shape. 
     
     
         8 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 7 , wherein the human interface is further configured to present to the user representations of two or more selectable flame shapes. 
     
     
         9 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the input module is configured to output data corresponding to the selected flame shape to be read by the logic module. 
     
     
         10 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , further comprising: one or more sensors operatively coupled to or forming a portion of the input module and configured to sense one or more properties of the flame. 
     
     
         11 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of an image sensor, a flame image sensor, a video sensor, a flame video sensor, a thermometer, a pyrometer, a thermal radiation sensor, an oxygen sensor, an oxides of nitrogen (NOx) sensor, a carbon monoxide (CO) sensor, a particulate density sensor, a spectrometer, a conductivity sensor, a continuity sensor, a voltage sensor, a flame rod, or a current sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 10 , wherein the input module is configured to output data corresponding to the one or more properties of the flame or to be read by the logic module. 
     
     
         13 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the logic module is further configured to receive from the input module the selected flame shape and sensed one or more properties of the flame, compare the sensed one or more properties of the flame to the selected flame shape, and determine or generate data corresponding to a flame shape correction selected to cause the flame to change to the selected flame shape or to a sequence of flame shapes selected to achieve the selected flame shape. 
     
     
         14 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 13 , wherein the input module is further configured to receive the sensed one or more properties of the flame, and generate a model of the actual flame from the sensed one or more properties of the flame. 
     
     
         15 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 14 , wherein the input module is further configured to compare the model of the actual flame to a model of the selected flame shape, determine if the difference between the actual flame and desired flame models is greater than a tolerance, and if the difference is greater than the tolerance, determine or generate data corresponding to a flame shape correction selected to cause the flame to change from a shape corresponding to the actual flame model to a shape corresponding to the selected flame shape. 
     
     
         16 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the logic module is configured to read data output by the input module, and to algorithmically determine the electrical configuration from the data output by the input module. 
     
     
         17 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the logic module further comprises a look-up table; and
 wherein the logic module is configured to read data output by the input module, address the look-up table with data corresponding to the data output by the input module, and read data corresponding to the electrical energy configuration from the look-up table.   
     
     
         18 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy configuration selected by the logic module corresponds to at least a selection of one or more electrodes operatively coupled to the flame. 
     
     
         19 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 18 , wherein the electrical energy configuration selected by the logic module corresponds to at least a selection of one or more of a plurality of electrodes operatively coupled to the flame. 
     
     
         20 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy configuration selected by the logic module corresponds to at least a selection of one or more ionizer operatively coupled to the flame. 
     
     
         21 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 20 , wherein the electrical energy configuration selected by the logic module corresponds to at least a selection of one or more of a plurality of ionizers operatively coupled to the flame. 
     
     
         22 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy configuration selected by the logic module corresponds to at least a selection of one or more of a plurality of voltage schedules for application to one or more electrodes, one or more ionizers, or one or more electrodes and one or more ionizers operatively coupled to the flame. 
     
     
         23 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of voltage schedules includes one or more of a selected DC voltage, a variable DC voltage, a time-varying voltage, or a sequence of voltages. 
     
     
         24 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy configuration selected by the logic module corresponds to at least a selection of one or more of a plurality of electrical continuities of one or more electrodes or one or more ionizers operatively coupled to the flame. 
     
     
         25 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more of a plurality of electrical continuities includes selection of switching to ground one or more electrode or one or more ionizer control grids. 
     
     
         26 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the logic module is programmable. 
     
     
         27 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 26 , wherein the programmable logic module is configured to read computer executable instructions carried by a non-transitory computer readable medium and execute the instructions. 
     
     
         28 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the logic module is configured to select one or more electrical pulses or continuity intended to drive a flame holder to maintain a flame location. 
     
     
         29 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the input interface is configured to sense or receive an apparatus parameter corresponding to the selected flame shape; and
 wherein the logic module is configured to cause the plurality of drive channels to be energized corresponding to the apparatus parameter.   
     
     
         30 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of drive channels operatively coupled to or included in the output module.   
     
     
         31 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 30 , wherein the output module includes:
 a plurality of drive channels operatively coupled to one or more electrodes, one or more ionizers, one or more control grids, or one or more of a combination of one or more electrodes, one or more ionizers, and one or more control grids operatively coupled to the flame.   
     
     
         32 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of drive channels each include at least one selected from the group consisting of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a field-effect transistor (FET), a discrete device, a discrete linear device, a nonlinear device, an integrated circuit, or a portion of an integrated circuit. 
     
     
         33 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more mechanical packages configured to hold all or a portion of the input interface, logic module, and drive module.   
     
     
         34 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of electrodes disposed proximate to or within a combustion volume, the combustion volume being configured to support the flame corresponding to the selected flame shape responsive to electrical energy applied by the plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         35 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical components includes a switched ground gate and ion ejector pair. 
     
     
         36 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical components includes a sharp electrode. 
     
     
         37 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 36 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrodes includes a serrated electrode. 
     
     
         38 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical components includes a switched ion ejector. 
     
     
         39 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical components includes a charge accumulation surface. 
     
     
         40 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrical components includes a switched continuity grid control grid configured to float or be switched to ground. 
     
     
         41 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the system configured for producing a selected flame shape is configured to maintain a substantially static selected flame shape. 
     
     
         42 . The system configured for producing a selected flame shape of  claim 1 , wherein the system configured for producing a selected flame shape is selected for dynamic control of flame shape. 
     
     
         43 . A method for electrically shaping a flame, comprising:
 determining a selected flame shape; and   selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape.   
     
     
         44 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein the selected flame shape includes a selected location of the flame; and
 wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses includes driving a flame holder to maintain the location.   
     
     
         45 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein determining the selected flame shape includes determining a desired, actual, or future combustion rate; and
 wherein applying one or more electrical pulses includes selecting parameters to provide a selected flame holding position.   
     
     
         46 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 sensing or receiving an apparatus parameter corresponding to a flame shape;   wherein determining the selected flame shape includes determining the flame shape corresponding to the apparatus parameter.   
     
     
         47 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 46 , wherein sensing or receiving the apparatus parameter includes receiving a flame width or flame width adjustment. 
     
     
         48 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 46 , wherein the apparatus includes a kitchen cooktop; and
 wherein sensing or receiving the apparatus parameter includes sensing or receiving a heating area corresponding to a pot or pan.   
     
     
         49 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 46 , wherein sensing or receiving the apparatus parameter includes sensing or receiving a temperature distribution; and
 wherein determining the selected flame shape includes determining the flame shape to control or adjust the temperature distribution.   
     
     
         50 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein determining the selected flame shape includes determining the flame length for a residential, commercial, or industrial application; and
 wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape includes driving a streamwise electric field distribution to lengthen or shorten the flame.   
     
     
         51 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein determining the selected flame shape includes determining the flame width for a residential, commercial, or industrial application; and
 wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape includes driving a spanwise electric field distribution to widen or narrow the flame.   
     
     
         52 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape further comprises:
 applying a spatially sequenced electric field to provide Lagrangian flame shaping.   
     
     
         53 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape further comprises:
 controlling heat transfer to a hydrogen reformer.   
     
     
         54 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape further comprises:
 controlling a flame distribution across a heating tile in a vertical wall reformer.   
     
     
         55 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape further comprises:
 driving a low pressure drop flame holder.   
     
     
         56 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape further comprises:
 providing end-charging for flame lengthening.   
     
     
         57 . The method for electrically shaping one or more flames of  claim 43 , wherein selectively applying one or more electrical pulses to one or more electrodes proximate the flame to drive the flame to the selected flame shape further comprises:
 providing a flame shape for a cement kiln.