Flashback resistant burner

Abstract

A burner resistant to flashback is disclosed. In one embodiment the burner includes a wall configured to contain a fuel gas within an enclosed volume of the burner. The burner includes a plurality of apertures formed in the wall. The apertures provide fluid communication from the enclosed volume to an environment surrounding the burner. The plurality of apertures have an effective diameter smaller than a quenching distance of the fuel gas.

1 . A burner comprising:
 a wall configured to contain a fuel gas within an enclosed volume of the burner;   a plurality of apertures formed in the wall; and   a plurality of actuators each operatively associated with one of the plurality of apertures and configured to be selectively activated to establish or sever fluid communication between an atmosphere surrounding the burner and the enclosed volume, through the respective apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to prevent flashback of the fuel gas into the enclosed volume.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid communication is configured to provide a flow of the fuel gas suitable to support a flame. 
     
     
         4 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein a flame is established adjacent to a respective aperture responsive to the activation of a respective actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators comprises at least one of a solenoid, a motor, a solenoid, a dashpot, a servo, a power screw, a resilient member, or a stepper motor. 
     
     
         6 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the burner is configured to form a user-defined pattern with one or more flames formed at one or more of the plurality of apertures responsive to the selective opening of the plurality of apertures by the respective plurality of actuators. 
     
     
         7 . The burner of  claim 1 , further comprising an igniter, wherein the burner is configured to carry a flame from a pilot aperture adjacent to the igniter to a pattern location via the selective actuation of one or more of the plurality of actuators. 
     
     
         8 . A system including the burner of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a cooking apparatus including the burner;   a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of actuators and configured to selectively open and close the plurality of apertures via selective activation of the plurality of actuators.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The burner of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of deflectors each disposed adjacent to one of the plurality of apertures, wherein each of the plurality of deflectors imparts a thrust when a flame is formed adjacent to the respective aperture, wherein the thrust rotates the burner. 
     
     
         11 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is spaced apart from another of the plurality of apertures such that the flame located at a first aperture of the plurality of apertures can propagate to a second aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is hydrogen. 
     
     
         17 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel gas is not mixed with an oxidant in the enclosed volume. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of patterning a food item comprising:
 receiving a user-defined pattern;   providing a fuel gas to a burner, wherein:
 the burner includes a wall configured to contain a fuel gas within an enclosed volume of the burner, 
 a plurality of apertures are formed in the wall, and 
 a plurality of actuators each operatively associated with one of the plurality of apertures and configured to be selectively activated to establish fluid communication between an atmosphere surrounding the burner and the enclosed volume, through the respective apertures, 
 the plurality of apertures are configured support respective flames adjacent thereto, and 
 the respective flames are arranged in the user-defined pattern proximate to the food item. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the aperture has an effective diameter smaller than a quenching distance of the fuel gas, and igniting the fuel gas in the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is spaced apart from another of the plurality of apertures such that the flame located at a first aperture of the plurality of apertures can propagate to a second aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         22 . A system comprising:
 a power supply configured to receive electrical power from an alternating current source;   an electrolyzer in electrical communication with the power supply and configured to generate hydrogen gas responsive to receiving electrical power from the power supply;   a vessel configured to store the hydrogen gas;   a burner including a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein:
 the apertures provide fluid communication from the enclosed volume to an environment surrounding the burner, 
 the plurality of apertures are configured to prevent flashback of the fuel gas into the enclosed volume. 
   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein a maximum rate of electrical power provided to the power supply is less than a maximum heat rate of the burner. 
     
     
         25 . A system comprising:
 a burner;   an electrical power supply;   an electrolyzer configured to receive electrical power from the power supply at an electrical power input rate, and generate hydrogen gas responsive to the receipt of the electrical power; and   a storage device configured to store the hydrogen gas, wherein:
 the storage device is configured to supply hydrogen gas to the burner at a heat rate greater than the electrical power input rate, and 
   
       the burner is configured to burn the hydrogen gas at the heat rate. 
     
     
         26 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in an array of locations at which a flame may be formed. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of actuators is each operatively associated with one of the plurality of apertures and configured to be selectively activated to establish or sever fluid communication between an atmosphere surrounding the burner and the enclosed volume through the respective apertures. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a wall configured to contain the hydrogen gas within an enclosed volume of the burner;   a plurality of apertures formed in the wall; and   a plurality of actuators each operatively associated with one of the plurality of apertures and configured to be selectively activated to establish or sever fluid communication between an atmosphere surrounding the burner and the enclosed volume, through the respective plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to prevent flashback of the fuel gas into the enclosed volume.