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US20020088442A1 - Method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber with reduced soot formation - Google Patents

Method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber with reduced soot formation Download PDF

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Publication number
US20020088442A1
US20020088442A1 US09/992,298 US99229801A US2002088442A1 US 20020088442 A1 US20020088442 A1 US 20020088442A1 US 99229801 A US99229801 A US 99229801A US 2002088442 A1 US2002088442 A1 US 2002088442A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
combustion
combustion chamber
electrodes
soot
chamber
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
US09/992,298
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US6453889B1 (en
Inventor
Tommy Hansen
Niels Blom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Umicore AG and Co KG
Original Assignee
Haldor Topsoe AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Haldor Topsoe AS filed Critical Haldor Topsoe AS
Priority to US09/992,298 priority Critical patent/US6453889B1/en
Assigned to HALDOR TOPSOE A/S, A CORP. OF DENMARK reassignment HALDOR TOPSOE A/S, A CORP. OF DENMARK ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BLOM, NIELS JORGEN, HANSEN, TOMMY
Publication of US20020088442A1 publication Critical patent/US20020088442A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6453889B1 publication Critical patent/US6453889B1/en
Assigned to UMICORE AG & CO. KG reassignment UMICORE AG & CO. KG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HALDOR TOPSOE A/S
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN  A CARRIER GAS OR AIR 
    • F23C99/00—Subject-matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F23C99/001—Applying electric means or magnetism to combustion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B51/00—Other methods of operating engines involving pretreating of, or adding substances to, combustion air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture of the engines
    • F02B51/04—Other methods of operating engines involving pretreating of, or adding substances to, combustion air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture of the engines involving electricity or magnetism
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M27/00—Apparatus for treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture, by catalysts, electric means, magnetism, rays, sound waves, or the like
    • F02M27/04—Apparatus for treating combustion-air, fuel, or fuel-air mixture, by catalysts, electric means, magnetism, rays, sound waves, or the like by electric means, ionisation, polarisation or magnetism
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B3/00—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition
    • F02B3/06—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition with compression ignition
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to hydrocarbon combustion in general.
  • the invention provides a method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in diesel engines or oil burners, wherein formation of soot is substantially suppressed in the fuel combustion chamber by suppressing soot forming reactions, which otherwise proceed during combustion of fuel being rich in higher hydrocarbons.
  • Soot in exhaust gas from fuel combustion represents a serious environmental and health risk and removal or reduction of soot emission in exhaust gas is at present prescribed by environmental regulations.
  • An electrostatic field inside a fuel combustion chamber is obtained by arranging one or more electrodes in the chamber. Voltage may be applied to the electrodes constantly or at variable levels depending on fuel load. In a diesel engine, the electrodes may be a part of the fuel preheating system installed in the engine combustion chamber.
  • At least the part of the electrode extending into the combustion chamber is coated or otherwise provided with zirconium dioxide.
  • this invention provides a method for the combustion of fuel being rich in hydrocarbons at reduced formation of soot by applying within a fuel combustion chamber an electrostatic field and thereby suppressing formation of soot from ionic species being formed during the combustion of the fuel.
  • the method of this invention may further be applied to reduction of other noxious compounds in exhaust gas from hydrocarbon combustion including reduction of nitrogen oxides, dioxines and aldehydes.
  • Diesel fuel (Statoil) was combusted in a conventional oil burner with a metallic orifice. Two steel electrodes in form of 1 mm needles were mounted in the combustion zone in front of the burner (one 1 electrode adjacent to the flame starting point and one electrode 10 mm above the flame top).
  • Soot as measured in the flue gas is expressed by the so-called Bosch number.
  • the Bosch number is dependent on the amount of soot so that high Bosch numbers indicate large amounts of soot.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Combustion Methods Of Internal-Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Incineration Of Waste (AREA)
  • Exhaust Gas After Treatment (AREA)

Abstract

Method for the depression of soot formation during combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber by applying an electrostatic field in the combustion chamber by means of one or more electrodes at least a portion of the electrodes extend into the chamber, wherein the portion of the electrodes extending into the chamber comprises porous ceramic material.

Description

  • The present invention is directed to hydrocarbon combustion in general. In particular, the invention provides a method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in diesel engines or oil burners, wherein formation of soot is substantially suppressed in the fuel combustion chamber by suppressing soot forming reactions, which otherwise proceed during combustion of fuel being rich in higher hydrocarbons. [0001]
  • Data from the literature on ion chemistry in flame reactions, e.g. in H. F. Calcote, D. G. Keil, “The role of ions in soot formation”, Pure & Appl. Chem, Vol. 62, No. 5 (1990), show that formation of soot proceeds by an ionic mechanism, wherein propargyl or cyclo propenyl chemi-ions C[0002] 3H3 + is the main precursor of soot.
  • C[0003] 3H3 + ions are formed during combustion of fuel by reaction of methine radicals CH with oxygen:
  • 2CH*+O2⇄2CHO++2e −  (1)
  • followed by the reactions: [0004]
  • CHO++CH2⇄CH3 ++CO  (2)
  • CH3++C2H2⇄C3H3 ++H2  (3)
  • The highly reactive propargyl ions react with hydrocarbons being present in fuel combustion gas. Soot is finally formed in a fast sequence of condensation reactions initiated by addition of propargyl ions to acetylene molecules in the gas and further hydrocarbon additional reactions with the initial ionic condensation products of propargyl ions and acetylene molecules. [0005]
  • Soot in exhaust gas from fuel combustion represents a serious environmental and health risk and removal or reduction of soot emission in exhaust gas is at present prescribed by environmental regulations. [0006]
  • We have found that application of an electrostatic field in a fuel combustion chamber during combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons reduces or substantially prevents formation of soot in the combustion chamber of e.g. a diesel engine and oil burner. Formation of C[0007] 3H3 + and higher ionic hydrocarbon species resulting from additional reactions is substantially suppressed by the electrostatic field presumably because of unfavourable equilibrium conditions for the formation of the CHO+ precursor in the above reaction (1) in an electrostatic field.
  • An electrostatic field inside a fuel combustion chamber is obtained by arranging one or more electrodes in the chamber. Voltage may be applied to the electrodes constantly or at variable levels depending on fuel load. In a diesel engine, the electrodes may be a part of the fuel preheating system installed in the engine combustion chamber. [0008]
  • Use of an electrostatic field in the depression of soot formation is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,779. The problem with this known method is that soot deposits on surface of the electrode during operation. Soot on the electrode surface decreases the strength of the electrostatic field in the combustion chamber. [0009]
  • We have thus found that when coating the conductive part of the electrode with a porous ceramic material being permeable to oxygen, soot is continuously burnt off from the electrode surface. [0010]
  • Preferably, at least the part of the electrode extending into the combustion chamber is coated or otherwise provided with zirconium dioxide. [0011]
  • Based on the above findings and observations, this invention provides a method for the combustion of fuel being rich in hydrocarbons at reduced formation of soot by applying within a fuel combustion chamber an electrostatic field and thereby suppressing formation of soot from ionic species being formed during the combustion of the fuel. [0012]
  • The method of this invention may further be applied to reduction of other noxious compounds in exhaust gas from hydrocarbon combustion including reduction of nitrogen oxides, dioxines and aldehydes.[0013]
    • EXAMPLE
  • Diesel fuel (Statoil) was combusted in a conventional oil burner with a metallic orifice. Two steel electrodes in form of 1 mm needles were mounted in the combustion zone in front of the burner (one 1 electrode adjacent to the flame starting point and one electrode 10 mm above the flame top). [0014]
  • The amount of soot being formed during combustion of the fuel was measured in the flue gas from the combustion zone by means of a Bosch Soot Monitor (model EFAW 6GA). [0015]
  • Soot as measured in the flue gas is expressed by the so-called Bosch number. The Bosch number is dependent on the amount of soot so that high Bosch numbers indicate large amounts of soot. [0016]
  • During combustion of the diesel fuel, an increasing electrostatic field was provided in the combustion zone by applying increasing voltage to the electrodes. [0017]
  • Results obtained at voltages between 2000V and 6000V are summarised below. [0018]
    Bosch Number Voltage
    3.8   0
    3.7 2000
    2.7 4000
    2.4 5000
    2.0 6000
  • As apparent from the above results, the amount of soot in the flue gas decreases linearly at increasing voltage. [0019]

Claims (5)

1. Method for the depression of soot formation during combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber by applying an electrostatic field in the combustion chamber by means of one or more electrodes at least a portion of the electrodes extend into the chamber, wherein the portion of the electrodes extending into the chamber comprises porous ceramic material.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the porous ceramic material is zirconium dioxide.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic field is maintained with constant voltage to the electrodes.
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic field is applied by applying variating voltage electrodes.
5. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the combustion chamber is part of a diesel engine.
US09/992,298 2000-11-22 2001-11-14 Method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber with reduced soot formation Expired - Lifetime US6453889B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/992,298 US6453889B1 (en) 2000-11-22 2001-11-14 Method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber with reduced soot formation

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US25252100P 2000-11-22 2000-11-22
US09/992,298 US6453889B1 (en) 2000-11-22 2001-11-14 Method for the combustion of fuel rich hydrocarbons in a combustion chamber with reduced soot formation

Publications (2)

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US20020088442A1 true US20020088442A1 (en) 2002-07-11
US6453889B1 US6453889B1 (en) 2002-09-24

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Country Status (5)

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US (1) US6453889B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1209414B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2002168128A (en)
AT (1) ATE340305T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60123194T2 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120090582A1 (en) * 2010-10-13 2012-04-19 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Exhaust system and method for mitigating degradation of components of a turbocharged engine with exhaust gas recirculation
US20150362177A1 (en) * 2014-06-11 2015-12-17 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Flame position control electrodes
US20160123577A1 (en) * 2014-11-03 2016-05-05 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Solid fuel system with electrodynamic combustion control
US10077899B2 (en) 2013-02-14 2018-09-18 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Startup method and mechanism for a burner having a perforated flame holder
US10156356B2 (en) 2013-10-14 2018-12-18 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Flame visualization control for a burner including a perforated flame holder
US10161625B2 (en) 2013-07-30 2018-12-25 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Combustor having a nonmetallic body with external electrodes
US10190767B2 (en) 2013-03-27 2019-01-29 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Electrically controlled combustion fluid flow
US10281141B2 (en) 2014-10-15 2019-05-07 Clearsign Combustion Corporation System and method for applying an electric field to a flame with a current gated electrode
US10422523B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2019-09-24 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Ionizer for a combustion system
US10514165B2 (en) 2016-07-29 2019-12-24 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Perforated flame holder and system including protection from abrasive or corrosive fuel
US11073280B2 (en) 2010-04-01 2021-07-27 Clearsign Technologies Corporation Electrodynamic control in a burner system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004004393B3 (en) * 2004-01-29 2005-05-25 Rational Ag Cooking device for cooking food comprises a device for receiving and dispensing a cleaning, clear rinsing and/or antiliming agent that is attached or provided in, in front of and/or behind a first opening in an air-guiding element
DE102005016125A1 (en) * 2005-04-08 2006-10-12 Robert Bosch Gmbh Ignition system of an internal combustion engine

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DE874672C (en) * 1951-06-02 1953-04-27 Alfred Dipl-Ing Walter Method for operating internal combustion piston engines and other internal combustion engines
US2844135A (en) * 1954-11-08 1958-07-22 Sun Oil Co Internal combustion process and apparatus
DE2253249A1 (en) 1972-10-30 1974-05-02 Ehrhardt Helmut METHOD OF INFLUENCING COMBUSTION IN POWER MACHINES AND COMBUSTION SYSTEMS BY USING ELECTRIC FIELDS
DE2456163C2 (en) * 1974-11-28 1986-03-13 Daimler-Benz Ag, 7000 Stuttgart Combustion chamber, in particular the piston working chamber of an engine
AU500108B2 (en) 1976-05-11 1979-05-10 P. & Raymond J Caillaud Improving energy yields of combustion reactions
US4380978A (en) * 1980-04-22 1983-04-26 Rockwell International Corporation Electrostatic diesel fuel injector
US4587807A (en) * 1983-04-18 1986-05-13 Nagatoshi Suzuki Apparatus for totally recycling engine exhaust gas
US5061462A (en) * 1987-11-12 1991-10-29 Nagatoshi Suzuki Apparatus for producing a streamer corona
US5027764A (en) * 1990-04-26 1991-07-02 Michael Reimann Method of and apparatus for igniting a gas/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine
DE19847096A1 (en) * 1998-10-13 2000-04-20 Massholder Karl F Plasma-chemical reduction of gaseous and solid pollutants in exhaust gases comprises use of dielectrically-limited discharges in a combustion chamber of IC engine

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11073280B2 (en) 2010-04-01 2021-07-27 Clearsign Technologies Corporation Electrodynamic control in a burner system
US20120090582A1 (en) * 2010-10-13 2012-04-19 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Exhaust system and method for mitigating degradation of components of a turbocharged engine with exhaust gas recirculation
US9103247B2 (en) * 2010-10-13 2015-08-11 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Exhaust system and method for mitigating degradation of components of a turbocharged engine with exhaust gas recirculation
US10077899B2 (en) 2013-02-14 2018-09-18 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Startup method and mechanism for a burner having a perforated flame holder
US10808925B2 (en) 2013-03-27 2020-10-20 Clearsign Technologies Corporation Method for electrically controlled combustion fluid flow
US10190767B2 (en) 2013-03-27 2019-01-29 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Electrically controlled combustion fluid flow
US10161625B2 (en) 2013-07-30 2018-12-25 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Combustor having a nonmetallic body with external electrodes
US10422523B2 (en) 2013-10-04 2019-09-24 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Ionizer for a combustion system
US10295185B2 (en) 2013-10-14 2019-05-21 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Flame visualization control for electrodynamic combustion control
US10156356B2 (en) 2013-10-14 2018-12-18 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Flame visualization control for a burner including a perforated flame holder
US20150362177A1 (en) * 2014-06-11 2015-12-17 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Flame position control electrodes
US10281141B2 (en) 2014-10-15 2019-05-07 Clearsign Combustion Corporation System and method for applying an electric field to a flame with a current gated electrode
US20160123577A1 (en) * 2014-11-03 2016-05-05 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Solid fuel system with electrodynamic combustion control
US10514165B2 (en) 2016-07-29 2019-12-24 Clearsign Combustion Corporation Perforated flame holder and system including protection from abrasive or corrosive fuel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2002168128A (en) 2002-06-14
DE60123194T2 (en) 2007-01-04
EP1209414B1 (en) 2006-09-20
US6453889B1 (en) 2002-09-24
EP1209414A2 (en) 2002-05-29
DE60123194D1 (en) 2006-11-02
EP1209414A3 (en) 2002-11-27
ATE340305T1 (en) 2006-10-15

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