US1344049A - Method of producing heat - Google Patents

Description

C..E. LUCKE.

METHOD OF PRODUCING HEAT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-H, 1915. RENEWED AUG. 14.1919.

Patented June 22, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. E: LUCKE.

METHOD OF PRODUCING HEAT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-11,1915- RENEWED AUG. 14,19l9- 1,344,049, I Patented June 22, 1920. 4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2021175728555 I 7 Iii 72255? UNITED STATES CHARLES E. LUCKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF PRODUCING HEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22,1920.

Application fileil September 11, 1915, Serial No. 50,189. Renewed August 14, 1919. Serial No. 317,586.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that'I, CHARLES E. LUoKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Producing Heat, fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to the production of heat by the burning of explosive gaseous mixtures continuously, or non-explosively, as distinguished from non-continuous, or intermittent combustion-of such mixtures.

The invention comprises a method wherein me March 22, 1904, there is described and mation without diffusion with other gas by claimed a method of burning explosive gaseous mixtures wherein the explosive mixture is caused to flow. with a velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture in order to prevent back flashing, a d the flow velocity is then reduced tothe rate of propagation of inflamcausing the flowing mixture to spread out with loss of flow velocity, and the mixture is then burned at the surface or zone at which the flow velocity is equal to the rate-of propagation of inflammation. In the apparatus shown in said patent for carrying out the method there claimed a stream of mixture flowing with excess velocity is injected into a porous and permeable bed of refractory,

material by which the flowing mixture is deflected and caused to spread out as it passes through the passages of the bed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method wherein the desired rapid reduction of flow velocity of the mixture is secured without resort to the use of a porous and permeable bed through which the mixture is caused to flow or other deflecting or battling structure; and generally the invention aims to provide a method which shall be efficient and suited for general use, and especially adaptable for use under conditions where the use of a porous and permeable bed of refractory material as a velocity reducing and combustion localizing means would be undesirable.

In accordance with the present invention, the reduction of the flow velocity of the rapidly flowing mixture is secured by causing the mixture to take the form of a laterally spreading free stream or jet, whereby without the interposition of any obstruction in its path of flow the mixture will advance in a stream or jet of rapidly increasing cross -section and with correspondingly rapidly decreasing velocity. In such a rapidly spreading free jet the reduction of flow velocity from a velocity largely in excess of the rate of propagation of inflammation of the supplied mixture to a velocity equal to the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture at the place of combustion may be obtained within a comparatively small distance from the place where spreading begins, and without suflicient diffusion with other gas between the point of mixture exit and the combustion zone to interfere with commercial requirements of heating appliances. The flowing mixture is best caused to take the form of a free rapidly spreading jet or stream by imparting to the mixture such direction or characteristic of flow before it leaves a discharge opening that on leaving the opening it will take the desired form. By locating the jet between more or less closely adjacent walls of refractory material preferably of low heat conductivity, the walls,- becoming highly heated, may serve as a source of radiant heat and also serve to accelerate the combustion of the mixture and aid in localization of the combustion.

It will be understood that by the term explosive gaseous mixture as used herein is meant a mixture of a suitable combustion supporting gas, either oxygen alone or air or other oxygen-containing gas, with combustible matter in a gaseous or other finely divided state in proper proportions, that is, in proportions such that the mixture will have the property of self-propagation of inflammation. For producing the highest temperature, the oxygen should be undiluted and the mixture should contain oxygen and combustible matter in chemical combining proportions; but there may be an excess of either the combustible matter or the combustion supporting gas within the limits which determine the property of self-propagation. The mixture may be varied in this respect according to the desired character of the products of combustion, that is, whether it is desired that the products shall be neutral, oxidizing or reducing. Also, the

tus or burner comprising a nozzle for discharging the explosive gaseous mixture in the form of a rapidly spreading jet which is like an ordinary centrifugal spray nozzle for spraying liquids.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another form of nozzle or discharging device.

Fig. 3 is a. section of the burner shown in Fig. 2 taken through the supply passage and the tangential passages leading to the discharge opening.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an open top furnace provided with devices for supplying the mixture in the form of rapidly spreading jets to burn within the furnace chamber. Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken on lines 55 and (36 respectively of F ig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another form of burner.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the burner shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, the burner shown in this figure comprises a nozzle 10 which issimilar to a well known type of centrifugal spray nozzle used for spraying liquids. The. nozzle is provided with spiral vanes 11 within its cylindrical body portion by which a rotary or spiral movement is given to fluid flowing through the nozzle, and has a velocity increasing tapering channel 12 beyond the vanes. Fluid discharged from the nozzle, by reason of its rapid rotary motion ftakes the form of a rapidly spreading cone-shaped jet having more or less curved sides. The gaseous explosive mixture is supplied to the nozzle through its inlet opening 13 under a pressure suflicient to cause it to be discharged from the mouth of the nozzle with the desired excess flow velocity from any suitable source or from any suitable means, as for example, by the means shown in Fig. 2 for supplying a mixture of fuel gas and air.

The mixture discharged from the nozzle with a flow velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture will take, as above stated, the form of a rapidly spreading free jet, advancing from the discharge opening, or nozzle mouth, with increasing cross-section and with decreasing flow velocity, or rate of advance away from the discharge opening, without the aid of any bafiiing means. The flow velocity of the mixture, that is, the rate or velocity of vance of the mixture in the direction directly away from the discharge opening, is thus rapidly reduced so that, even when the mixture is discharged with an initial velocity greatly in excess of the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture, reduction of the flow velocity to the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture may be attained within a comparatively short distance from the discharge opening and without diffusion to any serious extent with the surrounding atmosphere even though the spreading jet be entirely unprotected. Combustion being started, will continue at the surface or zone where the fiow velocity equals the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture as it reaches such surface or zone.

For most elficient operation, it is desirable to provide a wall of suitable refractory material of low heat conductivity extending about the space in which the spreading jet is formed and within which combustion takes place, and such a wall is shown in Fig. 1 in which a body 15 of fire brick or other suitable refractory material of low heat conductivity is shown as formed with a flaring opening the sides of which may extend more or less distant from the path of the sides of the spreading jet of mixture or so that the space between them is completely filled by the jet of mixture. Most desirably the walls extend so that the advancing mixture will fill the space between them, diffusion with surrounding atmosphere being thus entirely prevented. The wall of refractory material surrounding the combustion space becomes highly heated, and the resulting heating of the advancing mixture and the presence of the incandescent solid matter increase the rate of combustion and the ca pacity of the burner and also aid in localization of the combustion. The walls also become a source of radiant heat, and being of low heat conductivity protect from excessive heating the end of the nozzle and the plate 16 and prevent any possibility of conduction of heat back to the low velocity chamber to such degree as might cause ignition of the mixture therein.

Figs. 2 and 3 show a form of burner in which the spreading free jet of explosive gaseous mixture is produced by causing the mixture to flow through a plurality of passages 20 leading from an annular supply passage or chamber 21 and opening tangentially into the discharge opening 22 or periment.

mouth of the nozzle. The explosive mixture is supplied to the chamber 21 through the inlet 23 under sufiicient pressure to cause the whirling stream of mixture to advance from the discharge opening of the nozzle with the desired excess velocity.

Reduction of fiow velocity or rate of advance from the discharge opening, and localization of combustion where the flow velocity equals the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture within a short distance beyond the discharge opening, take place as with the burner of Fig. 1. burner of these figures is also shown as provided with flaring walls of refractory ma terial of low heat conductivity surrounding the combustion space. i

There is also shown in Fig. 2, but on a smaller scale than the burner, a mixture supplying means comprising a tank G for fuel gas and a tank A for air or oxygen or other combustion supporting gas. The fuel gas and combustion supporting gas may be supplied to these tanks by any suitable means adapted to maintain the desired pressures therein. Outlet pipes controlled by valves a and 9 lead from the tanks and connect with a supply pipe 24 which leads to the inlet 28 of the supply chamber. The valves a and g serve to control the proportions of fuel gas and combustion supporting gas in the mixture, andthe pressure maintained in the supply chamber and the velocity of flow through the supply passages 20 may also be controlled by these valves. The proper proportions of fuel gas and .combustion supporting gas, that is, proportions such according to the nature of the constituent gases that the mixture shall have the property of self-propagation of inflammatioinmay be readily determined by ex- The means shown and above described for supplying an explosive mixture under the required pressure is, of course, only illustrative, and various other suitable means might be employed. So also, explosive mixtures other than mixtures, of fuel gas and air or other combustion supporting gas may be used in practising my method, such, for example, as explosive gaseous mixtures of air and coal dust or charcoal dust or fine oil spray, mist or fog.

By removing the partitions between the passages 20 so as to have a conical slot extending from the supply chamber to the discharge opening, a jet'which first converges and then diverges or spreads may be produced.

Another form of nozzle for producting a rapidly spreading jet of the explosive gaseous mixture is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, Fig. 4 showing a furnace provided with two such supply nozzles and having an open topped chamber into the lower part of which the spreadingfree jets of explosive mixture The are injected to burn within the chamber. The furnace chamber is lined with highly refractory material of low heat conductivity which is formed with openings registering with openings in the outer metal or other wall of the furnace through which the mixture is injected from the nozzles. These openings are most desirably of such shape as to limit diffusion as hereinbefore explained. The nozzles are formed with an inlet or entrance passage 30 leading tangentially into an annular passage 31 from which a converging passage 32 annular in cross-section leads to the discharge opening or mouth of the nozzle. The rotary movement of the mixture due to its tangential entrance into the passage 81 is increased as it passes through the converging passage 32, and the mixture discharged from the nozzle takes the desired spreading jet form with rapid reduction in its flow velocity as it advances from the discharge opening, so that, the mixture being supplied to the nozzle under pressure sufl icient to cause the desired. excess flow velocity at the discharge opening, combustion will be localized a short distance beyond the discharge 'opehing within the furnace chamber. When the furnace is in operation all the interior surfaces of the furnace swept by the extremely hot combustion gases will become heated to ahigh state of incandescence.

Figs. 7 and 8 show an apparatus in which, instead of a conical spreading jet of the gas eous mixture such as is produced by the devices shown in the other figures, a flat spreading free jet is formed by the impact against each other of suitably directed unconfined streams of the mixture. In this apparatus, the mixture for forming a spreading jet is discharged from a pair of passages 40 in two streams which meet at a suitable angle to cause the mixture advancing from the place of impact to take the form of a flat spreading jet in a manner similar to that in which a fiat spreading jet is produced by the ordinary form of acetylene gas burner. The reduction of flow velocity in such a fiat spreading free jet is not so rapid as in a jet of conical form, but is sufiiciently rapid for good results, especially when adjacent wall of refractory material of low heat conductivity are provided. In

the apparatus shown by Figs. 7 and 8 a plurality of pairs of the passages 40 lead from a supply chamber 41 and discharge into a space between walls 42 of fire brick or other suitable refractory insulating material. The refractory insulating material extends also over the metal wall between the discharge ends of the passages 40 to protect the metal and especially the parts thereof adjacent the passages from becoming excessively heated. An air passage 43 is also desirably provided to aid in preventing the metal from becoming undesirably heated. The explosive mix-- ture is'supplied to the chamber 41 through the inlet 44: under pressure sufficient to cause the mixture to flow through and to be discharged from the passages with. a velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. The method of burning explosive gaseous mixtures, which consists in causing the mixture to flow with an initial velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture in the form of a rapidly spreading free jet, whereby the flow velocity is rapidly reduced, and burning the mixture where the flow velocity equals the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture.

2. The method of burning explosive gaseous mixtures, which consists in .dischargin a stream of mixture from an opening wit a velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture in the form of a rapidlyspreading free jet, whereby the flow velocity is rapidly reduced, and burning the mixture where the reduced flow velocity has become equal to the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture.

3. The method of burning explosive gaseous mixtures which consists in discharging a stream of the mixture from an openin with a velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture and imparting to the stream of mixture before it is discharged a rapid rotary whirling movement, whereby the mixture when discharged is caused to take the formof a rapidly spreading free jet, its flow velocity being thereby rapidly reduced, and burning the mixture where the flow velocity equals the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture.

4. The method of burning explosive gaseous mixtures, which consists in discharging a stream of mixture from an opening with a velocity greater than the rate of propaga tion'of inflammation of the mixture in the form of a rapidly spreading free jet into a space between walls of refractory material of low heat conductivity, which extend closely adjacent the spreading jet to become highly heated by the burning of the mixture, and burning the mixture Where the flow velocity equals the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture.

5. The method of producing heat, which consists in mixing a fuel in a finely divided state with a combustion supporting gas in proportions to form an explosive gaseous mixture, discharging the mixture thus formed from an opening with a velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of .the mixture and rapidly reducing the flow velocity of the mixture by causing the stream of mixture to take the form of a rapidly spreading free jet, and burning the mixture where the reduced flow velocity has become equal to the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture.

6. The method of producing heat, which consists in mixing a fuel in a finely divided state with a combustion supporting gas in proportions to form an explosive gaseous mixture, discharging the mixture thus formed from an opening with a velocity greater than the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture into a space between flaring walls of refractory material of low heat conductivity in the form of a spreading free jet which fills the space between said walls, whereby the flow velocity of the mixture is reduced to the rate of propagation of inflammation of the mixture and diffusion with other gas is prevented, and burning the mixture.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. LUOKE.

Witnesses:

DAVID (J. LEWIS, A. L. KENT.

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