Redesigned Burner
Patent Number: US 11629855 Grant Date: 2023-04-18 Filing Date: 2019-08-29
Overview
This patent describes a robust steam generator system that premixes hydrogen and oxygen at stoichiometry and pairs the combustion with controlled injection of high‑pressure water and cooling steam to produce high‑pressure, turbine‑ready steam. Filed in August 2018 and granted in April 2023, the disclosure (inventors based in Canyon, TX; applicant and assignee in San Antonio and Amarillo, TX) captures detailed safety, thermal‑management and control strategies that enable premixed H2‑O2 operation without flashback or thermal failure. Key drafting points include redundant flashback arrestors, mass‑flow control of reactants, a sintered‑plate quench and a burner‑tip geometry feeding a two‑pass steam generation chamber. Cooling is handled flexibly via a dedicated cooling unit that supplies high‑pressure water (≈2000 psi in embodiments), HP‑LT steam or a steam‑water mist; steam‑injector rings create a protective steam film on the liner to prevent thermal meltdown. The claims and specification also anticipate reusing a portion of generated steam for cooling and include a comprehensive control unit for closed‑loop monitoring and actuation.
This prosecution exemplifies the firm’s capability to translate complex combustion, materials and safety engineering into precise claim language that supports commercial deployment in power plants and mobile propulsion systems.
Key Features
- Stoichiometric premixed H2–O2 combustion with flashback mitigation
- Sintered plate and injector array for stabilized injection and quench
- Steam‑film liner cooling and two‑pass steam generation chamber
- Flexible coolant inputs: high‑pressure water, HP‑LT steam, or recycled steam
- Integrated control, sensing, and purge (N2) safety provisions
When supplied with renewable hydrogen, the system enables near‑zero combustion emissions for steam‑turbine and combined‑heat‑and‑power applications, positioning the technology for decarbonized industrial and transportation uses.
Invention Details
Abstract: A steam generator system configured to burn hydrogen and oxygen at stoichiometry along with a increased-pressure water and steam. Said steam generator system comprise a hydrogen source, an oxygen source, a nitrogen source, a water source, a steam source, a hydrogen-oxygen handling unit, a cooling unit, a one or more H2-O2 steam generators and a control unit. Said steam generator system is configured to provide said hydrogen source to said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit through an oxygen passage, said oxygen source to said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit through a hydrogen passage, and said nitrogen source to selectively purge said oxygen passage and said hydrogen passage. Said water source provide water to said cooling unit. Said cooling unit is configured to receive said water source and said steam source.
Summary of the Invention: A steam generator system configured to burn hydrogen and oxygen at stoichiometry along with a high-pressure water and steam. Said steam generator system comprise a hydrogen source, an oxygen source, a nitrogen source, a water source, a steam source, a hydrogen-oxygen handling unit, a cooling unit, a one or more H2-O2 steam generators and a control unit. Said steam generator system is configured to provide said hydrogen source to said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit through an oxygen passage, said oxygen source to said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit through a hydrogen passage, and said nitrogen source to selectively purge said oxygen passage and said hydrogen passage. Said water source provide water to said cooling unit. Said cooling unit is configured to receive said water source and said steam source. Said hydrogen-oxygen handling unit is configured to blend portions of said hydrogen source and said oxygen source into a premixed H2-O2, and to selectively send portions of said premixed H2-O2 to said one or more H2-O2 steam generators. Said cooling unit is configured to receive and process said water source and said steam source into a cooling steam and said high-pressure water, and to selectively send said cooling steam and said high-pressure water to said one or more H2-O2 steam generators. Said premixed H2-O2 is at stoichiometry. Said one or more H2-O2 steam generators is configured to burn said premixed H2-O2, and to cool said one or more H2-O2 steam generators with said cooling steam and said high-pressure water and thereby to generate a generated steam. Said control unit receives input signals and data from various components of said steam generator system, processes it, and controls various instruments in the system.
A method of burning H2-O2 for creating a generated steam comprising the following steps.
Patent Document
Related: Energy & Hydrogen Technology | Mechanical Engineering | Robotics & Automation | Thermal Systems | Amarillo, Texas | Canyon, Texas | San Antonio, Texas | Shannon Warren, Patent Attorney