US3847565A

US3847565A - Combustion improver

Info

Publication number: US3847565A
Application number: US00342499A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Ford
Original assignee: Social Dynamics Inc
Current assignee: Social Dynamics Inc
Priority date: 1973-03-19
Filing date: 1973-03-19
Publication date: 1974-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-12

Abstract

A combustion improver wherein perssurized gas and compressed air are passed through separate chambers of a powered pump and into a common passage where they are mixed in a predetermined ratio for passage to a powered homogenizer for more complete mixture thereof before being fed to a burner or the like.

Description

United States Patent 91 Ford, Jr.

l l Nov. 12, 1974 i 1 COMBUSTION IMPROVER [75] Inventor: Sanders Ford, Jr., Richmond, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Social Dynamics Inc., Berkeley,

Calif.

22 Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,499

[52] US. CL, 48/180 S, 48/180 C, 431/354 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 3/02, ClOk [58] Field of Search.. 48/187, 180 C, 180 R, 180 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,306 6/1922 Cummings 48/180 R l.546,459 7/1925 Wolevcr 48/l80 R Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bruce &'McCoy [57] ABSTRACT A combustion improver wherein perssurized gas and compressed air are passed through separate chambers of a powered pump and into a common passage where they are mixed in a predetermined ratio for passage to a powered homogenizer for more complete mixture thereof before being fed to a burner or the like.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 COMBUSTION IMPROVIZR BACKGROUND OFTI-IE INVENTION I ducted at the point of burning, that there is incomplete burning of the gas. This results in the uneconomic use of the gas, and the production of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, or the like.

In an attempt to overcome the above-set forth problems, U.S. Pat. No. 556,490 dated Mar. 17, 1896, and U.S. Pat. No. 651,779 dated June 12, 1900, to Cottrell disclose meters for mixing natural gas and air, and for recording the quantity of the mixed gases that pass through the meter.

The meters of both of these patents are constructed for the purpose of providing a fixed gas to air ratio and include two rotating compartments of different sizes, fluidly connected at the interior of the meter, where the gases are mixed. Air is drawn into the larger compartment from the atmosphere and gas is fed to the smaller compartment and allowed to expand therein. The gas compartment is provided with power driven vanes mounted on a common shaft extending between the compartments and surrounded thereby. The vanes are driven by the expanding natural gas entering the meter, to thereby revolve the compartments for mixture of the gas and air, and to record the amount of mixed gas and air passing therethrough.

In this manner, each of the prior art devices delivers a mixture at a specific gas to air ratio. The gas and air, however, are not always thoroughly mixed and are at a low or reduced pressure, created solely by the revolution of the vanes within the meter. Due to the low pressure and the unhomogeneous mixture of the flow to a burner, the flame caused by the ignition thereof will not generally completely burn the gases, nor is the amount of heat generated thereby variable to any large degree.

The present invention overcomes the above-set forth disadvantages, by the provision of a powered pump having separate compartments into which pressurized gas and compressed air are fed. The gas and air are then mixed in a fixed ratio at the outlet side of the pump at substantially the same pressure they enter the pump. The mixed gas is then routed through an homog enizer to insure a perfectly homogeneous mixing thereof. The homogeneous mixture is at substantially the same pressure as the separate gases, and may then be fed to aburner or the like to be substantially completely burned; In this manner, sufficient amounts of heat for all uses willbe provided, and pollutants will be substantially eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a combustion improver comprising a powered pump divided into separate larger and smaller chambers, each of the chambers having separate inlet and outlet ports. Compressed air and pressurized gas are fed from separate sources via conduits into the smaller chamber and the larger chamber, respectively. The outlets from the chambers are fluidly connected to a common conduit, for mixing the compressed air and pressurized gas in a predetermined ratio at substantially the same pressure as the gases fed into the chambers. The common conduit being fluidly connected to a powered homogenizer for more completely mixing the gases. The homogenizer includes an outlet for connection to a gas burner or the like.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION may be used and more efficiently burned to thereby lower the overall cost of using natural gas.

And it is a still further object of the invention to provide a device in which pressurized gas and compressed air are first mixed in a predetermined ratio of gas to air, and then passed through a further device to insure the formation of a perfectly homogeneous mixture of gas and air.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in cross section, of the powered pump connected to the powered homogenizer of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view, in cross-section, of the powered pump; and

FIG. 3 is an end view, in cross-section, of the powered homogenizer of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION'OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention comprises a device to improve the combustion of natural gas for heating and other heat generating applications. It includes a powered pump for the simultaneous receipt of pressurized gas and compressed air to provide controlled mixing of the gasses, and a powered homogenizer to provide a completely homogeneous gas mixture for feeding to the point of combination.

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a system having a powered pump 11 fluidly connected to a powered homogenizer 13 by a conduit 15. The pump and homogenizer may be powered in any suitable manner, such as by one or more electrical motors driving central shafts l7, 19, by means of belts and pulleys.-

Pump'll includes a'hollow body 21, preferably cylindrical in shape, having an opening 20 at one end and closed at the other end bya wall 22. The interior portion .of the bodyis divided into two separate chambers 23,25 by a wall 35, and each-of the chambers is prowhich shaft 17 rotatably and sealingly extends. As

, shown, the wall divides the interior volume of the body 17 and rotatable therewith. The blades extend outwardly to the walls of the pump body to substantially fill the entire space between the shaft and the inside diameter of the body. At the same time, compressed air, at substantially the same pressure as the gas, is fed from a variable source (not shown) via inlet 27 into upper chamber 23. The air is acted upon by further blades 39, also six in number, which are mounted on the common rotating shaft. These blades extend outwardly to the walls of the pump body to substantially fill the entire space between the shaft and the inside diameter of the body.

The gas from outlet 33 passes into a conduit 41 while the compressed air from outlet 31 passes into a conduit 43. These conduits merge into the common conduit 15, where the gas and air are mixed. The conduits connected to the inlets 29,31 and outlets 31,33 of the pump are chosen in such a manner that the gas and air are mixed in a predetermined gas to air ratio, of approximately 3 to l. The mixed gases pass through the conduit to' an inlet 45 of the powered homogenizer 13.

The homogenizer 13 includes a hollow body- 47, preferably cylindrical in shape and having the inlet 45 and an outlet 48. The complete homogeneous mixing of the gases within the homogenizer is preferably accomplished by a plurality of blades 49, fixed to the rotating shaft 19. As shown, each ofthe blades 49 extends along the length of the shaft 19 within the body, and outwardly to the inside diameter thereof. Each blade is provided with a plurality of holes or bores 43 extending therethrough. These holes are spaced evenly along the entire length and width of the blades to aid in the thorough mixing ofthe gases as they pass through the holes upon rotation of the blades.

The open ends of the

bodies

21, 47 are preferably closed by end plates 51, 53 sealingly fixed thereto as by bolts or other means passing therethrough and held in a plurality of holes 55, 57 formed within the bodies. Each of the end plates 51, 53 is provided with a bore (not shown) in which the shafts 17, 19 are rotatably and sealingly carried.

It therefore can be seen that an improved apparatus for mixing air and gas has been provided. In this apparatus gas and air are inserted at approximately the same pressure into separate chambers of the powered pump. Each of the chambers is of a different size and the air and gas forced from the chambers will be mixed in a common conduit joined to the outlets thereof in a gas to air ratio of approximately 3 to 1 at substantially the same pressure as the entering gases. This mixture is then routed through the homogenizer for complete and perfectly homogeneous mixing thereof, and then to a gas burner or the like at approximately the same pressure as the gas and air which entered the system.

In a laboratory test conducted by an independent testing laboratory, the present invention was compared with the normal connection to a gas-fired commercial heater. In this manner, the following two modes of operation were compared:

1. Natural gas only delivered to the burner; and

2. Lower flow of natural gas delivered to the apparatus of the present invention together with compressed air at substantially the same pressure. The resulting mixture was then delivered to the burner.

The following results were obtained:

1 The natural gas flow rate to the burner was approximately 1.29 cubic feet/minute. This flow rate was determined by the pressure in the service line and the diameter of the pipe used. The natural gas was then ignited at the burner and produced no sharp flamecone within the flame, thereby indicating a relatively inefficient burning. An analytical study of the flue gases produced by the burning of this natural gas produced the following results (-on a volume basis):

Oxygen 13.6

Carbon Dioxide 3.5 Carbon Monoxide 9000 parts per million (ppm) Methane 380 ppm Ethylene 11 ppm Ethane ppm 2. With the apparatus of the present invention connected as described above, the natural gas flow rate to the larger chamber of the poweredpump was approximately 0.86 cubic feet/minute. Compressed air was fed to the smaller chamber at substantially the same pressure as the gas whereby a substantially constant combined natural gas plus air flow rate of 1.17 cubic feet/- minute was delivered by the pump. When this gas and air mixture was ignited, it was noted that a distinct and sharp flame cone was formed, thereby indicating a more efficient burning of the fuel. An analytical examination of the flue gases from this burning showed that the flue gases contained the following (on a volume basis):

Oxygen [4.7 Carbon Dioxide 2.8 Carbon Monoxide Less than 30 ppm Methane 61 ppm No other hydrocarbons were detected.

It is obvious, that with the more efficient burning of the fuel, and with the much lower levels'of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons in the flue gas, air pollution problems will be greatly reduced. In addition, due to'the more efficient use of the natural gas, a reduction in the use of the gas of approximately 33 percent appears feasible. This would substantially reduce the ,price of natural gas to a user.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is not to be limited to such details as have been-set forth except as may be necessitated by the appended claims. I

I claim:

l. A combustion improver comprising a powered pump, said pump having a hollow body divided into separate larger and smaller chambers with separate inlet and outlet ports, a shaft rotatably mounted within said body and having a plurality. of blades. mounted thereon, said blades substantially filling the space between the shaft and the inside diameter in each of said chambers, said larger chamber in said powered pump being approximately three times the volume of said smaller chamber,

a source of compressed air,

a conduit fluidly connecting said source of compressed air to the inlet of said smaller chamber,

a source of pressurized gas,

a conduit fluidly connecting said pressurized gas to said inlet of said larger chamber, whereby, when said shaft is rotated, said blades will rotate in said separate chambers to act upon the gas and air entering into said chambers to force the same through said outlets of said chambers into a common conduit for mixing of the gas and air in a substantially three to one gas to air ratio at substantially the same pressure as the gases entering said chambers and a powered homogenizer fluidly connected to said common conduit for more completely mixing said air and said gas, said homogenizer including a hollow body having a shaft mounted centrally thereof and an outlet port for connection to a gas burner or the like, said shaft having a plurality of blades mounted thereon, and substantially filling the space between the shaft and the inside diameter of said body, said blades having a plurality of bores extending therethrough whereby, when said shaft and'said blades are rotated, said gas and said air contained within said homogenizer will be completely and homogeneously mixed.

Claims

1. A COMBUSTION IMPROVER COMPRISING A POWERED PUMP, SAID PUMP HAVING A HOLLOW BODY DIVIDED INTO SEPARATE LARGER AND SMALLER CHAMBERS WITH SEPARATE INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BODY AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF BKADES MOUNTED THERON, SAID BLADES SUBSTANTIALLY FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE INSIDE DIAMETER IN EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS, SAID LARGER CHAMBER IN SAID POWERED PUMP BEING APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES THE VOLUME OF SAID SMALLER CHAMBER, A SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR, A CONDUIT FLUDILY CONNECTING SAID SOURCE OF COMPRESSED AIR TO THE INLET OF SAID SMALLER CHAMBER, A SOURCE OF PRESSURIZED GAS, A CONDUIT FLUDITY CONNECTING SAID PRESSURIZED GAS TO SAID INLET OF SAID LARGER CHAMBER, WHEREBY, WHEN SAID SHAFT IS ROTATED SAID BLADES WILL ROTATE IN SAID SEPARATE CHAMBERS TO ACT UPON THE GAS AND AIR ENTERING INTO SAID CHAMBERS TO FORCE THE SAME THROUGH SAID OUTLETS OF SAID CHAMBERS INTO A COMMON CONDUIT FOR MIXING OF THE GAS AND AIR IN A SUBSTANTIALLY THREE TO ONE GAS TO AIR RATIO AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PRESSURE AS THE GASES ENTERING SAID CHAMBERS, AND A POWERED HOMOGENIZER FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID COMMON CONDUIT FOR MORE COMPLETELY MIXING SAID AIR AND SAID GAS, SAID HOMOGENIZER INCLUDING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING A SHAFT MOUNTED CENTRALLY THEREOF AND AN OUTLET PORT FOR CONNECTION TO A GAS BURNER OR THE LIKE, SAID SHAFT HAVING A PLURALITY OF BLADES MOUNTED THEREON, AND SUBSTANTIALLY FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID BODY SAID BLADES HAVING A PLURALITY OF BORES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH WHEREBY WHEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID BLADES ARE ROTATED, SAID GAS AND SAID AIR CONTAINED WITHIN SAID HOMOGENIZER WILL BE COMPLETELY AND HOMOGENEOUSLY MIXED.