Gradual oxidation with heat transfer
Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
1. A method for oxidizing a fuel, comprising:
determining a temperature within a reaction chamber of an oxidizer, the reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet and being configured to maintain gradual oxidation of an oxidizable fuel;
outputting a first signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber when the temperature within the reaction chamber approaches a flameout temperature, such that the temperature remains beneath the flameout temperature;
calculating an adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber; and
outputting a second signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber when the calculated adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber exceeds the flameout temperature.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first or second signal comprises instruction to remove heat from the reaction chamber.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first or second signal comprises instruction to reduce the temperature by introducing a fluid into the reaction chamber.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first or second signal comprises instruction to evacuate the fluid from the reaction chamber.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the instruction to evacuate the fluid from the reaction chamber comprises evacuating the fluid in the form of steam.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeatedly calculating, based on data of the oxidizable fuel, the adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber is output when the temperature within the reaction chamber exceeds 2300° F.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber is output when the temperature approaches a flameout temperature of at least one of hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, natural gas, propane, propylene, propadiene, n-butane, iso-butane, butylene-1, butadiene, iso-pentane, n-pentane, acetylene, hexane, and carbon monoxide.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first signal is output when the temperature increases to the flameout temperature.
10. A method for oxidizing a fuel, comprising:
determining a temperature within a reaction chamber of an oxidizer, the reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet and being configured to maintain gradual oxidation of an oxidizable fuel;
outputting a first signal to a heat exchanger to draw heat from the reaction chamber when the temperature within the reaction chamber approaches a flameout temperature;
calculating an adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber; and
outputting a second signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber when the calculated adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber exceeds the flameout temperature.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first or second signal comprises instructions to draw heat from the reaction chamber by introducing a fluid into the reaction chamber.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first or second signal comprises instructions to evacuate the fluid from the reaction chamber.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the instructions to evacuate the fluid from the reaction chamber comprise instructions to evacuate the fluid in the form of steam.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber is output when the temperature within the reaction chamber exceeds 2300° F.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber is output when the temperature exceeds a flameout temperature of at least one of hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, natural gas, propane, propylene, propadiene, n-butane, iso-butane, butylene-1, butadiene, iso-pentane, n-pentane, acetylene, hexane, and carbon monoxide.
16. A method for oxidizing a fuel, comprising:
determining a temperature within a reaction chamber of an oxidizer, the reaction chamber having an inlet and an outlet and being configured to maintain gradual oxidation of an oxidizable fuel;
calculating an adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber;
determining, with a sensor, when the calculated adiabatic reaction temperature within the reaction chamber exceeds a flameout temperature of the fuel within the reaction chamber; and
outputting a signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber when the calculated adiabatic reaction temperature exceeds the flameout temperature.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the calculated adiabatic reaction temperature is based on the oxidizable fuel and an oxidant within the reaction chamber.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the signal comprises instruction to remove heat from the reaction chamber.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the signal comprises instruction to reduce the temperature by introducing a liquid into the reaction chamber.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber is output when the temperature within the reaction chamber exceeds 2300° F.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the signal to reduce the temperature within the reaction chamber is output when the temperature exceeds a flameout temperature of at least one of hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, natural gas, propane, propylene, propadiene, n-butane, iso-butane, butylene-1, butadiene, iso-pentane, n-pentane, acetylene, hexane, and carbon monoxide.