Adaptor for providing electrical combustion control to a burner
Technologies are provided for an adaptor for introducing electricity into a combustion chamber, for the purpose of electrical flame or combustion control. The adaptor may be placed between a conventional burner assembly and a conventional combustion chamber wall. The adaptor includes an aperture for admitting electricity into the combustion chamber.
1. A combustion system, comprising:
a combustion chamber wall defining a combustion chamber;
a burner assembly configured to operatively couple to an exterior of the combustion chamber wall and to support a combustion reaction inside the combustion chamber;
an adaptor accessory mounted between the burner assembly and the combustion chamber wall; and
at least one fastener configured to fasten the adaptor accessory to the burner assembly and to the combustion chamber wall;
wherein the adaptor accessory includes an adaptor body defining an aperture configured to pass an electrical conductor therethrough; and
wherein the electrical conductor is configured to carry a voltage electrical signal from outside the combustion chamber wall to inside the combustion chamber through the adaptor body aperture;
whereby the adaptor accessory retrofits the combustion system.
2. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is configured to receive an electrical bushing; and
wherein the electrical bushing is configured to carry the electrical conductor.
3. The combustion system of claim 2 , wherein the electrical bushing further comprises a ceramic electrical insulator.
4. The combustion system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply disposed outside the combustion chamber and operatively coupled to the electrical conductor; and
at least one electrode disposed inside the combustion chamber and operatively coupled to the power supply via the electrical conductor.
5. The combustion system of claim 4 , wherein the power supply and the at least one electrode are configured to cooperate to apply electrical energy in proximity to the combustion reaction.
6. The combustion system of claim 4 , wherein the power supply is configured to output a high voltage electrical signal through the electrical conductor to the at least one electrode.
7. The combustion system of claim 6 , wherein the power supply is configured to output a high voltage electrical signal greater than about 20 kilovolts through the electrical conductor to the at least one electrode.
8. The combustion system of claim 4 , wherein the electrode is configured to apply an electrical field near the combustion reaction.
9. The combustion system of claim 4 , wherein the electrode is configured to output charged particles to the combustion reaction.
10. The combustion system of claim 4 , wherein the electrode is configured to not form an electrical spark.
11. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the burner assembly comprises a burner assembly flange configured to couple to the combustion chamber wall; and
wherein the adaptor accessory comprises:
a proximal coupling surface configured to couple to the burner assembly flange;
an adaptor wall projecting away from the proximal coupling surface; and
a distal coupling surface coupled to a distal end of the adaptor wall and configured to couple to the combustion chamber wall.
12. The combustion system of claim 11 , wherein the adaptor accessory includes a proximal adaptor flange on which the proximal coupling surface is formed;
wherein the adaptor accessory includes a distal adaptor flange on which the distal coupling surface is formed; and
wherein the adaptor wall extends from the proximal adaptor flange to the distal adaptor flange.
13. The combustion system of claim 11 , wherein the aperture is formed in the adaptor wall.
14. The combustion system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture defined by the adaptor body has a shape configured to receive an electrical bushing.
15. The combustion system of claim 14 , wherein the aperture defined by the adaptor body is threaded.