CA2264940A1

CA2264940A1 - Fuel plasma vortex combustion system

Info

Publication number: CA2264940A1
Application number: CA002264940A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Donald C. Jensen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-21
Filing date: 1997-08-21
Publication date: 1998-02-26
Also published as: JP2001500241A; US5968378A; AU4155497A; EP0928233A4; WO1998007546A1; US5861600A; EP0928233A1

Abstract

A combustion system having a combustion chamber (303) having a fuel inlet, a preheating chamber (306) surrounding the combustion chamber, an air inlet (301) for tangentially feeding combustion air to the preheating chamber, the combustion chamber having an elongate slot (307) for tangentially admitting preheated air in circulating motion to the combustion chamber, a plasma chamber (331) coupled to the combustion chamber having an inlet aperture for receiving combusting fuel-air plasma from the combustion chamber, and an outlet aperture (308) for expelling combusted gas, the plasma chamber having an inverted end wall surrounding the outlet aperture operative for forming an imploding vortex in the plasma chamber.

Description

ï»¿WO 98/07546101520CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97/ 14712FUEL PLASMA VORTEX COMBUSTION SYSTEMField of the InventionThe invention relates to combustion systems, and more particularly tocombustion systems based on imploding vortex technology, combined with ionseparation of combustion gases.Background of the InventionAn imploding plasma energy converter was previously developed by thepresent applicant and is the subject of U.S. Patent Number 5,359,966, issued onNovember 1, 1994. This prior converter, although highly efficient and practical, doesnot entirely maximize combustion vortex turbulence and it lacks a convenient meansfor ï¬nely adjusting the air-fuel ratio after full operating temperature has been reached.As noted in this previous patent, earlier inventors have disclosed heatingsystems based on the principle of burning fuel in a vortex. For example. U.S. PatentNumber 2,747,526. shows a cyclone furnace in which a granular solid fuel is directedinto a high velocity stream of superâatmospheric pressure air directed tangentially intoa ï¬uid cooled cyclone chamber. U.S. Patent Number 3,597,141 discloses a burner forgaseous, liquid fuel, which has a tubular burner structure of a rotationally symmetricalshape, and which has nozzles for supplying combustion air tangentially into thecombustion chamber. U.S. Patent Number 4,297,093 discloses a combustion methodwhich can reduce the emission of nitrous oxide and smoke by means of a speciï¬cï¬ow pattern of fuel and combustion air in the combustion chamber, and in whichsecondary air is injected to create a swirling air ï¬ow.None of the prior art, however, shows the use of applicant's concept of the so-ï»¿WO 98/075461015202530CA 02264940 1999-03-05 .PCT/US97/147122called imploding plasma vortex, in which a vortex of burning gases is configured suchthat the vortex of burning gas plasma is sustained in a plasma chamber such that thevortex is "folded back" into itself, creating a double helix of burning gases at veryhigh temperature combined with preheating of the fuel and combustion air. Theprinciple of the imploding plasma vortex leads to a combustion process of very highthermal conversion efï¬ciency and to a very complete combustion that minimizespolluting emissions.It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an imploding plasmavortex combustion system which maximizes vortex formation within the system formuch improved fuel efï¬ciency.It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system whichoptionally includes means for precisely adjusting the airâfuel ratio after fulloperational temperature has been reached to further improve fuel efficiency.It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system whichenhances ionization of the airâfuel mixture before and during combustion for stillgreater fuel efficiency.It is still another object of the present invention to provide a combustionsystem which includes means for preheating air in an air-passing and rotatingcombustion chamber for smooth operational transition to a plasma burning mode.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combustion systemwhich is economical to construct and operate, which produces no harmful exhaust by-products and which requires very little to no cleaning or other maintenance.Summary of the InventionAccording to the invention, there is provided a combustion system having acombustion chamber having a fuel inlet, a preheating chamber surrounding thecombustion chamber, an air inlet for tangentially feeding combustion air to thepreheating chamber, the combustion chamber having an elongate slot for tangentiallyadmitting preheated air in circulating motion to the combustion chamber, a plasmachamber coupled to the combustion chamber having an inlet aperture for receivingcombusted fuel-air from the combustion chamber, and an outlet aperture for expellingcombusted gas, the plasma chamber having an inward folded end wall surroundingthe outlet aperture operative for forming an imploding vortex in the plasma chamber.ï»¿WO 98/075461015202530CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97/147123According a to further feature, there is a combustion system wherein theplasma chamber is a resonating chamber, which has an internal wall of substantiallyspherical shape, for creating resonating waves in the chamber, and a center.According to a still further feature, there is provided a combustion systemwhich includes a smaller central sphere in the resonating chamber, having an innercavity, a sonic tube ï¬uidly connecting the inner cavity with the combustion chamber,the sonic tube being operative for transmitting some waves from the cavity to thecombustion chamber.According to an additional feature the central sphere has a given outsidediameter and the spherical chamber has a given inside diameter, wherein the insideand outside diameters have a given harmonic ratio, the harmonic ratio being selectedso as to induce standing waves in the spherical chamber.According to another feature of the invention. there is provided a combustionsystem wherein a sonic tube is terminated in the combustion chamber in anexponential horn facing away from the sonic tube, the exponential horn beingoperative for coupling sonic waves from the inner cavity of the combustion chamber.According to still another feature of the invention, there is provided acombustion system wherein the combustion chamber outlet aperture -has anexponentially expanding diameter facing the resonating chamber.The combustion system according to the invention may include a plenumsurrounding the resonating chamber for transferring heat from the resonating chamberto a heat transfer medium traversing the plenum.The combustion system according to the invention may include an ignitionvoltage source, and sparking apparatus in the combustion chamber coupled to theignition voltage source for igniting fuel-air mixture circulating in the combustionchamber.The combustion system according to the invention can advantageously includea fuelâair ratio adjusting collar forming a common end wall of the preheating chamberand the combustion chamber, the adjusting collar being adjustable in direction awayfrom the preheating chamber and combustion chamber for adjusting the width of theelongate slot.According to another feature of the combustion system according to theï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97/147124invention, the resonating chamber wall forms a cathode, the central sphere forms ananode, and an anodic reï¬ecting disc attached to the sonic tube, the anodic reï¬ectingdisc being operative for reï¬ecting ions from the combustion chamber.Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which isillustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.Brief Description of the FiguresFigure 01 is a simplified diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the inventionseen along its centerline, and showing its basic elements including a spherical plasmachamber;Figure 02 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of the invention according toFig. 01 showing a spherical resonating plasma chamber, and details of an anodicreï¬ecting element;Figure 1 is a still more detailed cross-sectional view of the invention having aplasma chamber shaped as a frusto-conical chamber;Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the invention showing cylindrical tubularinner and outer walls of the plasma chamber and plenum, and the air supply tubewithin the preheating chamber assembly.Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along the line 2aâ2a of Fig. 2; andFigure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a second variation of the inventionwherein the preheat chamber is divided into a small and a large part;Figure 4 is a cross-section of an embodiment having a conical combustionchamber.Figure 5 is an embodiment according to Fig. 4, further having a sphericalresonating chamber 309, as described in more detail in connection with thedescription of Fig. 02, andFigure 5a is an axial view of tangential air intake channels.Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of the particular arrangements shown, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description andï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97/14712not of limitation.Detailed Description of the Preferred EmbodimentA fuel combustion apparatus shown in its basic form in Fig. 01 is providedwith apparatus and a method of controlling and/or ï¬ne tuning an imploding vortexsubsequent to combustion and to greatly increase ionization of an air/fuel mixtureduring combustion. Experimentation with prototypes has shown that a highly ionizedcombustion ï¬uid, trapped in a high-velocity imploding vortex, produces a high-efficiency combustion of very high temperature, with highly clean exhaust emission.To maximize the efficiency of the system, it has been found to beadvantageous to fine-tune the air/fuel ratio and the vortex velocity after achieving astable combustion temperature. According to the inventive concept, combustion airenters an air feed tube 301 from a blower (not shown) and enters a preheat chamber304 tangentially, and follows a helical path indicated by arrows 302 around acombustion vortex chamber 303 located within the preheat chamber 304 that preheatsthe combustion air and cools the combustion vortex chamber wall 306. Thecombustion in the combustion vortex chamber 303 thereby preheats the incoming airto an approximate temperature of l00OÂ° before entering the combustion chamber 303through an adjustable circular slit 307 between the two chambers. The preheated airis set in motion as a highâvelocity vortex as it enters the preheat chamber 304 at atangent from the air feed tube 301. The air volume and velocity can be controlled bymeans of an adjusting collar 305. By reason of the highâvelocity air supplied throughthe feed tube 301, and the high temperature in the preheat chamber 304, the angularvelocity of the vortex in the combustion chamber 303 is very high and approachesseveral hundred thousand rpm. This forces molecules in the fuel and air to the outerperiphery of the combustion chamber. This process is further enhanced by a so-calledCoando effect acting on these l1ot ï¬uid gases as will be described in more detailbelow. As a result, a high centrifugal pressure is created at the outer periphery of thevortex and a vacuum at the vortex center. Fuel is injected from spray nozzle 315 intothe vacuum at the vortex center and ï¬ashes into a fuel vapor and becomes thoroughlymixed with the preheated air from the preheat chamber 304. Due to a high degree ofionization occurring in the combustion chamber 303, the fuel/air mixture enters aplasma phase just prior to combustion. As a result, the fuel plasma is trapped withinï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97/147126the vortex, and the outer periphery becomes negatively charged. The ions becomepolarized and separate into cations or anions. An ion is an electrically chargedparticle due to loss or gain of an electron. The cations will collect in the vortex centerand are + positively charged; the anions will collect at the outer layers of the vortexand are negatively charged.By placing a collector (anode) in the vacuum's center, electrons will ï¬ow fromthe cathode to the anode. It has been observed that this effect can cause electriccorona discharge in the combustion chamber between various parts of the chamber.The ionic process can be further enhanced by coating the cathode and/or anode withvarious materials, or by introducing potassium, salts, lithium or other catalysts intothe fuel or air supply.The electrons ï¬owing between the cathode and anode form an electric currentwhich can be directed to a step-down voltage converter to be utilized as electricenergy for various purposes including in an oscillator to be fed back to the cathode ina harmonic, resonant frequency designed to enhance the ionization of the fuel plasmaand system.A high degree of stress is placed on the molecular and atomic structures of thegases trapped within the imploding vortex in the combustion chamber 303 as thetemperature within this chamber has been measured to exceed 3000Â°F, and therotational velocity of the vortex has been measured to exceed several hundredthousands of rpm, resulting in supersonic velocities of the combustion plasma. Underthese conditions, resonant oscillations are generated in the plasma that can be utilizedto cause molecular disruption of the fuel plasma and a very high degree of co-mingling of the hydrocarbon fuel molecules with the oxygen molecules containedwithin the preheated combustion air.The combustion gases are discharged through a circular exponentiallyexpanding outlet aperture 308 leading from the combustion chamber 303 into aspherical chamber 309 wherein they, because of the centrifugal force and the Coandaeffect, expand following the inner contour of the spherical chamber 309.The expansion causes the gas particles to collect and stratify along theircontinued rotational motion at the periphery of the spherical chamber 309, which isthe hottest location within the spherical chamber 309. Because of the high velocityï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCTIUS97/147127and their high temperatures, the molecular and atomic particles are highly agitated,causing many collisions between the electrons and gas particles and thereby causingthe ionic exchange of energy between the particles. Due to the latent instability of ahot plasma, the collisions cause supersonic and/or ultrasonic sound waves in theplasma. The waves are reï¬ected from the chamber wall and reverberate between thespherical chamber walls 311 and converge toward the center of chamber 309. Asmall sphere 312 is located at the center of the spherical chamber 309. The purposesof the small sphere 312 is to cause harmonic resonant frequency oscillations in theplasma between the larger chamber wall 311 and the small sphere 312. To insurecontinuity of these oscillations, the size and the ratio between the diameters of thesmall sphere 312 and the spherical chamber 309 must be chosen within certain values.Also. the ï¬exibility of the material of the small sphere 312 and the spherical chamberwall 31 1 is important. When the proper conditions are present. harmonic oscillationswill develop within the interior space of the small sphere 312 that will be of a certainhigh or ultra-high frequency. These oscillations are directed through a sonic tube 313terminating in a horn 314 in the combustion chamber 303. The oscillations areultrasonic and further operate to rupture and/or disintegrate the molecules in thecombustion gases in the chamber 303 so as to enhance creation of clean combustionof most any fuels. This combustion process creates a very high carbon dioxidecontent, resulting in very low residues.The combustion apparatus according to the invention is advantageouslyconstructed as a multi-fuel combuster, meaning that it can burn both liquid andgaseous fuel. For this purpose, liquid or gaseous fuel can be introduced through anappropriately conï¬gured nozzle 315 for introducing the fuel into the vacuum of thevortex center of the combustion chamber 303. Gaseous or any other fuel can beintroduced through a separate inlet of the adjusting collar 305. Due to the highvelocity vortex and the Coanda effect of the ï¬uids, a vacuum exists in the center ofthe combustion chamber 303. The adjusting collar 305 can have any suitable numberof inlets for catalyst, air, water vapor or other suitable substance of elements for anysuitable purposes such as enhancing the combustion and/or disintegrating anyundesirable gases or liquid pollutants.The sonic tube 313 operating as an anode may advantageously be fitted withï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/U S97/ 147128an adjustable disk electrode not shown in Fig. 01, but seen in Fig. 02 at referencenumeral 9. By adjusting this electrode 9 to establish resonance between the electrodeand the combustion chamber discharge aperture 308, a toroidal vortex can beestablished within the anode and cathode thereby greatly increasing the ionizationprocess which, in turn, can establish a larger energy output from the combustioncycle. This is somewhat similar to a plate and hollow cathode discharge chamber,disclosed in the USSR publication, Gundersen, M.A. and Schaefer, G. (1990), Physicsand Applications of Pseudosparks", Plenum Press, N.Y.Fig. 02 shows the apparatus of Fig. 01 in more detail with the same referencenumerals indicating similar structures, but with material thicknesses and slightlydifferent geometries in some areas of the device.Important additional structures are elements related to the support andfunctions of the small sphere 312.As described above, a high velocity imploding plasma vortex is present in thespherical resonating chamber 309, and in the combustion chamber 303. Due to thehigh velocity of the plasma vortex, the ions of which the plasma is composed areseparating into cations and anions, as described above under Fig. 01. As a result, thesmall sphere 312 becomes positively charged while the wall of the sphericalcombustion chamber 309 becomes a negatively charged cathode since they areelectrically insulated from each other. As described above, the plasma which isinherently unstable, in the spherical resonating chamber 309 forms radially oscillatingstanding waves.The small sphere 312 is supported on a support tube 321, threaded through theelectrically insulating exhaust outlet 7. The support tube 321 is mounted in radiallyextending support ï¬anges 10,1 1. The support tube 321 is made of a high temperature,electrically conducting material or alloy, and is at its distal end 322 electricallycomiected to a high voltage electrical conductor 323 having an insulated outlet 8connected to electrical apparatus 324 (Fig. 01), as described in more detail below.The small sphere 312 provides an electrical connection from the support tube321 to the sonic tube 313 which extends from the small sphere 312 into thecombustion vortex chamber 303, wherein the sonic tube 313 is terminated in the horn314. An anodic element 9 is mounted on the sonic tube 313 at a certain givenï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97/ 147129distance from the resonating chamber inlet 308. The anodic element in its simplestform is a planar disc, but can have other forms such as spherical, paraboloidal or thelike, curved away from or toward the inlet 308.In operation during combustion, the anodic element 9 is set at a distance fromthe inlet 308 such that resonance is established between the inlet and the anodicelement 9. Under this condition a toroidal vortex is formed in the plasma between theanodic element 9 and the inlet 308, which in this case forms and acts as a cathode tothe anodic disc element 9. The toroidal vortex greatly increases the ionic processwhich in turn establishes a larger energy gradient within the combustion cycle.Combustion is initially started by injecting fuel in liquid or. gaseous form atthe nozzle 315, simultaneously supplying combustion air at the air feed tube 301.Ignition is started e.g. by supplying ignition voltage at the electrical conductor 323.The ignition voltage is conducted via the support tube 321 via the small sphere 312,and via the sonic tube 313 to the horn 314, from where an electric spark from the horn314 to the inner wall of the combustion vortex chamber 303 causes ignition of thefuel-air mixture. After ignition, combustion proceeds as described above with theformation of an imploding vortex in the resonating chamber 309.The imploding vortex combined with the resonating standing waves in theresonating chamber, and further enhanced by the toroidal vortex between the anodicelement 9 and the inlet 308 leads to a highly efï¬cient combustion with a high contentof carbon dioxide in the exhaust gases exiting through the exhaust outlet 7.As a result of the sustained combustion and the rising temperatures in thecombustion system, an adjustment of the fuel-air ratio may be required by adjustingthe adjustable slit 307 to the optional combustion conditions. The adjustment isperformed e.g. by rotating the adjusting collar 305, which is threadedly connected tothe resonating chamber 309 by screw threads 310.Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the combustionchamber assembly shown generally at A is substantially similar to that of Fig. 02,described in detail above. The embodiment of Fig. 1 is different from Fig. 02 in that afrusto-conical plasma chamber is provided instead of the spherical resonatingchamber 309 shown in Fig. 02.The frusto-conical plasma chamber 331 has the desirable property that theï»¿1015202530WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/U S97/ 1471210swirling vortex of combustion gases emerging from the combustion chamber 303 isinduced to form an imploding vortex as indicated by arrows Al which indicates theouter part of the imploding vortex, that follows the contour of the inside wall 332toward the distal contracting end 333 of the plasma chamber. Due to the decreasingdiameter of the plasma chamber in direction of the distal end 333, the speed of theplasma n the vortex increases. The wall of the distal end 333 is inward curved,causing the plasma to form a second inner vortex indicated by arrows A2, wherein theplasma reverses its axial direction of movement from right to left, while the rotationalspeed of the inner vortex A2 attains still higher speed. The inner vortex A2 is forcedinto a still diminishing diameter at the left hand end 334 of the plasma chamber asindicated by arrows A3 by the gas vortex emerging from the inlet aperture 308 fromthe combustion chamber. Due to the double vortex action in the plasma chamber,very high combustion temperatures are attained leading to a highly efficientcombustion with a high carbon dioxide content of the residual combustion gaseswhich escape through the exhaust outlet 336.A central conductor 337 is threaded through the exhaust outlet 336, andoperates as an anodic collector of cations of the plasma in the plasma chamber 331.The central conductor 337 is supported by suitably conï¬gured electrically insulatedsupports, not shown in this ï¬gure for the sake of clarity. The central conductor maybe connected to an electrical apparatus similar to the one shown in Fig. 02 for tappingelectrical energy from the combustion process and/or used for ignition as describedearlier.A plenum 316 surrounding the plasma chamber 331 serves to conduct a heattransfer medium entering at inlet 337a and exiting at outlet 338. The heat transfermedium may be a gas, e.g. atmospheric gas, or a liquid, e.g. water, as best suited forthe particular application. The embodiment according to Fig. 1 is shown as having aspark plug 339 having its sparking electrode in the combustion vortex chamber 303.Fig. 2 shows a combuster according to the invention having a combustionchamber assembly A similar to the one shown in Figures 1 and 2, but having a plasmachamber 33 l a of substantially cylindrical construction.The cylindrical plasma chamber 331a again has a partially rounded distal end333a, which induces the formation of an imploding vortex indicated by arrows A3 andï»¿WO 98/075461015202530CA 02264940 1999-03-05PCT/US97ll47121 1A4. The plenum 316a in this embodiment shows an array of heat fins 341 extendingfrom the cylindrical outer surface 342 of the plasma chamber 331a. The heat ï¬ns 341facilitate the transfer of heat from the plasma chamber 331a to the plenum 316a, thusallowing the combuster to be more compact while generating an equal amount of heatcompared with the construction shown in Fig. 1Fig. 2a is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment according to Fig. 2, seenalong the line 2aââ2a of Fig. 2. Fig. 2a shows the circular plenum 316a, surroundingthe plasma chamber 331a, surrounding the exhaust outlet 336.Fig. 3 shows an embodiment according to the invention, having a smallcircular preheat chamber 350 encircling the plasma chamber 351, and having acombustion air inlet 352 that feeds combustion air tangentially into the small preheatchamber 350, wherein the combustion air is partially preheated by heat transmittedthrough the wall 353 of the plasma chamber 351.The partially preheated combustion air is set in circular motion due to thetangentially injected combustion air, and is transmitted into a disc-shaped largepreheat chamber 354 via an elongated circular slot 356, only shown partially in theFigure. In the large preheat chamber 354, the combustion air is further preheated,while it is circulating in decreasing circles toward the center of the large preheatchamber 354. As a result of the expansion due to the preheating and being driven intosmaller circles, the preheated air attains a high circular speed as it enters a premixingvortex chamber 357 through a circular entry slot 358 connecting the premixing vortexchamber 357 and the large preheat chamber 354. A fuel nozzle 359 injects fuel inï¬nely dispersed liquid or gaseous form into the premixing vortex chamber 358,wherein the fuel and preheated combustion air is intimately combined.The rapidly swirling fuel-air mixture is directed radially by a diverter 361toward a large circular slot 362, from where it is driven into a large semi-toroidalcombustion chamber 363, wherein the fuel-air mixture is ignited by a spark plug 364comiected to a source of ignition voltage, not shown. The ignited, rapidly expandingfuel-air mixture enters the perimeter of the frusto-conical plasma chamber 351 in amanner similar to that shown by arrows A1 in Fig. l, and proceeds in similar mamierat increasingly rapidly rotating speed toward the right-hand end 351a from where it isreversed and returns as an imploding vortex as indicated by arrows A2 in Fig. 1ï»¿WO 98/075461015202530CA 02264940 1999-03-0512followed by theiï¬nal vortex motion shown as arrows A3. After being completelycombusted, the plasma escapes via exhaust outlet 366.The combuster according to Fig. 3 also includes a plenum 367 with inlets andoutlets 368,369 for circulating a heat transfer medium such as air or water fortransferring the combustion heat to a designated heat sink.It follows that the geometry of the plenum 367 is to be adapted to the particular heattransfer medium selected for the heat transfer. The plenum may have heat ï¬ns asshown in Fig. 2 or it may be conï¬gured as a coil or spool of tubing encircling theplasma chamber 351.Figures 4 and 5 show further reï¬nement of the systems as described earlier inFigures 01 and 02. These reï¬nements are the results of further prototype research anddevelopment and are designed to further decrease the preheat cycle time, improveplasma sonic resonance, to increase the Coanda effect of the hot fluid gases, toincrease the velocity of the imploding vortex, to further enhance the low pressurevacuum in the fuel chamber, to locate the ignition point in a more accessible location,to provide a less expensive vortex adjustment collar, to provide secondary air/fuelratio adjustment means, and to provide for electrical insulation between thecombustion/plasma chambers, and the outer preheat and plenum chambers.Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the combustion chamber 303 is of one piececonstruction and takes the form of a double ended cone 303a. The small-end of thecone 303a is conï¬gured to enhance the Coanda effect of the incoming combustion airand to increase the vortex velocity by providing a plurality of tangential channels 200at cross-section 307. Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view seen along line AâA ofFigs. 4 and 5. The large end of the cone 303a provides for a more gentle egress of theimploding combustion gases into the resonating chamber 309 and enhances theCoanda effect of the hot combusted gases in chamber 309.The outer air housing 201 is conï¬gured to be closely ï¬tting aroundcombustion chamber 303 to form a preheat chamber 304 so as to quickly heat theincoming air in the preheat chamber 304. This chamber 304 is ï¬tted with anadjustable end cap seen at 305-A in Fig. 4 and 305B in Fig. 5, also referred to as alow pressure fuel chamber. This cap 305A,305B is provided with one or more airinlet holes 202 and an adjustable choke 203. This choke plate provides a secondaryPCT/US97/14712ï»¿10WO 98/07546CA 02264940 1999-03-05 .PCT/US97/1471213method of ï¬ne tuning the air-fuel ratio so as to maximize combustion efficiencies.Element 339 is a sparking electrode.A mounting plate 204 is fabricated from a high temperature electrically.insulating material such as for example alumina or the like. Plate 204 serves toelectrically insulate the combustion chamber from the preheat chamber which greatlyimproves the ionization of the combusting gases by providing a polarity to the ions, asearlier described.The fuel chamber end cap 305B of Fig. 5 is cone shaped to conform to thecontour of the combustion chamber 303, thereby increasing the velocity of theincoming combustion air to the combustion chamber 303 vortex and providing astronger vacuum in fuel chamber 305BMounting plate 205 of Fig. 5 is a mounting plate for attachment to a boiler,water or air heater or any other heat sink as desired, or to a resonating chamber 309 asshown in Fig. 5.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A combustion system comprising:
a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet; a preheating chamber surrounding the combustion chamber having an air inlet for tangentially feeding combustion air to the preheating chamber, the combustion chamber having an elongate slot for admitting preheated air in circulating motion to said combustion chamber, a plasma chamber coupled to said combustion chamber, and having an inlet aperture for receiving combusting fuel-air plasma from said combustion chamber, and an outletaperture for expelling combusted gas, said plasma chamber having an inverted endwall surrounding said outlet aperture operative for forming an imploding vortex in said plasma chamber.
2. A combustion system according to claim 1, wherein said plasma chamber has an internal wall of substantially spherical shape, and a center.
3. A combustion system according to claim 2, including a central sphere in said plasma chamber for generating standing waves in said plasma chamber, said central sphere having an inner cavity, a sonic tube fluidly connecting said cavity with said combustion chamber, said sonic tube operative for transmitting sonic waves from said cavity to said combustion chamber.
4. A combustion system according to claim 3, wherein said central sphere has a given outside diameter and said spherical chamber has a given inside diameter, wherein said inside and outside diameters have a given harmonic ratio. said harmonic ratio selected so as to induce standing waves in said spherical chamber.
5. A combustion chamber according to claim 3, wherein said sonic tube is terminated in said combustion chamber in an exponential horn facing away from said sonic tube, said exponential horn being operative for coupling sonic waves from said inner cavity to said combustion chamber.
6. A combustion chamber according to claim 1, wherein said inlet aperture has an exponentially expanding diameter facing said plasma chamber.
7. A combustion system according to claim 1, including a plenum surrounding said plasma chamber for transferring heat from said plasma chamber to a heat transfer medium traversing said plenum.

8. A combustion system according to claim 1, including an ignition voltage source, and sparking means in said combustion chamber coupled to said ignition voltage source for igniting fuel air mixture circulating in said combustion chamber.
9. A combustion system according to claim 1, including an adjusting collar forming a common end wall of said preheating chamber and said combustion chamber, said adjusting collar being adjustable in direction away from said preheating chamber and combustion chamber for adjusting said elongate slot.
10. A combustion system according to claim 3, wherein said plasma chamber wall forms a cathode, said central sphere forms an anode, and further including an anodic reflecting element attached to said sonic tube, said anodic reflecting element being operative for reflecting ions from said combustion chamber.
11. A combustion system according to claim 1, wherein said combustion chamber is configured as a double-ended cone having a small inlet end communicating with said preheating chamber, and a large outlet end communicatingwith said plasma chamber.
12. A combustion system according to claim 11, wherein said inlet end of the combustion chamber further communicates with said combustion vortex chamber.13. A combustion system according to claim 12, wherein said vortex chamber has a conical inner wall having a small end communicating with the inlet end of said combustion chamber.
14. A combustion chamber according to claim 11, including a plurality of tangentially oriented air intake channels connecting said preheat chamber with said inlet end of said conical combustion chamber.