A fuel injector for injecting an over-enriched fuel and air mixture to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes a spray nozzle, a gaseous carrier, a fuel mixing and evaporation chamber and an injector nozzle. During operation, both a liquid fuel and the gaseous carrier are supplied to the fuel mixing and evaporation chamber of the injector through the spray nozzle, where they are mixed and evaporated as a result of elevated temperature, and the mixture reaches the combustion chamber. The gaseous carrier is air or, flue gas, at elevated pressure and temperature and having a composition that prevents the initiation of flame combustion, and the gaseous carrier has an oxygen content low enough to prevent the initiation of combustion, even under conditions of elevated pressure and temperature.

A furnace includes a perforated flame holder formed from an array of tiles. The perforated flame holder is stabilized by a support member extending between at least adjacent tiles. Elongated support members may be positioned to extend through each of the tiles in a respective column of the array of tiles.

A fluid mixing device that includes a housing having a fuel inlet and at least one primary orifice positioned at the inlet, wherein the at least one orifice configured to disperse a stream of fuel into a plurality of fuel droplets. The plurality of fuel droplets contact a fuel impingement surface to break up the plurality of fuel droplets into a plurality of smaller secondary droplets and create a thin film of secondary droplets on the impingement surface. At least one pressurized air channel delivers an airflow into contact with the secondary droplets. The secondary droplets pass through a plurality of secondary outlet orifices to exit the housing. A size of the plurality of secondary droplets is reduced when passing out of the plurality of secondary orifices.

A fluid mixing device that includes a housing having a fuel inlet and at least one primary orifice positioned at the inlet, wherein the at least one orifice configured to disperse a stream of fuel into a plurality of fuel droplets. The plurality of fuel droplets contact a fuel impingement surface to break up the plurality of fuel droplets into a plurality of smaller secondary droplets and create a thin film of secondary droplets on the impingement surface. At least one pressurized air channel delivers an airflow into contact with the secondary droplets. The secondary droplets pass through a plurality of secondary outlet orifices to exit the housing. A size of the plurality of secondary droplets is reduced when passing out of the plurality of secondary orifices.

A burner includes a flame sensor configured to detect at least one of permittivity, capacitance, or resistance across a flame region. The permittivity, capacitance, or resistance is used to determine the presence or absence of the flame in a combustion system. A combustion system supports a combustion reaction. The combustion system utilizes a combustion sensor, and optionally a plasma generator to stabilize the combustion reaction. A controller receives sensor signals from the combustion sensor and controls the plasma generator to stabilize the combustion reaction responsive to the sensor signals. The plasma generator stabilizes the combustion reaction by generating a plasma.

Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing mixing in a fluid using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a pair of electrodes is positioned near a fluid and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes such that a plasma discharge is produced in the fluid. In an embodiment, the plasma discharge creates turbulence in the fluid thereby mixing the fluid. In an embodiment, flow structures, such as vortices are generated in the fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid is mixed in three dimensions. In an embodiment, a plurality of fluids are mixed. In an embodiment, solids are dispersed in at least one fluid. In an embodiment, heat or other properties are dispersed within at least one fluid. In an embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes has a serpentine shape.

Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing mixing in a fluid using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a pair of electrodes is positioned near a fluid and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes such that a plasma discharge is produced in the fluid. In an embodiment, the plasma discharge creates turbulence in the fluid thereby mixing the fluid. In an embodiment, flow structures, such as vortices are generated in the fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid is mixed in three dimensions. In an embodiment, a plurality of fluids are mixed. In an embodiment, solids are dispersed in at least one fluid. In an embodiment, heat or other properties are dispersed within at least one fluid. In an embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes has a serpentine shape.

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for low-CO.sub.2 emission combustion of liquid fuel with a gas-assisted liquid fuel oxygen reactor. The system comprises an atomizer that sprays fuel and CO.sub.2 into an evaporation zone, where the fuel and CO.sub.2 is heated into a vaporized form. The system comprises a reaction zone that receives the vaporized fuel and CO.sub.2. The system includes an air vessel having an air stream, and a heating vessel adjacent to the air vessel that transfers heat to the air vessel. The system comprises an ion transport membrane in flow communication with the air vessel and reaction zone. The ion transport membrane receives O.sub.2 permeating from the air stream and transfers the O.sub.2 into the reaction zone resulting in combustion of fuel. The combustion produces heat and creates CO.sub.2 exhaust gases that are recirculated in the system limiting emission of CO.sub.2.

A combustion system includes a fuel and oxidant source, a first distal flame holder body, a second distal flame holder body, and a thermal load. The fuel and oxidant source outputs fuel and oxidant. The first and second distal flame holder bodies simultaneously or alternately hold combustion reaction portions of the fuel and oxidant and/or of combustion products. The thermal load receives thermal energy from the first and second combustion reaction portions.

A burner (10), particularly for vehicle heaters, includes a flexible panel (12) that separates an inner combustion region (14) from an outer region (16). A light-sensitive sensor for flame recognition is arranged in the outer region (16), and the flexible panel (12) includes at least one light opening (20) that allows the passage of light from the inner combustion region (14) into the outer region (16). The light opening (20) also allows the passage of combustion air from the outer region (16) into the inner combustion region (14).