A pre-ignition conduit for a pulverized fuel nozzle includes a duct having first and second opposing end portions, the first end portion configured to face an outlet of an igniter. The conduit further includes a cone-shaped concentrator for collecting and forwarding pulverized fuel into the duct for ignition, the cone-shaped concentrator being secured to the first end portion and located between the outlet of the igniter and the duct. The pre-ignition conduit functions as an ignition chamber within a pulverized fuel nozzle.

A device and a method for improving combustion are disclosed. In an embodiment the device includes a combustion chamber including at least one combustion chamber inlet for feeding in fuel or air or the fuel/air mixture, a reactor chamber connected upstream of the combustion chamber, the reactor chamber comprising a plasma generator, wherein the plasma generator is a piezoelectric transformer configured to operate with a low voltage and a control apparatus for the plasma generator, wherein the device is configured in such a way that even before a start of an actual combustion process at least one gaseous component in the reactor chamber is enriched with radicals and ions by the plasma generator.

A plasma injection module includes a fuel receiving end, a discharge end opposite the fuel receiving end, and an axial fluid pathway extending between the fuel receiving end and the discharge end. An insulator assembly defines a first portion of the axial fluid pathway proximate to the fuel receiving end. An injection tube assembly having a permanent magnet is positioned downstream of the insulator. A voltage input connection is arranged downstream of the insulator assembly and upstream of the injection tube assembly. The voltage input connection secures a voltage source to the injection tube to form a plasma filament within and adjacent to the axial fluid pathway. During operation a permanent magnet produces a magnetic field that interacts with the plasma filament to rotate the plasma filament and increase an area of ignition between the plasma filament and the combustible material at the discharge end.

A catalyst regenerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, as a catalyst regenerator that regenerates a coked catalyst separated from a product produced in an endothermic catalytic reaction of a fluidized bed reactor, includes: a reaction chamber that includes a regeneration space, receives the coked catalyst from a standpipe connected to the regeneration space, and discharges a regenerated catalyst to an outlet; a fuel supplier that is connected to the reaction chamber to inject a fuel for combustion into the regeneration space; and a fuel supplier that is connected to the reaction chamber to inject an air for combustion into the regeneration space, wherein the fuel injected from the fuel supplier is a reformed fuel containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

A plasma injection module includes a fuel receiving end, a discharge end opposite the fuel receiving end, and an axial fluid pathway extending between the fuel receiving end and the discharge end. An insulator assembly defines a first portion of the axial fluid pathway proximate to the fuel receiving end. An injection tube assembly having a permanent magnet is positioned downstream of the insulator. A voltage input connection is arranged downstream of the insulator assembly and upstream of the injection tube assembly. The voltage input connection secures a voltage source to the injection tube to form a plasma filament within and adjacent to the axial fluid pathway. During operation a permanent magnet produces a magnetic field that interacts with the plasma filament to rotate the plasma filament and increase an area of ignition between the plasma filament and the combustible material at the discharge end.

A catalyst regenerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, as a catalyst regenerator that regenerates a coked catalyst separated from a product produced in an endothermic catalytic reaction of a fluidized bed reactor, includes: a reaction chamber that includes a regeneration space, receives the coked catalyst from a standpipe connected to the regeneration space, and discharges a regenerated catalyst to an outlet; a fuel supplier that is connected to the reaction chamber to inject a fuel for combustion into the regeneration space; and a fuel supplier that is connected to the reaction chamber to inject an air for combustion into the regeneration space, wherein the fuel injected from the fuel supplier is a reformed fuel containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

An apparatus and method for assisting with the combustion of fuel are described. The apparatus includes a swirler assembly and a fuel nozzle. Fuel is directed into a fuel nozzle mixing chamber and combines with air therein to form a fuel-air mixture. At least one plasma generator, at least partially within the fuel nozzle, generates an at least one of an at least partially ionized air-fuel mixture and an at least partially dissociated air-fuel mixture (at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture) via a plasma generator discharge. A combustion chamber inlet admits the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture from the plasma generator into a combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion air flows through the swirler body and into the combustion chamber internal volume. Combustion of the at least partially I/D air-fuel mixture with the combustion air occurs at least partially within the combustion chamber internal volume to responsively produce products.

An exemplary embodiment can be an exemplary method, which can include, for example, generating a cool flame(s) using a plasma-assisted combustion, and maintaining the cool flame(s). The cool flame(s) can have a temperature below about 1050 Kelvin, which can be about 700 Kelvin. The cool flame(s) can be further generated using a heated counterflow burning arrangement and a an ozone generating arrangement. The heated counterflow burning arrangement can include a liquid fuel vaporization arrangement. The ozone generating arrangement can include a micro plasma dielectric barrier discharge arrangement. The plasma-assisted combustion can be generated using (i) liquid n-heptane, (i) heated nitrogen, and (iii) ozone.

An implosion reactor tube is provided, including: a receptacle body having a tube shape open at a first end; a cylinder positioned within the receptacle body; a mixing chamber at a second end of the receptacle body; the mixing chamber defined by a baffle; the baffle having a plurality of inner passages proximate to the cylinder allowing fluid passage through the baffle and a plurality of outer passages proximate to the receptacle body allowing passage of air and fuel through said baffle; a fuel and air inlet for allowing the air and fuel to enter the mixing chamber; and a flash igniter for igniting the air and fuel.

A device and a method for improving combustion are disclosed. In an embodiment the device includes a combustion chamber including at least one combustion chamber inlet for feeding in fuel or air or the fuel/air mixture, a reactor chamber connected upstream of the combustion chamber, the reactor chamber comprising a plasma generator, wherein the plasma generator is a piezoelectric transformer configured to operate with a low voltage and a control apparatus for the plasma generator, wherein the device is configured in such a way that even before a start of an actual combustion process at least one gaseous component in the reactor chamber is enriched with radicals and ions by the plasma generator.