Brian D Knight

US Patent:

20050053816, Mar 10, 2005

Filed:

Nov 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/294344

Inventors:

Anuj Bhargava - South Windsor CT, US
Brian Knight - Tolland CT, US
Willard Sutton - Glastonbury CT, US
Martin Zabielski - Manchester CT, US

International Classification:

H01M008/04

US Classification:

429026000, 429013000

Abstract:

A catalyzed burner is operative to combust an anode exhaust stream from a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant. The catalysts coated onto the burner can be platinum, rhodium, palladium, or mixtures thereof. The burner includes open cells which are formed by a lattice, which cells communicate with each other throughout the entire catalyzed burner. The burner is able to combust hydrogen in the anode exhaust stream. The catalyzed burner has a high surface area wherein about 70-90% of the volume of the burner is preferably open pores, and the burner has a low pressure drop of about two to three inches water from the anode exhaust stream inlet to the anode exhaust stream outlet. The burner assembly operates at essentially ambient pressure and at a temperature of up to about 1,700 F. (927 C.). The burner can combust anode exhaust during normal operation of the fuel cell assembly. The burner is not adversely affected by gasoline, gasoline combustion products, or anode bypass gas, the latter of which is a reformed fuel gas which is tapped off of the fuel cell stack fuel inlet line.

US Patent:

58488871, Dec 15, 1998

Filed:

Nov 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/753564

Inventors:

Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT
Brian A. Knight - Tolland CT
Richard P. Muth - Southington CT

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

F24D 1446

US Classification:

431353

Abstract:

A low emission combustion system for use in a fuel-fired apparatus includes a fuel-fired burner (30) operative for generating a flame extending substantially axially outwardly from the outlet of the burner, a heat transfer tube (40) opposed to the outlet of the burner whereby the flame extending from said burner passes into a flame inlet section (48) of the gas flow conduit (46) of the heat transfer tube, a radiator body (50) disposed within the flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of the heat transfer tube, and a catalytic converter (60) for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The radiator body (50) has a thermal mass sufficient to reduce peak flame temperatures in the flame inlet section to less than 2800 F. The catalytic converter is disposed within the gas flow conduit at a location downstream of the radiator body.

US Patent:

57185735, Feb 17, 1998

Filed:

Dec 27, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/364378

Inventors:

Brian A. Knight - Tolland CT
William P. Patrick - Glastonbury CT
Daniel J. Seery - Glastonbury CT
Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

F23D 1462

US Classification:

431354

Abstract:

A flashback resistant burner for lean fuel/air mixtures includes apparatus for mixing a primary fuel and combustion air to form a noncombustible fuel/air mixture. Means are provided for accelerating the noncombustible fuel/air mixture to a velocity higher than the flame speed of a combustible mixture of the primary fuel and air. Means are further provided for mixing a secondary fuel with the accelerated noncombustible fuel/air mixture to form a combustible fuel/air mixture that has an equivalence ratio less than 1. Means are then provided for burning the combustible fuel/air mixture.