Apparatus and Method for Fuel Flow Rate, Fuel Temperature, Fuel Droplet Size, and Burner Firing Rate Modulation

摘要

An apparatus and method for precisely, quickly and substantially uniformly controlling a combustion system by a transfer of heat to a fluidic fuel along a heat/fuel interface having a large surface area substantially immediately prior to the mixing of the fuel with air is provided. The control of the temperature of the fuel input to an air/fuel mixing region of the combustion system provides improved efficiency by an expansion of modulation ranges available for factors that together are determinative of the efficiency of combustion system operation such as fuel flow rate, fuel droplet size, air flow and input fuel pressure. In addition, the fuel/heat interface can be utilized as an in-line fuel flow meter for remote monitoring of the fuel flow rates and the prediction of problems in system functionality and future system failure time frames.