Manipulating flames to improve stability and heat release

LAY LANGUAGE
Flames power equipment from appliances to engines to heavy-duty industrial burners. But flames change by the millisecond, affecting their stability and heat release. Purdue researchers have created ways to dynamically manipulate flame shape and volume for better control.

PROBLEM
Flames are used in applications like gas turbines used for aircraft engines and electric power generation, appliances like home furnaces and water heaters, and many types of heavy-duty industrial burners. Their ever-changing nature affects their heat output and stability, which could lead to catastrophic results.

SOLUTION
Purdue University researchers have developed multiple methods to dynamically manipulate flame size, volume, and shape. The first method uses electrodes to create multiple anchor points where the flame is stabilized. The second method uses algorithms to dynamically control the flame, further enhancing its stability.

The researchers’ third invention is adjacent electrode designs, which allow for more complicated and better control over a flame. These designs also remove all electrodes from within a flame, reducing the possibility of erosion of the electrodes. The new electrode arrangement grants greater flexibility in where electrodes can be placed and allows multiple independently controlled electrode pairs, so one part of the flame can be controlled differently than another.

These innovations could benefit manufacturers across multiple industries.

PRIMARY INVESTIGATORS
Galen King, College of Engineering and Dustin Cruise, College of Engineering alumnus

IN THE MEDIA
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VIDEO
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INNOVATION DISCLOSURE
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LICENSING CONTACTS
Email: otcip@prf.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Email: Steve Martin // sgmartin@prf.org