we developInnovative combustion technology

Our Technology

GVE’s combustion technology provides fuel flexibility, stable combustion and lower emissions through the use of our innovative fuel swirlers and global vortex system. The unique flow patterns developed within the GVE system provide near volume distributed oxidation for efficient burning of nearly any fuel. The vortex combustor is a highly engineered device that utilizes the physics of fluid flows and high speed vortex flows in a patented arrangement to provide the superior mixing and recirculation required to maintain stability and provide low NOx formation.

Single Swirler Vortex Combustion Chamber

GVE’s single swirler vortex combustor with global meridional circulation and swirl was developed in 2009. Its favorable flow patterns are predicted via analytical and CFD modeling as well as verified experimentally. In this video we see the single swirler vortex chamber being fired on liquid fuel (Jet-A). This combustor is presented in a quartz tube (typically this would be a steel combustor liner).

The short, blue flame front seen in the video is evidence of a clean combustion process. Because this demonstration requires manual control of the fuel and airs flows there are brief periods with a less than optimal combustion (yellow flame). The key feature of the GVE combustor is a proper combination of internal circulation and flow-through. The internal circulation zone occupies an essential part of the combustor chamber and thus provides a stable volume distributed oxidation. Flow revolution around the axis and the meridional circulation provide a fast and fine mixing of fuel. The designed and measured temperature distribution is uniform. The particle residence time significantly exceeds the mixing time. The mixing time is also significantly less than the combustion time. The combustion chamber is a trap for solid particles even for large air flow velocities. Propane and kerosene combustion in the GVE chamber is transparent and occurs at the uniform temperature lower than the NOx triggering temperature.

Injector Swirler Plate

GVE’s unique and patented injector swirlers provide many benefits over traditional fuel injector/swirler arrangements. GVE’s swirler plate provides superior fuel mixing and provides the flowing additional benefits; compatible with low BTU fuels, eliminates flame front creep into the injector with high flame speed fuels (H2 and Propane) and minimizes clogging with highly viscous fuels.

In the video above we see the five swirler plate in operation using liquid fuel (Jet-A). Combustion is clean (as evidenced by the nearly transparent short intense blue flame area at the injector). The yellow flame visible in the lower left side of the frame is due to flame interactions with the carbon steel exhaust pipe wall (this would not be used in a vortex combustor implementation).

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