Inventors:
Meredith B. Colket - Simsbury CT
Arthur S. Kesten - West Hartford CT
Joseph J. Sangiovanni - West Suffield CT
Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT
Dennis R. Pandy - South Windsor CT
Daniel J. Seery - Glastonbury CT
Assignee:
United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT
International Classification:
F02G 300
Abstract:
A method of combusting a hydrocarbon fuel includes mixing the fuel with a first air stream to form a fuel/air mixture having an equivalence ratio of greater than 1 and partially oxidizing the fuel by contacting it with an oxidation catalyst to generate a heat of reaction and a partial oxidation product stream. The partial oxidation product stream is mixed with a second air stream and completely combusted in a main combustor at a condition at which appreciable quantities of thermal NO. sub. x are not formed to generate an effluent gas stream, thereby generating an effluent gas stream containing decreased amounts of thermal and prompt NO. sub. x. A system for combusting a hydrocarbon fuel includes, in combination, means for mixing the fuel with a first air stream, a catalytic oxidation stage containing an oxidation catalyst, means for mixing the partial oxidation product stream with a second air stream, and a main combustor capable of completely combusting the partial oxidation product stream.