Catalytic ignition system |
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| 申请号 | US46668374 | 申请日 | 1974-05-03 | 公开(公告)号 | US3909187A | 公开(公告)日 | 1975-09-30 |
| 申请人 | INST GAS TECHNOLOGY; | 发明人 | GREGORY DEREK P; | ||||
| 摘要 | An improved catalytic pilot ignition system which utilizes a short-circuited, air-starved, electrochemical cell or battery comprising a metal electrode and an inert electrode, such as zinc and carbon electrodes, or metal-air battery such as a zinc-air battery, which will produce a small but sufficient flow of pure hydrogen gas. When such a battery is short-circuited, the current often rises to a level above that which can be supplied with atmospheric air. When this happens, hydrogen is evolved. The evolution of hydrogen ceases immediately when the short-circuited current is interrupted. If a zinc-air battery is operated without access to the air, any current drawn from the cell will produce hydrogen at the air electrode. | ||||||
| 权利要求 | 1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CATALYTIC PILOT IGNITION SYSTEM HAVING A GAS BUTNER COUPLED TO A SOURCE OF NATURAL GAS, CONTROL VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLING THE FLOW OF NATURE GAS FROM THE SOURCE TO THE BURNER, AND A CATALYST ACTIVE WITH HYDROGEN POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO THE GAS BURNER TO IGNITE THE NATURAL GAS FLOWING FROM THE SOURCE TO THE GAS BURNER WHEN HYDROGEN IS IMPINGED ON THE CATALYST, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A SHORT-CIRCUITED, AIR STARVED, BATTERY FOR PRODUCING THE HYDROGEN IMPINGED ON SAID CATALYST. 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said battery comprises an electrochemical battery having a metal electrode and an inert electrode which when short-circuited and air-starved evolves hydrogen. 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said electrochemical battery comprises a zinc electrode and a carbon electrode. 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said battery comprises a metal-air battery. 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said metal-air battery comprises a zinc-air battery. 6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said metal-air battery comprises an aluminum-air battery. 7. The combination of claim 4, wherein said metal-air battery comprises a sodium-air battery. 8. The combination of claim 4, wherein said metal-air battery comprises a potassium-air battery. 9. The combination of claim 4, wherein said metal-air battery comprises a iron-air battery. 10. The combination of claim 4, wherein said metal-air battery comprises any metal having a higher electrochemical potential than hydrogen. 11. The combination of claim 1, further including means for interrupting the short-circuit on the battery. 12. The combination of claim 1, further including contact means operated by said control valve means to short-circuit said battery only when said control valve means is operated to direct a flow of natural gas from said source to said burner. 13. The combination of claim 3, wherein said control valve means is further operable to interrupt the short-circuit on said battery and to maintain the flow of natural gas from said source to said burner when the natural gas is ignited. 14. The combination of claim 3, further including means for interrupting the short-circuit on said battery when said natural gas flowing to said burner is ignited. 15. The combination of claim 5, wherein said means for interrupting the short-circuit on said battery comprises a normally closed contact and temperature sensing means operable to open said normally closed contact. 16. A catalytic pilot ignition system for igniting natural gas comprising, in combination: a gas burner coupled to a source of natural gas; control valve means for controlling the flow of natural gas from said source to said burner; a catalyst active with hydrogen positioned with respect to said gas burner such that hydrogen impinged on said catalyst is ignited and in turn ignites natural gas flowing from said burner, a metal-air battery within a sealed container having tube means extending therefrom to impinge hydrogen produced by said metal-air battery on said catalyst; and means for short-circuiting said metal-air battery to produce hydrogen. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for short-circuiting said metal-air battery comprises contact means operated by said control valve means. 18. The combination of claim 17, wherein said control valve means is further operable to interrupt the short-circuit on said metal-air battery and to maintain the flow of natural gas from said source to said burner when the natural gas is ignited. 19. The combination of claim 17, further including means for interrupting the short-circuit on said metal-air battery when said natural gas flowing to said burner is ignited. 20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said means for interrupting the short-circuit on said metal-air battery comprises a normally closed contact and temperature sensing means operable to open said normally closed contact. 21. A catalytic pilot ignition system for igniting natural gas comprising, in combination: a gas burner coupled to a source of natural gas; control valve means for controlling the flow of natural gas from said source to said burner; a catalyst active with hydrogen positioned with respect to said gas burner such that hydrogen impinged on said catalyst is ignited and in turn ignites natural gas flowing from said burneR, an electrochemical battery having a metal electrode and an inert electrode within a sealed container having tube means extending therefrom to impinge hydrogen produced by said electrochemical battery on said catalyst; and means for short-circuiting said electrochemical battery to produce hydrogen. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for short-circuiting said electrochemical battery comprises contact means operated by said control valve means. 23. The combination of claim 22, wherein said control valve means is further operable to interrupt the short-circuit on said electrochemical battery and to maintain the flow of natural gas from said source to said burner when the natural gas is ignited. 24. The combination of claim 22, further including means for interrupting the short-circuit on said electrochemical battery when said natural gas flowing to said burner is ignited. 25. The combination of claim 24, wherein said means for interrupting the short-circuit on said electrochemical battery comprises a normally closed contact and temperature sensing means operable to open said normally closed contact. |
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