Martin F Zabielski

US Patent:

20050053816, Mar 10, 2005

Filed:

Nov 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/294344

Inventors:

Anuj Bhargava - South Windsor CT, US
Brian Knight - Tolland CT, US
Willard Sutton - Glastonbury CT, US
Martin Zabielski - Manchester CT, US

International Classification:

H01M008/04

US Classification:

429026000, 429013000

Abstract:

A catalyzed burner is operative to combust an anode exhaust stream from a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant. The catalysts coated onto the burner can be platinum, rhodium, palladium, or mixtures thereof. The burner includes open cells which are formed by a lattice, which cells communicate with each other throughout the entire catalyzed burner. The burner is able to combust hydrogen in the anode exhaust stream. The catalyzed burner has a high surface area wherein about 70-90% of the volume of the burner is preferably open pores, and the burner has a low pressure drop of about two to three inches water from the anode exhaust stream inlet to the anode exhaust stream outlet. The burner assembly operates at essentially ambient pressure and at a temperature of up to about 1,700 F. (927 C.). The burner can combust anode exhaust during normal operation of the fuel cell assembly. The burner is not adversely affected by gasoline, gasoline combustion products, or anode bypass gas, the latter of which is a reformed fuel gas which is tapped off of the fuel cell stack fuel inlet line.

US Patent:

6060719, May 9, 2000

Filed:

Jun 24, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/881330

Inventors:

Joseph DiTucci - Simsbury CT
Stephen K. Phelps - Chillicothe IL
Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT

Assignee:

Gas Research Institute - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G02B 2700

US Classification:

250554

Abstract:

A fail safe gas furnace optical flame sensor uses a transconductance amplifier with low photodiode current to sense the presence or absence of a gas flame within the burner of a gas furnace. The photodiode signal appears as the only negative voltage signal in the circuit, and the equivalent resistance feedback network is redundantly designed, thus ensuring that no false flame-on conditions will be detected due to the failure of a single resistive component. Because it does not reside within the flame, the sensor is immune to false flame-off conditions caused by material deposition and corrosion of the sensor.

US Patent:

58488871, Dec 15, 1998

Filed:

Nov 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/753564

Inventors:

Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT
Brian A. Knight - Tolland CT
Richard P. Muth - Southington CT

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

F24D 1446

US Classification:

431353

Abstract:

A low emission combustion system for use in a fuel-fired apparatus includes a fuel-fired burner (30) operative for generating a flame extending substantially axially outwardly from the outlet of the burner, a heat transfer tube (40) opposed to the outlet of the burner whereby the flame extending from said burner passes into a flame inlet section (48) of the gas flow conduit (46) of the heat transfer tube, a radiator body (50) disposed within the flame inlet section of the gas flow conduit of the heat transfer tube, and a catalytic converter (60) for oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The radiator body (50) has a thermal mass sufficient to reduce peak flame temperatures in the flame inlet section to less than 2800 F. The catalytic converter is disposed within the gas flow conduit at a location downstream of the radiator body.

US Patent:

52358046, Aug 17, 1993

Filed:

May 15, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/701426

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

US Classification:

60 3902

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.

US Patent:

56917007, Nov 25, 1997

Filed:

Sep 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/306776

Inventors:

Stephen K. Phelps - South Windsor CT
Frederick T. Olender - Somers CT
Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - East Hartford CT

International Classification:

G08B 2100

US Classification:

340600

Abstract:

A light detection apparatus includes a light detector using a photoelectric converter such as a photodiode. The light detector has a selective viewport that limits the field of view observed by the photoelectric converter. The photoelectric converter generates a current signal based on the light received through the selective viewport. Using current-mode amplification, a current amplifier generates an amplified current signal based on the current signal received from the photoelectric converter. A switch coupled to receive the amplified current signal from the current amplifier, generates an output signal based on the amplified current signal. The switch can be implemented to generate the output signal with predetermined logic levels compatible with a desired logic family.

US Patent:

57185735, Feb 17, 1998

Filed:

Dec 27, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/364378

Inventors:

Brian A. Knight - Tolland CT
William P. Patrick - Glastonbury CT
Daniel J. Seery - Glastonbury CT
Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT

Assignee:

Carrier Corporation - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

F23D 1462

US Classification:

431354

Abstract:

A flashback resistant burner for lean fuel/air mixtures includes apparatus for mixing a primary fuel and combustion air to form a noncombustible fuel/air mixture. Means are provided for accelerating the noncombustible fuel/air mixture to a velocity higher than the flame speed of a combustible mixture of the primary fuel and air. Means are further provided for mixing a secondary fuel with the accelerated noncombustible fuel/air mixture to form a combustible fuel/air mixture that has an equivalence ratio less than 1. Means are then provided for burning the combustible fuel/air mixture.

US Patent:

49273507, May 22, 1990

Filed:

Apr 27, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/043571

Inventors:

Martin E. Zabielski - Manchester CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

F23N 100

US Classification:

431 12

Abstract:

At various loads a fuel/air peak relationship is determined for the peak infrared radiation. A desired operating fuel/air ratio is determined as is the offset between the relationship and the ratio. Later recalibration of the control system is established by determining a new fuel/air peak relationship and applying the offset.

US Patent:

54702224, Nov 28, 1995

Filed:

Jun 21, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/079760

Inventors:

John E. Holowczak - South Windsor CT
Martin F. Zabielski - Manchester CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

F23D 1412

US Classification:

431 7

Abstract:

A heating unit (14) includes a flame holder (2) that has a plurality of randomly distributed pores and comprises at least about 50 wt % ceramic particles that have an emissivity of at least about 0. 7. The heating unit (14) also has means for conveying a fuel/air mixture to the flame holder (2), means (18) for igniting the fuel/air mixture so it forms a flame in proximity to the flame holder, means (20) for transferring heat from the flame to a heat transfer medium, and means (26) for exhausting combustion products from the heating unit. A fuel/air mixture may be directed through the flame holder (2) and burned to form a flame in proximity to the flame holder such that the flame and flame holder interact to produce emissions of less than about 10 ng/J NO. sub. x.