Abstract: A mixed gas supply portion 1 for mixing fuel with air, a mixed gas ejection portion 2 for ejecting the mixed gas mixed by the mixed gas supply portion 1, a breathable first catalyst body 5 provided downstream of the mixed gas supply portion 2, a breathable second catalyst body 7 provided downstream of the first catalyst body 5, a separation board a 6 for increasing gas flow resistance provided between the first catalyst body 5 and the second catalyst body 7, a heat exchange portion 13 having a heated fluid passage 14 positioned on the peripheral part, a radiant heat reception portion 3 provided upstream of the first catalyst body 5 and integrated with the heat exchange portion 13, and a separation board b 8 and a separation board c 10 provided downstream of the second catalyst body 7 for increasing flow resistance of the mixed gas and/or the combustion gas thereof are provided, and the separation board a 6, the separation board b 8, the separation board c 10 and the heat exchange portion 13 are integrated.

Abstract: A burner pad for use in a gas burner in a gas fireplace includes a plurality of noncombustible fibers held together by fillers and binders to form a noncombustible body having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The body has a porosity that allows gas to pass therethrough in a substantially random manner. The body is also dimensionally stable. The burner pad may be used to form a gas burner having a burner pan having an open top with the porous burner pad enclosing the burner pan by covering said open top of said burner pan to define a gas distribution chamber between said pad and said burner pan. Gas is supplied to the gas distribution chamber and allowed to randomly seep through the pad where it may be ignited to form a low-profile, rolling flame that simulates the appearance of glowing embers in a wood-fueled fire.

Abstract: An apparatus for the recombination of hydrogen in a gas mixture, in particular for a nuclear power station, during the operation of which unintentional ignition of the gas mixture is avoided in a particularly reliable way. The apparatus contains a catalyst configuration that is disposed in a housing through which the gas mixture can flow by free convection in the operating situation and the catalyst configuration is assigned a flame retention device. In this case, a sediment trap is preferably integrated into the flame retention device, so that hot catalyst particles that become detached from the catalyst configuration are reliably prevented from flowing out counter to the direction of flow of the gas mixture.

Abstract: A burner for a heat supplying device includes a substrate of thermally insulating material, the substrate defining a plurality of openings therethrough for flow of an air/gas mixture therethrough from a first side of the substrate to a second side of the substrate for combustion adjacent to the second side of the substrate. The burner further includes a high temperature metal wire disposed on the second side of the substrate and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a cover layer of heat transmissive material overlying the metal wire to provide a support surface on the heat-supplying device for supporting a heat-consuming item.

Abstract: A portable heater adapted for use in a recreational enclosure or temporary work enclosure includes a housing having an air inlet on the lower front face. A gas supply is partially enclosed by the housing which provides propane to the mouth of a burner venturi located within the housing. Air is drawn through the air inlet and also enters the mouth of the burner venturi. The air and gas are mixed thoroughly as they travel upwardly through the burner venturi. A chimney effect increases fresh air flow velocity into the burner venturi and allows the heater to operate at a reduced fuel gas pressure. Upon exiting the burner venturi, the air/gas mixture is to a plenum and radiant surface where combustion takes place. Any conventional means may be provided to ignite the air/gas mixture in order to cause combustion. The combustion products deflect off a deflector, which is cooled on a rear face by air flow through the housing, which decreases the temperature of the combustion products before exiting an outlet.

Abstract: A catalytic combustor burns a fuel-air mixture which is not preheated. The combustor includes a strip or strips of metal which define a plurality of alternating wide and narrow channels. The channels contain corrugated strips which maintain the spacing of the channels. A catalyst coating is deposited only in the wider channels, the narrower channels remaining un-catalyzed. The strip or strips can be heated resistively to start the combustion. Once the combustion is started, the electric current is stopped, and the combustion continues. The combustor is useful in a home heating appliance such as a gas furnace. In another embodiment, in which the combustor is used in a high-temperature environment such as in a gas turbine, the catalyst can be deposited in the small channels only, so as to limit the amount of catalytic combustion.

Abstract: A radiative heat gas burner is described of the type which may be used to fire a domestic grill. The burner head has an inlet port and comprises a pressing which together with a perforated metal sheet defines a chamber in which a combustion gas flows prior to flowing through the perforations in the sheet and combusting thereon. The sheet of metal sealingly connected to the pressing forms a combustion surface on which the combustion of gas flowing through the perforations occurs, but the invention lies in the discovery that it is not necessary to provide large apertures in the sheet which reveal portions of gauze sheets disposed parallely behind the combustion surface and which glow and thus radiate heat during operation of the burner.

Abstract: Pollutants in air or other fluids are converted to harmless compounds by positioning a catalyst coated reticulated foam in the path of the fluid flow. The reticulated foam is a three dimensional latticework of interconnected ligaments forming a porous, open-celled structure with a large internal surface area. Internal surfaces of the reticulated foam are coated with the catalyst. Catalytic conversion efficiency is maintained by fluid heat, an internal heating source, or external sources, such as combustion processes and radiation illumination.

Abstract: A process and product for producing an attractive soot-free fire from a specially formed gas pipe embedded in a bed of broken, specially-formulated, tempered glass pieces is provided. The broken glass pieces are preferably formed from a specifically-formulated, tempered glass which, after formation, is broken and then sifted and washed so as to remove any slivers or debris. The gas pipe is preferably formed with two rows of equally spaced openings offset with respect to each other and spaced approximately 90° apart to burn gas in a cleaner and hotter manner. A number of gas pipes may be used and formed in any desired configuration to add to the attractiveness of the soot-free fire produced thereby.

Abstract: A burner arrangement for the combustion of a fuel gas/oxygen mixture, characterized by a body permeable for the mixture whose surface regions defining the free cross section of flow are covered with an oxidation catalyst, by a feeder device arranged on an intake side of the body permeable for the mixture which distributes the mixture over at least essentially the entire active intake area of the intake side and by a layer coordinated with the feeder device and separating the catalytic combustion zone of the permeable body from the mixture inflow, but permeable for it, which serves as a flashback safety.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the reactivity of a fuel/air mixture prior to homogenous combustion of the mixture. More specifically, this invention is a pilot for a gas turbine combustor which utilizes the heat of combustion within the pilot to increase the reactivity of a portion of the fuel/air mixture utilized by the pilot.

Abstract: A combustion control method for use in a catalytic combustion system having (a) a gaseous mixture inlet port, located at the upstream side of said catalytic combustion system, for the entrance of a fuel-air mixture; (b) an exhaust gas outlet port, located at the downstream side of said catalytic combustion system, for the exit of an exhaust gas; (c) a primary combustion chamber in which a catalyst body is disposed, said catalyst body being formed of a porous base material with numerous communicating holes that supports thereon an oxidation catalyst; (d) a secondary supply port, located downstream of said primary combustion chamber, for the supply of a gaseous mixture or air; and (e) a secondary combustion chamber located downstream of said secondary supply port; comprising such process that an excess air ratio of said primary combustion chamber is initially set above 1 and after the rate of combustion of said secondary combustion chamber exceeds a given level, combustion is made to take place, with the

Abstract: A plate burner for combusting hydrogen with air as an oxidizer forms a wall portion of a combustion chamber for example of a gas turbine. The plate burner is so constructed that air and hydrogen are separately guided to the downstream surface area facing into the combustion chamber for forming a large number of diffusive microcombustion flames, thus achieving a very low mixing scale simultaneously with a high nixing intensity. The number of diffusive micorcombustion flames is so selected that the NOx content in the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber is at the most 10×10−6 cubic foot per cubic foot of exhaust gas. The hydrogen enters the entrance area into the combustion chamber either through a porous wall, and air is injected into the hydrogen environment to form inverse diffusive microcombustion flames or the hydrogen is injected through a multitude of fine holes into high velocity air jets forming regular diffusion flames.

Abstract: A matrix bed is disclosed in which a non-planar reaction wave front is formed during operation. This is accomplished by heating the matrix bed, containing heat-resistant material, until at least a reaction portion of the matrix bed is above the temperature required for a plurality of reactant gas streams to react. Next, the reactant gas streams are directed through the matrix bed in a manner so as to form at least a Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, inverted-V, or some other type of non-planar reaction wave front at the portion of the matrix bed that is heated above the reactant gas streams reaction temperature. At the non-planar reaction wave front, the reactant gas streams react to produce a reaction product gas stream that is then exhausted from the matrix bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the combustion of liquid fuel (F), especially oil. Wherein the liquid fuel (F) is distributed by means of a distribution device (1) and directed to a downstream reactor with porous means (6) having a communicating pore volume, whose Pecler number allows for flame expansion and full combustion of the liquid fuel (F) inside the porous means (6).

Abstract: A heating apparatus for combusting a fuel-air mixture which includes a combustion chamber with an inlet at one end and a combustion outlet at the other end, a catalyst-containing substrate disposed in the combustion chamber, a fuel supply in communication with the inlet for supplying fuel, and a fuel-air mixing assembly for providing a uniform fuel-air mixture to the combustion chamber. The mixing assembly includes one or more openings for drawing a controlled proportion of primary air which is mixed with the fuel and combusted in the combustion chamber. The use of primary air improves efficiency and reduces the reliance on secondary air. Limiting the proportion of primary air to approximately 15-20% of the stoichiometric mass of air required substantially reduces the emission of hazardous combustion by-products such as carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic generator having a solid body located in a combustion chamber of a burner, with the surface of the solid body being excited to a state of radiation by an air-fuel mixture that is supplied by a delivery unit to the burner, where it combusts, and the radiation strikes a photocell, which then generates electrical energy; and having an exhaust pipe discharging the hot combustion gases from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An infrared heating apparatus (1), in particular for the agricultural sector, for directional downward heating in livestock buildings, comprises at least one burner delimiting at least a conduit supplying an air/gas mixture, a reflector (3) enclosing the burner (2) and an air/gas combustion chamber (4) located at the burner conduit (2) end coaxial with the reflector (3). The burner combustion chamber (4) arranged coaxial with the reflector (3) co-operates with a solid screen (5) located beneath and in the axis of the burner conduit (2) to stop falling particles coming from the combustion and to reduce the intensity of the apparatus axial radiation thereby eliminating central overheating. The invention is useful for heating livestock buildings.

Abstract: A microcombustor which is submillimetric in critical dimensions. The invention relies upon solving quenching at submillimetric dimensions. Chemical and thermal quenching are inhibited by selection of materials having a low well depth below approximately 40 kCal/mole. This allows formation of a microcombustor having submillimetric combustion chamber. A preferred microcombustor is formed in a substrate structure. The preferred microcombustor includes a wafer stack of at least three wafers, a central wafer housing a combustion chamber. At least one inlet and outlet are included for the insertion of reactants and exhaust of a flame.

Abstract: A new infrared heater containing a gas fired burner having a metallic burner body with a combustion plenum chamber, a matrix which covers the combustion mixture plenum and a screen made of fibers treated with a silicon carbide. The screen could be connected to the matrix by a pressure fit. The invention also relates to a new matrix that is energy efficient and made from fibers ceramic or metallic, treated with a pre-ceramic polymer containing silicon and carbon to rigidize the matrix and increase its emittance. The matrix could also have a variety of surfaces that are also more efficient.

Abstract: Computer simulation was used in the development of an inward-burning, radial matrix gas burner and heat pipe heat exchanger. The burner and exchanger can be used to heat a Stirling engine on cloudy days when a solar dish, the normal source of heat, cannot be used. Geometrical requirements of the application forced the use of the inward burning approach, which presents difficulty in achieving a good flow distribution and air/fuel mixing. The present invention solved the problem by providing a plenum with just the right properties, which include good flow distribution and good air/fuel mixing with minimum residence time. CFD simulations were also used to help design the primary heat exchanger needed for this application which includes a plurality of pins emanating from the heat pipe. The system uses multiple inlet ports, an extended distance from the fuel inlet to the burner matrix, flow divider vanes, and a ring-shaped, porous grid to obtain a high-temperature uniform-heat radial burner.

Abstract: A membrane for radiant gas burners comprises a fabric (18) of metal fibers. The membrane has a surface which has a permanent undulation to such a degree that its surface area is at least five per cent greater than the surface area of a comparable flat membrane. In a preferable embodiment, the amplitude and the pitch of the undulation is such that, in operation, heat is radiated to and reflected from the flanks (24', 24") of the undulation. The result is an increased radiative output and radiative efficiency.

Abstract: A burner system for a furnace (10) includes an in-shot burner (20) having an axially elongated tubular nozzle (40) having an inlet end (42), an outlet end (44) and a venturi transition section (46) therebetween. At least a portion of a catalyst body (50) is disposed within the outlet end (44) of the burner (40). The catalyst body (50) supports a partial oxidization catalyst operative to catalyze the fuel in the primary air/fuel mixture to intermediate combustion species, including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, thereby reducing emissions such as nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: A gas burner comprises an elongated tubular body with a sidewall which has outer end edges between which there are apertures which pass through the sidewall; a flange with a central through hole and an opposite base cap, the sidewall, flange and base cap being attached to one another in such a way that together they define a first mixing chamber, in which a flow of gas and air, received through the flange, exits the tubular body through the apertures in the sidewall; the flange and base cap having opposite guides; the sidewall being wound in a spiral and having juxtaposed longitudinal edges with fluid tight seals and outer end edges inserted in the guides with a play designed to allow the perimeter of the sidewall to expand or contract according to changes in the temperature of the body.

Abstract: A gas burner has a perforated, hollow body around and defining a combustion chamber. Gaseous fuel is fed to one side of the body, combustion occurs on the other side and the perforations provide a spatial connection between the fuel feed side and the combustion side. The new burner reduces exhaust gas emissions and offers a wide range of performance in the amount of heat energy provided, in the permissible range of gas pressure and in the range of fuels and fuel/air mixtures that can be used with it.

Abstract: Flame outlet rail for a gas burner of the atmospheric, pre-mix type. The rail includes a shell defining a plenum closed at one end and open at another end to receive an air/fuel mixture and having a length between the ends. The shell has a longitudinal orifice extending along the length of the shell. A grid made of sheet metal pierced by a series of rectangular slits is positioned over the longitudinal orifice of the shell and communicates an interior of the shell with the exterior thereof to permit the air/fuel mixture to flow therethrough so as to form a flame front upon ignition. The grid has a longitudinal axis in parallel with the longitudinal orifice and a length. The slits which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, are distributed on either side of the longitudinal axis and form a sinusoid extending over the entire length of the grid, which increases a length of the flame front. The slits (2) are spaced apart by a distance, e, constant along the longitudinal axis (3) of the flame outlet grid.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus provided with a burner includes a fuel injection nozzle disposed rearward of a gas passable solid and a pre-mixture region between a downstream end of the solid and the fuel injection nozzle. The gas passable solid may be of a straightener type. Air for combustion includes main air and pilot air separated from each other. The apparatus may be coupled to each end of a radiant tube. The apparatus may be provided to a direct and indirect combustion type thermal facilities.

Abstract: A heating garment includes a heat source provided inside a garment, and a heat conducting path for transmitting air heated by the heat source from the heat source upwardly along a back of the garment. By so doing, not only can a portable, light-weight and compact combustor be provided, but the use of this combustor is effective to accomplish heating inside the garment while the supply of fuel and the amount of heat supplied can be controlled, to thereby provide a comfortable temperature environment inside the garment. It is also possible to obtain the heating garment ready comfortably and quick to warm.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus provided with a burner includes a fuel injection nozzle disposed rearward of a gas passable solid and a pre-mixture region between a downstream end of the solid and the fuel injection nozzle. The gas passable solid may be of a straightener type. Air for combustion includes main air and pilot air separated from each other. The apparatus may be coupled to each end of a radiant tube. The apparatus may be provided to a direct and indirect combustion type thermal facilities.

Abstract: Leak preventive structures for cases of flatly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical combustion burners, circularly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical surface combustion burner and a surface combustion burner are provided. Burner elements are composed of fire resistant porous fiber mats are provided wherein the burner element itself may form a peripheral wall of a case of a burner. The walls of the cases of the burners are composed of either ceramic fibers coated or impregnated with sealants to keep the ceramic fibers gas-tight, metallic sheets provided with means for preventing thermal expansion, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: An efficient, high output, compact catalytic combustor that is low in combustion cost includes a combustion member having a front surface portion and a rear surface portion. The air-fuel mixture passing from the rear surface portion toward the front surface portion is combusted on the front surface portion. The combustion member is made of a material higher in thermal conductivity than alumina and includes a flame-holding unit for geometrically holding the flames formed on the surface of the combustion member. A catalyst oxide is carried on at least the front surface portion of the combustion member.

Abstract: A light-weight portable cooking gas stove which is used for cooking at a picnic, hiking, camping, climbing, etc., comprises a hollow circular plate, a circular pipe gas cylinder, a piezo ignition means, a ceramic circular crater substantially centrally disposed with respect to the plate, and an upper cover. The circular gas cylinder is installed adjacent an inner circumference on the bottom of the hollow circular plate to ensure physical stability of the stove. The circular pipe gas cylinder includes on its exterior a gas fuel injection entrance. The ceramic circular crater has a great number of fine through holes to enhance heat efficiency by emission of infra-red rays when ignited. The gas injection entrance and all control means for cooking is operable from the exterior of the hollow circular plate.

Abstract: A gas mixer is provided which is especially suitable for a burner which includes a plurality of parallel supply tubes for a first gaseous reactant passing through a sealed distribution manifold through which a second reactant may be educed into each tube through an annular arrangement of orifices and admixed with the first reactant until said admixture reaches the outlet of each tube where, through ignition, an individual flamelet is formed, the multiplicity of which form a collective flame with an homogeneous ratio of reactants through the entire cross section of the flame.

Abstract: Leak preventive structures for cases of flatly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical combustion burners, circularly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical surface combustion burner and a surface combustion burner are provided. Burner elements are composed of fire resistant porous fiber mats are provided wherein the burner element itself may form a peripheral wall of a case of a burner. The walls of the cases of the burners are composed of either ceramic fibers coated or impregnated with sealants to keep the ceramic fibers gas-tight, metallic sheets provided with means for preventing thermal expansion, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for increasing the reactivity of a fuel/air mixture prior to homogenous combustion of the mixture. More specifically, this invention is a pilot for a gas turbine combustor which utilizes the heat of combustion within the pilot to increase the reactivity of a portion of the fuel/air mixture utilized by the pilot.

Abstract: A catalytic combustion type heater set so as to reduce the exhaust emission at the time of ignition and the time of extinguishment by, at the time of ignition, providing a precombustion period and making the amounts of the fuel and air fed larger than the air-fuel ratio of the steady combustion period to prevent incomplete combustion and by, at the time of extinguishment, stopping the feeding of fuel and feeding only air in an amount lower than that before the fuel stops being fed so as to completely burn the remaining fuel, then feeding purging air.

Abstract: A gas catalytic heater having an improved temperature distribution is disclosed which includes a body having an open end in which is disposed a porous catalytically active layer containing a catalyst such as platinum metal. A sealed plenum chamber is disposed below the catalytically active layer and has a gas-permeable wall portion facing toward the active layer and a gas inlet orifice for introducing a fuel gas into the chamber. The gas-permeable wall portion may comprise a perforated metal plate having a plurality of tiny apertures the total open area of which is significantly less than that provided by perforated plates used in catalytic heaters of the prior art.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus provided with a burner includes a fuel injection nozzle disposed rearward of a gas passable solid and a pre-mixture region between a downstream end of the solid and the fuel injection nozzle. The gas passable solid may be of a straightener type. Air for combustion includes main air and pilot air separated from each other. The apparatus may be coupled to each end of a radiant tube. The apparatus may be provided to a direct and indirect combustion type thermal facilities.

Abstract: Leak preventive structures for cases of flatly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical combustion burners, circularly installed surface combustion burners, circularly installed cylindrical surface combustion burner and a surface combustion burner are provided. Burner elements are composed of fire resistant porous fiber mats are provided wherein the burner element itself may form a peripheral wall of a case of a burner. The walls of the cases of the burners are composed of either ceramic fibers coated or impregnated with sealants to keep the ceramic fibers gas-tight, metallic sheets provided with means for preventing thermal expansion, or a combination of the two.

Abstract: A combustor method and apparatus is provided. The method utilizes flameless combustion with one or more of three improvements to enhance ignition of the flameless combustor. A catalytic surface can be provided within a combustion chamber to provide flameless combustion at least in the vicinity of the catalytic surface at a temperature that is much lower than the autoignition temperature of fuel in air without the presence of the catalytic surface. Nitrous oxide or supplemental oxygen may also be used as an oxidant either instead of air or with air to reduce ignition temperatures. Further, electrical energy can be passed through the fuel conduit, raising the temperature of the conduit to a temperature above which the fuel will ignite when combined with the oxidant.

Abstract: A gas fired infrared radiation emitter which contains a back-body provided with a distributor, a primary radiator having a combustion surface, and frame which contains four receptacles, each of which is integrally connected to the frame. A screen is removably attached to the frame receptacles by means of two bars, each of which is disposed within the receptacles and is free to move within the receptacles in either direction for a distance of at least about 0.15 inches. Stop surfaces are provided, however, for limiting the amount of longitudinal movement of the bars within the receptacles. The bars each have a length which does not exceed the length of the frame; and they can readily be removed from the receptacles.

Abstract: A low NOx combustion process and burner apparatus in which a mixture of a primary fuel and air, with the air in excess of the stoichiometric requirement, is passed to a surface burner element. The mixture is distributed over the downstream side of the element where it is combusted in a primary combustion zone. Secondary fuel is mixed with surface combustion products from the primary zone and then combusted in a secondary combustion zone with a portion of excess oxygen from the surface combustion products. In certain embodiments the temperature of surface combustion products is reduced by heat transfer to the surface burner element, and in another embodiment by heat transfer to a screen or other element placed within the primary combustion zone, from which the heat is then extracted to a load, and in another embodiment by mixing the additional fuel or combustion products with cooled furnace gases. In other embodiments the placement of the secondary fuel jets is varied to achieve different combustion results.

Abstract: A catalytic gas radiant tube heater, and a method for its use. A radiant tube encloses a catalyst tube containing a catalyst on a catalyst support. Air and a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel diffuse into the catalyst support and react on the catalyst surfaces. The reaction heats the catalyst tube, causing the catalyst tube to emit infrared radiation, which heats the radiant tube from within, causing the radiant tube to emit infrared radiation. The infrared radiation emitted by the radiant tube is directed in the desired direction by a reflector. The preferred catalyst is cobalt chromium oxide spinel.

Abstract: A flame support 20 has a plurality of discrete regions 22 through which fuel/air mixture can pass by means of burner ports 13 which extend through the support to a multiplicity of openings 25 at the flame supporting side 24. The support 20 comprises barriers 21/26 which extend between and separate the discrete regions 22. The barriers serve to prevent the passage of fuel/air mixture from upstream of the support to the downstream side 24 of the support in a region between the discrete regions. In burners provided with such a flame support, the likelihood of resonant combustion noise occurring has been found to be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to porous mat gas fired radiant burner panels utilizing improved reverberatory screens. The purpose of these screens is to boost the overall radiant output of the burner relative to a burner using no screen and the same fuel-air flow rates. In one embodiment, the reverberatory screen is fabricated from ceramic composite material, which can withstand higher operating temperatures than its metallic equivalent. In another embodiment the reverberatory screen is corrugated. The corrugations add stiffness which helps to resist creep and thermally induced distortions due to temperature or thermal expansion coefficient differences. As an added benefit, it has been unexpectedly discovered that the corrugations further increase the radiant efficiency of the burner. In a preferred embodiment, the reverberatory screen is both corrugated and made from ceramic composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas mixing burner (80) equipped with a flame retention device (1). This device incorporates in its construction a compressed gauze of interwoven flexible metal wire or wires for said gases to flow through it, and takes the form of a ring (2), characterised in that it is constituted by a substantially coaxial stack of at least two of said rings (2). Such a device may in particular be mounted on cylindrical domestic burners.

Abstract: A cylindrical fuel reforming apparatus covered with a thermal insulating layer 16 comprises a fuel flow passage 1 contoured by a cylindrical contour wall 2 in its central axial direction and a reforming catalyst bed 3 in the middle of the flow passage for reforming gas to be reformed flowing from the upstream of the fuel flow passage 1 into a proper reformed gas. A cooling jacket 10 is arranged in the upstream of the reforming catalyst bed 3 so as to surround the fuel flow passage 1 and to be supplied with steam 11 for cooling the cylindrical contour wall 2. There are provided in the cylindrical contour wall 2 in the upstream of the reforming catalyst bed 3 a plurality of injection nozzles 15 communicating the cooling jacket 10 with the fuel flow passage 1 so that the steam 11 introduced into the cooling jacket 10 is allowed to flow into the fuel flow passage 1.

Abstract: A matrix bed is disclosed in which a non-planar reaction wave front is formed during operation. This is accomplished by heating the matrix bed, containing heat-resistant material, until at least a reaction portion of the matrix bed is above the temperature required for a plurality of reactant gas streams to react. Next, the reactant gas streams are directed through the matrix bed in a manner so as to form at least a Bunsen, Burke-Schumann, inverted-V, or some other type of non-planar reaction wave front at the portion of the matrix bed that is heated above the reactant gas streams reaction temperature. At the non-planar reaction wave front, the reactant gas streams react to produce a reaction product gas stream that is then exhausted from the matrix bed.

Abstract: Combustion apparatus (10) includes a combustion chamber (12, 212), a cover (24, 208) covering an end wall (14, 210) of the combustion chamber and defining a buffer space (26, 206) therebetween, and a blower (32, 202) external to the cover and supplying air to the buffer space and pressurizing the buffer space to a higher pressure than the combustion chamber such that leakage at penetrations (46) and/or interface (334, 336) flows from the buffer space into the combustion chamber, rather than the reverse, eliminating the need for leak-tight seals, and instead permitting leakage in a desired direction. In one embodiment, a first conduit (58) supplies air along a path (34) from the blower to the mixer and burner assembly without passing through the buffer space, and a second conduit (60) independently supplies air from the blower to the buffer space. A pressure dropping orifice (36) is provided between the blower and the mixer and burner assembly.

Abstract: A burner for burning a combustible gas comprising fuel gas and air that has been mixed before being supplied to the burner. The burner has a flame holder .[.concavely.]. .Iadd.axially and radially .Iaddend.recessed into a flame outlet. The .[.concave.]. configuration of the flame holder focuses the individual flames on the combustion surface toward a central location where the individual flames interact with and reinforce one another in a direction axial to the burner. Thus very little heat is transmitted directly from the burner in a direction normal to the burner axis. This characteristic of the burner allows it to be used to fire a flue type heat exchangers where the walls of the heat exchanger are very close to the burner without excessive temperatures being produced in the heat exchanger walls adjacent the burner.