Abstract: A catalytic combustor assembly which includes, an air source, a fuel delivery means, a catalytic reactor assembly, a mixing chamber, and a means for igniting a fuel/air mixture. The catalytic reactor assembly is in fluid communication with the air source and fuel delivery means and has a fuel/air plenum which is coated with a catalytic material. The fuel/air plenum has cooling air conduits passing therethrough which have an upstream end. The upstream end of the cooling conduits is in fluid communication with the air source but not the fuel delivery means.

Abstract: A method and system for combusting a liquid fuel stream in a diffusion flame combustor by spraying the liquid fuel stream into a steam flow to produce a fuel/steam flow with atomized liquid fuel therein. The fuel/steam flow is further mixed before being combusted in the diffusion flame combustor to produce at least a first portion of an emission stream therefrom.

Abstract: A combustor with a flashback arresting system for producing a hot gas by burning premixed fuel and compressed air having fuel/air premixing passages, each of the passages having an inlet end and a discharge end. Disposed immediately upstream of the inlet ends of the fuel/air premixing passages is a fuel manifold for delivering fuel to the passages. Fuel lines with fuel flow control valves connect the fuel manifold with a fuel supply. The flashback arresting system has one or more optical flame detectors with a light receiving portion located upstream of the discharge ends of the fuel/air premixing passages and oriented toward at least a portion of at least one of the fuel/air passages. The flame detectors are responsive to receiving light from a flashback by its light receiving portion by transmitting an output signal to a control system. The control system controls the fuel flow control valves and responds to the output signal by adjusting the fuel flow control valves to eliminate the flashback.