Abstract: A porous matrix, surface combustor-fluid heating apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, a porous stationary bed disposed within the combustion chamber, a porous bed heat exchanger for retaining the porous stationary bed within the combustion chamber, a fuel/oxidant inlet for introducing a fuel/oxidant mixture into the stationary porous bed, a distributor plate for distributing the fuel/oxidant mixture within the stationary porous bed proximate an inlet end of the combustion chamber, and a porous bed heat exchanger comprising at least one vertically oriented, fluid-cooled tube disposed in the stationary porous bed.

Abstract: A porous matrix, surface combustor-fluid heating apparatus comprising a combustion chamber, a cooled flow distributor proximate an inlet end of said combustion chamber and supporting a stationary porous bed within said combustion chamber, porous bed heat exchanger means embedded in said stationary porous bed and means for introducing a fuel/oxidant mixture into said stationary porous bed said fuel/oxidant mixture burning in said stationary porous bed.

Abstract: A premixed fuel/air burner with velocity and fuel/air ratio control having a nozzle with a nozzle wall forming a Venturi mixer and a nozzle exit, means for separately introducing fuel and air into the Venturi mixer, a hollow body disposed in the nozzle and moveable in a longitudinal direction toward the nozzle exit, the hollow body having at least one orifice through a wall thereof at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle such that fuel is injected through said orifice into the Venturi mixer. Movement of the hollow body toward the nozzle exit changes the cross-sectional area of the Venturi mixer and nozzle exit thereby permitting control of nozzle velocity of the resulting fuel/air mixture. To control the fuel/air ratio, a fixed orifice baffle is provided inside the hollow body which changes the opening of the orifice as the hollow body is moved toward the nozzle exit.

Abstract: A premixed fuel/air burner with velocity and fuel/air ratio control having a nozzle with a nozzle wall forming a Venturi mixer and a nozzle exit, means for separately introducing fuel and air into the Venturi mixer, a hollow body disposed in the nozzle and moveable in a longitudinal direction toward the nozzle exit, the hollow body having at least on orifice through a wall thereof at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle such that fuel is injected through said orifice into the Venturi mixer. Movement of the hollow body toward the nozzle exit changes the cross-sectional area of the Venturi mixer and nozzle exit thereby permitting control of nozzle velocity of the resulting fuel/air mixture. To control the fuel/air ratio, a fixed orifice baffle is provided inside the hollow body which changes the opening of the orifice as the hollow body is moved toward the nozzle exit.

Abstract: A radiant gas burner having a porous matrix bed with a cross-sectional area that diverges along a generally longitudinal axis in a direction from an upstream end to a downstream end of the porous matrix bed. The burner has a fuel/air inlet and a flow distributor positioned near a downstream end of the fuel/air inlet, for distributing the fuel/air mixture throughout the porous matrix bed. A radiant surface layer is positioned adjacent and downstream from the downstream end of the porous matrix bed. The fuel/air mixture is combusted within the porous matrix bed and a combustion flame is stabilized completely within the porous matrix bed. The porous matrix bed is constructed as a bed of refractory particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for a temperature measuring pyrometer probe that measures gas temperatures above the melting point of conventional thermocouple material. The apparatus is used to calculate radiation heat losses and compensate for pneumatic cooling from the thermocouple junction of the pyrometer probe. The pyrometer probe has an inner hollow body which defines an inner chamber. The inner hollow body has an open end and the inner chamber is in communication with ambient gas surrounding the pyrometer probe. The inner hollow body is mounted within an outer hollow body and such mounting defines cooling channels. The cooling channels accommodate fluid flow which cools the inner hollow body. The ambient gas is directed into a converging-diverging nozzle, mounted within the inner hollow body, toward a thermocouple junction. The converging-diverging nozzle has a wall suction channel through which a boundary layer of the ambient gas is drawn away from the thermocouple junction.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for high temperature combustion in a combustion chamber comprising two opposed porous plates is provided whereby increased combustion temperatures are achievable by means of internal radiant energy recuperation. The high temperature combustion apparatus and process may achieve super-adiabatic combustion temperatures and is especially suitable for applications such as waste disposal and incineration.