Burner system including a non-planar perforated flame holder

A combustion system, comprising:

• a fuel and oxidant source configured to output a fuel and oxidant mixture;
• and
• a non-planar perforated flame holder positioned downstream from the fuel and oxidant source to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture and configured to hold a combustion reaction supported by the fuel and oxidant mixture, the non-planar perforated flame holder, including:
• a non-planar input face configured to receive the fuel and oxidant mixture;
• an output face configured to output products of a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant mixture;
• and
• a perforated flame holder body defining a plurality of perforations extending from the input face to the output face, the perforations being collectively configured to hold the combustion reaction;
• wherein when the non-planar perforated flame holder is operably positioned a distance from the fuel and oxidant source, a central area of the perforated flame holder body is configured to be further displaced from the fuel and oxidant source than a perimeter area of the perforated flame holder body to reduce variation of a flow rate of the fuel and oxidant mixture across the input face.

A method of operating a combustion system, comprising:

• outputting fuel from a nozzle to generate a fuel-air mixture;
• receiving the fuel-air mixture with a non-planar perforated flame holder,
• wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that extend from an input face to an output face of the non-planar perforated flame holder;
• and
• sustaining a combustion reaction of the fuel-air mixture substantially within the plurality of perforations;
• wherein sustaining the combustion reaction further includes:
• maintaining an operating temperature of the non-planar perforated flame holder by recycling thermal radiation in between at least some of the plurality of perforations of the input face, wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder recycles the thermal radiation with a concavely shaped input face that provides non-zero view factors between the plurality of perforations at the input face.

A method of operating a combustion system, comprising:

• outputting fuel from a nozzle to generate a fuel-air mixture;
• receiving the fuel-air mixture with a non-planar perforated flame holder,
• wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that extend from an input face to an output face of the non-planar perforated flame holder;
• and
• sustaining a combustion reaction of the fuel-air mixture substantially within the plurality of perforations;
• wherein sustaining the combustion reaction includes:
• maintaining an operating temperature of the non-planar perforated flame holder by recycling thermal radiation in between at least some of the plurality of perforations at the output face, wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder recycles the thermal radiation with a concavely shaped output face that provides non-zero view factors between the plurality of perforations at the output face.

A method of operating a combustion system, comprising:

• outputting fuel from a nozzle to generate a fuel-air mixture;
• receiving the fuel-air mixture with a non-planar perforated flame holder,
• wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that extend from an input face to an output face of the non-planar perforated flame holder;
• and
• sustaining a combustion reaction of the fuel-air mixture substantially within the plurality of perforations;
• heating one or more fluid systems positioned proximate to the non-planar perforated flame holder by directing thermal radiation from least some of the plurality of perforations on the output face to the one or more fluid systems, wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder directs the thermal radiation with a convexly shaped output face that provides non-zero view factors between at least some of the plurality of perforations and the one or more fluid systems.

A method of operating a combustion system, comprising:

• outputting fuel from a nozzle to generate a fuel-air mixture;
• receiving the fuel-air mixture with a non-planar perforated flame holder,
• wherein the non-planar perforated flame holder includes a plurality of perforations that extend from an input face to an output face of the non-planar perforated flame holder;
• and
• sustaining a combustion reaction of the fuel-air mixture substantially within the plurality of perforations;
• equalizing a flow rate of the fuel-air mixture at the input face of the non-planar perforated flame holder by positioning a central portion of the non-planar perforated flame holder at a greater distance away from the nozzle than a peripheral portion of the non-planar perforated flame holder with the input face having an arcuate shape.