Heater and cookware for flameless catalytic combustion

A fuel combustion chamber for supporting a cookware article comprising:

• a metal piece having a first and second surfaces;
• a porous metal oxide layer formed directly on said first surface of said metal piece;
• and
• a combustion catalyst impregnated within said porous metal oxide layer, the catalyst effecting flameless catalytic combustion,
• wherein fuel interacts with the catalyst in the porous metal oxide layer and undergoes flameless catalytic combustion which generates heat, and heat generated by the flameless catalytic combustion at the first surface of the piece is conductively transferred through the metal piece to the second surface raising the temperature of the second surface,
• said fuel combustion chamber comprising:
• a surface which engages said cookware article and surrounds the porous metal oxide layer impregnated with the flameless catalytic combustion catalyst;
• a connection to a source of fuel;
• and
• an opening for providing a flow of fuel and air to the surrounded porous metal oxide layer,
• wherein the surface comprises one or more openings, with each opening comprising a lip to support at least an outer periphery of the bottom of the cookware article, and
• the lip forms a releasable seal around the outer periphery of porous oxide layer of the cookware article.