Combustion systems including heat modules, and associated devices and methods

A device for supporting combustion of fuel and preheated air, the device comprising:

• a combustion channel including a channel housing, wherein the combustion channel is configured to receive preheated air above an auto-ignition temperature when mixed with fuel, and wherein, in operation, the combustion channel supports combustion within the channel housing;
• a fuel chamber including a chamber housing and configured to receive fuel, wherein the fuel chamber is fluidly coupled to the combustion channel at fuel input portions spaced apart from one another along a dimension of the fuel chamber, wherein, in operation, the fuel flows from the fuel chamber to the combustion channel via the fuel input portions;
• and
• a heat module thermally coupled to the combustion channel, wherein the heat module is configured to extract heat from the combustion within the channel housing.

A method for operating a combustion system, the method comprising:

• directing a first amount of fuel and preheated air to a first combustion zone, wherein the first combustion zone generates a first exhaust gas having a first excess air;
• directing the first exhaust gas and a second amount of fuel to a second combustion zone downstream of the first combustion zone, wherein the second combustion zone generates a second exhaust gas having a second excess air less than the first excess air;
• and
• extracting, via a heat module, heat from the first combustion zone and/or the second combustion zone.