Fuel-Flexible Combustor

A combustion apparatus for converting liquid-hydrocarbon fuels into thermal energy, the apparatus comprising:

• a vaporizer coupled with a source of liquid-hydrocarbon fuel and with a source of air, the vaporizer comprising a porous structure that promotes vaporization of the liquid-hydrocarbon fuel and distributes the vaporized liquid-hydrocarbon fuel into the air to form a mixed hydrocarbon-fuel-vapor-and-air product;
• a catalytic combustor located downstream of the vaporizer, the catalytic combustor comprising a combustor enclosure that has internal surfaces coated with a catalyst that can cause a reaction involving the hydrocarbon-fuel vapor and the air that forms a carbon-dioxide-and-water-vapor-containing exhaust product and generates thermal energy;
• and
• a recuperator located downstream of the combustor, wherein the recuperator is configured to transfer thermal energy from the carbon-dioxide-and-water-vapor-containing exhaust product to an air stream to form a heated air stream that can be fed to the vaporizer.