Non-catalytic porous-phase combustor
AssigneeInstitute of Gas Technology
InventorDonald K. Fleming
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-catalytic porous-phase combustor and process for generating radiant energy wherein the gas phase reaction and combustion take place within the pores of a multilayer porous plate to provide higher combustion intensity and to provide a greater proportion of heat released by radiation. The combustor comprises a porous plate having at least two discrete and contiguous layers, a first preheat layer comprising a material having a low inherent thermal conductivity and a second combustion layer comprising a material having a high inherent thermal conductivity and providing a radiating surface. Combustion intensities of about 400,000 to about 750,000 Btu/hr-ft.sup.2 may be achieved in the combustion layer of the porous phase combustor.
Claims20
A non-catalytic porous phase combustor comprising:
- housing means for retaining a porous plate across one open end and confining a combustible mixture in a distribution chamber across the opposite end;
- input means for introducing a combustible mixture into said distribution chamber;
- and a multilayer porous plate comprising at least two discrete and contiguous porous layers, a first layer adjacent said distribution chamber comprising a material having a low inherent thermal conductivity, and a second layer adjacent said open end comprising a material having a high inherent thermal conductivity and having a radiating outer surface for emitting heat energy as radiant energy, said first and second layers having pores of substantially the same size.
An improved process for generating radiant energy comprising the sequential steps of:
- introducing a combustible mixture through an inlet means and distributing said combustible mixture within a distribution chamber;
- passing said combustible mixture through and preheating said combustible mixture in pores of a first discrete layer of a multilayer porous plate, said first layer comprising a material having a low inherent thermal conductivity;
- passing said combustible mixture through and combusting said combustible mixture in pores of a second discrete layer of said multilayer porous plate, said pores of said second layer being of substantially the same size as said pores of said first layer, said second layer comprising a material having a high inherent thermal conductivity;
- and
- converting heat energy produced by said combustion to radiant energy at a radiating surface on said second layer and emitting said radiant energy from said radiating surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.