Catalyst configuration for catalytic combustion systems

A combustor for catalytically promoting thermal combustion of an inlet combustion gas mixture flowed sequentially through an igniter catalyst zone, a promoter catalyst zone, and then a downstream zone of the combustor, the downstream zone providing a homogeneous reaction zone, and the combustor comprising:

• (i) an igniter catalyst member disposed in the igniter catalyst zone and comprising an igniter carrier having a plurality of gas flow channels extending therethrough and defined by channel walls on which an igniter catalyst composition is carried;
• and (ii) a promoter catalyst member disposed in the promoter catalyst zone and comprising a promoter carrier having a plurality of gas flow channels extending therethrough and defined by channel walls on which a promoter catalyst composition is carried, the igniter catalyst member and the promoter catalyst member together comprising a combustor catalyst, wherein the igniter catalyst composition and the promoter catalyst composition are capable of being regenerated after thermal deactivation and which is characterized by the promoter catalyst member having a catalyst regeneration temperature range which extends from a temperature higher than, to a temperature lower than, the upper limit of the regeneration temperature range of the igniter catalyst member.