Advanced emissive matrix combustion

A combustion process for reducing the NOx emissions of a combustion device comprising the steps of:

• delivering a combustible mixture to an active flame zone within a combustion device at a sufficiently elevated pressure;
• creating a range of combustible mixture velocities in the flame zone that is wider than a range of flame propagation velocities in the combustible mixture;
• creating and maintaining multiple vortex zones of varying intensity within the combustible mixture;
• dissipating heat away from the flame zone by way of an emissive matrix structure comprising a matrix of heat radiating, heat absorbing, and heat conducting bodies that are disposed within the combustion chamber and in the active flame zone;
• and
• allowing photons emitted from the emissive matrix to escape directly therefrom.

A combustion device comprising:

• a porous distributive layer;
• a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the porous distributive layer;
• a blower for introducing a fuel/oxidizer mixture at a sufficient velocity so that the fuel/oxidizer mixture passes through the porous distributive layer;
• and
• an emissive matrix structure disposed within the combustion chamber and within an active flame zone therein, the emissive matrix structure comprising a three dimensional matrix of heat absorbing, heat radiating, and heat conducting bodies, the matrix comprising a plurality of open spaces to facilitate combustion of the fuel/oxidizer mixture, permit the escape of photons generated within the structure, and to maintain the temperature of the radiating bodies within a desired range.

A combustion process for creating a radiant heat source comprising:

• passing a fuel/oxidizer mixture through a porous distributive layer at a sufficiently elevated pressure;
• combusting the fuel/oxidizer mixture within open spaces of a three dimensional matrix of radiating bodies that is positioned within the combustion chamber of the device and within an active flame zone of the fuel/oxidizer mixture;
• absorbing sufficient energy of combustion of the fuel/oxidizer mixture in the radiating bodies in the matrix for maintaining substantially uniform heat distribution throughout the matrix;
• emitting a major portion of radiant energy directly from the radiating bodies out of the matrix;
• and
• surrounding the matrix with a radiant heat exchanger which absorbs and transfers absorbed radiant energy to a fluid, thereby heating the fluid.