Catalytic burner apparatus for stirling engine
AssigneePrecision Combustion, Inc.
InventorsSubir Roychoudhury, David L. Spence, Bruce Crowder, Jonathan Berry, Richard Mastanduno
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method for transferring heat by conduction to the internal heat acceptor of an external combustion engine. Fuel and air are introduced and mixed to form an air/fuel mixture. The air/fuel mixture is directed into a catalytic reactor that is positioned substantially adjacent to the heater head. Heat is transferred via conduction from the catalytic reactor to the heater head and the catalytic reaction products are exhausted.
Claims6
An apparatus for generating and transferring heat via conduction to a heater head of an external combustion engine comprising:
- a. a combustor into which is secured a heater head of an external combustion engine, the combustor comprising a chamber for mixing a fuel and air;
- b. a fuel injection path for feeding a liquid fuel into the chamber;
- c. an air injection path for feeding air into the chamber;
- d. a catalytic reactor in non-spaced apart contact with the heater head, the catalytic reactor comprising a catalyst deposited on ultra-short-channel-length metal mesh elements;
- e. an igniter for lighting off the catalyst for flameless combustion of the fuel with air;
- and
- f. an outlet port for exhausting combustion gases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.