US 8,479,508 B2 · Catalytic burner apparatus for stirling engine

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for generating heat and transferring the heat to a heater head of an external combustion engine, preferably, a Stirling engine. Fuel and air are introduced into a combustion chamber and mixed to form an air/fuel mixture. The air/fuel mixture is combusted over a combustion catalyst positioned in physical contact with a heat spreader, which itself is positioned in physical contact with a heat acceptor surface. The heat acceptor surface is secured in thermal communication with the heater head. Depending upon the design of the heater head, heat flux from the heat acceptor surface into the heater head may occur radially or non-radially.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A catalytic reactor apparatus for generating heat and transferring the heat to a heater head of a Stirling engine, the apparatus comprising the following components:

(a) a housing comprising a combustion chamber;
(b) a fuel inlet means for feeding a fuel into the chamber;
(c) an oxidant first inlet means for feeding an oxidant into the chamber;
(d) a combustion catalyst positioned within the chamber in fluid communication with the fuel and oxidant inlet means;
(e) a heat acceptor surface positioned within the chamber downstream from the catalyst, the heat acceptor surface positioned in thermal communication with a heater head of a Stirling engine;
(f) a heat spreader positioned in between the catalyst and the heat acceptor surface and contacting both the catalyst and the heat acceptor surface;
(g) an ignition means positioned within the chamber for igniting the catalyst and thus initiating flameless combustion of the fuel with the oxidant;
and
(h) one or more outlet means for exhausting combustion gases from the chamber.

6 more elements

A method of generating heat and transferring the heat to a heater head of a Stirling engine, the method comprising:

(1) employing a catalytic reactor for generating heat and transferring the heat to the heater head, the reactor comprising (a) a housing comprising a combustion chamber;
(b) a fuel inlet means for feeding a fuel into the chamber;
(c) an oxidant first inlet means for feeding an oxidant into the chamber;
(d) a combustion catalyst positioned within the chamber in fluid communication with the fuel and oxidant inlet means;
(e) a heat acceptor surface positioned within the chamber downstream from the catalyst, the heat acceptor surface being secured in thermal communication with a heater head of a Stirling engine;
(f) a heat spreader positioned in between the catalyst and the heat acceptor surface and contacting both the catalyst and the heat acceptor surface;
(g) an ignition means positioned within the chamber for igniting the catalyst and thus initiating flameless combustion of the fuel with the oxidant;
and (h) one or more outlet means for exhausting combustion gases from the chamber;
(2) feeding a fuel through the fuel inlet means into the combustion chamber;
(3) feeding an oxidant through the oxidant first inlet means into the combustion chamber;
(4) in the chamber, contacting the fuel and the oxidant with the combustion catalyst;
(5) igniting the catalyst so as to initiate flameless combustion of the fuel with the oxidant thereby generating heat of combustion, the heat being transferred from the combustion catalyst to the heat acceptor surface and therefrom to the heater head into the Stirling engine;
and
(6) exhausting combustion gases through the one or more outlet means.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Catalytic burner apparatus for stirling engine

Life of this patent

Catalytic burner apparatus for stirling engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24