The effects of different perovskite catalysts, catalytic active materials with a crystal structure of ABO.sub.3, on matrix stabilized combustion in a porous ceramic media are explored. Highly porous silicon carbide ceramics are used as a porous media for a catalytically enhanced matrix stabilized combustion of a lean mixture of methane and air. A stainless steel combustion chamber was designed incorporating a window for direct observation of the flame within the porous media. Perovskite catalytic enhancement of SiC porous matrix with La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.35Ru0.05O3; La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.4O3; La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.95Ru0.05O3; La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.95Ru0.05O3; and LaFe0.95Ru0.05O3, for example, were used to enhance combustion. The flammability limits of the combustion of methane and air were explored using both inert and catalytically enhanced surfaces of the porous ceramic media. By coating the SiC porous media with perovskite catalysts it was possible to lower the minimum stable equivalence ratio.

The effects of different perovskite catalysts, catalytic active materials with a crystal structure of ABO.sub.3, on matrix stabilized combustion in a porous ceramic media are explored. Highly porous silicon carbide ceramics are used as a porous media for a catalytically enhanced matrix stabilized combustion of a lean mixture of methane and air. A stainless steel combustion chamber was designed incorporating a window for direct observation of the flame within the porous media. Perovskite catalytic enhancement of SiC porous matrix with La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.35Ru0.05O3; La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.4O3; La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.95Ru0.05O3; La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.95Ru0.05O3; and LaFe0.95Ru0.05O3, for example, were used to enhance combustion. The flammability limits of the combustion of methane and air were explored using both inert and catalytically enhanced surfaces of the porous ceramic media. By coating the SiC porous media with perovskite catalysts it was possible to lower the minimum stable equivalence ratio.

A portable catalytic combustion heater, wherein fuel vapor (11) and air (10) are supplied to a catalyst (6) which promotes the flameless combustion of fuel and releases that. The fuel is supplied as a liquid, passes through a selectively permeable membrane (8) such that fuel vapor exits the membrane and is fed to the catalyst (6). Additional features include porous supports and means of enhancing and diminishing the catalytic rate of combustion and controlling the heat output.

A portable catalytic combustion heater, wherein fuel vapor (11) and air (10) are supplied to a catalyst (6) which promotes the flameless combustion of fuel and releases that. The fuel is supplied as a liquid, passes through a selectively permeable membrane (8) such that fuel vapor exits the membrane and is fed to the catalyst (6). Additional features include porous supports and means of enhancing and diminishing the catalytic rate of combustion and controlling the heat output.

A method of producing a catalytically active product (10) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of depositing a thermite or thermate composition (28) on a substrate, heating the substrate (11) with the composition (28) to initiate a thermite reaction to adhere a layer of a first metal (27) to the substrate, removing an oxide of a second metal (29) and forming a rough surface of the layer of the first metal. Then, a ceramic material is deposited on the rough surface of the first metal (27) to form a ceramic layer (14) thereon, which is provided with a catalytically active material (16). Disclosed is also a catalytically active product (10) and a reactor (22) comprising a plurality of stacked sheets of the catalytically active product (10).

Embodiments herein provide a combustion system comprising a combustion chamber having a catalyst bed, and a vessel for storing a propellant at a predefined pressure. The vessel comprising a first valve for controlling a flow of the propellant over the catalyst bed inside the combustion chamber and an input provided at the first valve, for injecting the propellant inside the combustion chamber at a predefined duration of injection for each cycle of injection. A predefined quantity of the propellant is injected in each cycle of the injection. The combustion system further comprises one or more glow plugs for maintaining a predefined temperature within the catalyst bed and an ignition glow plug for providing a source of ignition for combustion of the propellant inside the combustion chamber.

Embodiments herein provide a combustion system comprising a combustion chamber having a catalyst bed, and a vessel for storing a propellant at a predefined pressure. The vessel comprising a first valve for controlling a flow of the propellant over the catalyst bed inside the combustion chamber and an input provided at the first valve, for injecting the propellant inside the combustion chamber at a predefined duration of injection for each cycle of injection. A predefined quantity of the propellant is injected in each cycle of the injection. The combustion system further comprises one or more glow plugs for maintaining a predefined temperature within the catalyst bed and an ignition glow plug for providing a source of ignition for combustion of the propellant inside the combustion chamber.

A catalytic flameless combustion apparatus has a fuel inlet, a combustion-supporting gas inlet, a gas premixer, a combustion plate, an igniter, a gas deflector, a flameless combustion cavity, a catalyst filled in the flameless combustion cavity, a gas collection chamber and an exhaust port. The method for starting the catalytic flameless combustion apparatus includes initially combusting and heating the flameless combustion cavity and the catalyst filled therein with low power flame; and then increasing flow velocity and switching to high power flame for conducting catalytic flameless combustion. The catalytic flameless combustion apparatus can be used for various non-solid fuel combustion and heat extraction processes.

A catalytic flameless combustion apparatus has a fuel inlet, a combustion-supporting gas inlet, a gas premixer, a combustion plate, an igniter, a gas deflector, a flameless combustion cavity, a catalyst filled in the flameless combustion cavity, a gas collection chamber and an exhaust port. The method for starting the catalytic flameless combustion apparatus includes initially combusting and heating the flameless combustion cavity and the catalyst filled therein with low power flame; and then increasing flow velocity and switching to high power flame for conducting catalytic flameless combustion. The catalytic flameless combustion apparatus can be used for various non-solid fuel combustion and heat extraction processes.

A process for producing black powder oxygen carriers for use in a chemical looping combustion unit includes the steps of: (a) removing and collecting the black powder waste material that was formed in a gas pipeline; (b) pre-treating the collected black powder to adjust its spherical shape to avoid attrition and fines production; and (c) activating the black powder to increase its reactivity rate and produce the black powder oxygen carrier that is suitable for use in the chemical looping combustion process as an oxygen carrier.