A flameless cooking apparatus for use with liquid fuels and for indoor or outdoor use under field operations. The burner exhibits low CO and hydrocarbon emissions and meets standards for burner thermal efficiency when used with JP-8 fuel. The apparatus employs a catalytic burner having among its parts (i) a combustion catalyst; (ii) a conductive surface, e.g., cooking surface; and (iii) in between the catalyst and the conductive surface and in direct physical contact with both surfaces, a heat spreader for conductively transferring heat of combustion from the catalyst to the conductive surface. Also claimed are a method of heat flux and a method of cooking.

A flameless cooking apparatus for use with liquid fuels and for indoor or outdoor use under field operations. The burner exhibits low CO and hydrocarbon emissions and meets standards for burner thermal efficiency when used with JP-8 fuel. The apparatus employs a catalytic burner having among its parts (i) a combustion catalyst; (ii) a conductive surface, e.g., cooking surface; and (iii) in between the catalyst and the conductive surface and in direct physical contact with both surfaces, a heat spreader for conductively transferring heat of combustion from the catalyst to the conductive surface. Also claimed are a method of heat flux and a method of cooking.

Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing mixing in a fluid using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a pair of electrodes is positioned near a fluid and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes such that a plasma discharge is produced in the fluid. In an embodiment, the plasma discharge creates turbulence in the fluid thereby mixing the fluid. In an embodiment, flow structures, such as vortices are generated in the fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid is mixed in three dimensions. In an embodiment, a plurality of fluids are mixed. In an embodiment, solids are dispersed in at least one fluid. In an embodiment, heat or other properties are dispersed within at least one fluid. In an embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes has a serpentine shape.

Embodiments of the subject invention are directed to methods and apparatus for inducing mixing in a fluid using one or more plasma actuators. In an embodiment, a pair of electrodes is positioned near a fluid and a voltage potential is applied across the pair of electrodes such that a plasma discharge is produced in the fluid. In an embodiment, the plasma discharge creates turbulence in the fluid thereby mixing the fluid. In an embodiment, flow structures, such as vortices are generated in the fluid. In an embodiment, the fluid is mixed in three dimensions. In an embodiment, a plurality of fluids are mixed. In an embodiment, solids are dispersed in at least one fluid. In an embodiment, heat or other properties are dispersed within at least one fluid. In an embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes has a serpentine shape.

A fuel-fired burner includes a combustion air inlet for receiving combustion air coupled to a combustion air nozzle at an input to a second chamber within a burner housing spaced apart from a third chamber within the second chamber. The combustion air nozzle directs the combustion air into the third chamber. A fuel inlet coupled to a burner nozzle secured to a burner mounting plate has a recycle port for receiving hot exhaust gas provided to an exhaust gas path. A jet pump located entirely inside the burner housing is configured to receive the hot exhaust gas from the exhaust gas path. The jet pump operates by flowing the combustion air through the combustion air nozzle which suctions in the hot exhaust gas through the recycle port into the exhaust gas path then into a gas mixing zone for mixing the hot exhaust gas and the combustion air.

A combustion system includes a fuel distributor configured to output a fuel, an oxidant source configured to output an oxidant, and a mixing tube defining a mixing volume aligned to receive the fuel and oxidant. The mixing tube is shaped to convey the fuel and the oxidant through the mixing volume at a bulk velocity higher than a flame propagation speed. The combustion system includes a flame holder aligned to receive the mixed fuel and oxidant and to support a combustion reaction of the fuel and the oxidant.

A gas turbine combustor assembly includes a primary combustion chamber in fluid communication with a primary fuel injector and a primary air inlet. A torch igniter is carried by the primary combustion chamber, and includes an auxiliary combustion chamber housing comprising a mixing chamber and a throat region converging downstream of the mixing chamber. An air swirler including a plurality of swirl openings surrounding an outlet of an auxiliary fuel injector is coupled to the auxiliary combustion chamber proximate the mixing chamber. An ignition source projects into the mixing chamber of the auxiliary combustion chamber.

A combustion system supports a swirl-stabilized preheating flame with a preheating fuel and an oxidant. The combustion system preheats a perforated flame holder with the preheating flame. After the perforated flame holder has been preheated to the threshold temperature, the combustion system outputs a primary fuel. The perforated flame holder receives a mixture of the primary fuel and the oxidant supports a combustion reaction of the primary fuel and the oxidant.

A fuel nozzle assembly includes a forward plate and an aft plate which is axially spaced from the forward plate. The aft plate includes a first side surface and a second side surface. A cooling air plenum is defined within the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly and is at least partially defined by the aft plate. A plurality of tubes extends through the forward plate, the cooling air plenum and the aft plate. A micro-cooling channel is disposed along the second side surface of the aft plate and is in fluid communication with the cooling air plenum and is in fluid communication with an exhaust aperture. A cover plate is connected to the aft plate and covers the micro-cooling channel.

A fuel nozzle assembly includes a forward plate and an aft plate which is axially spaced from the forward plate. The aft plate includes a first side surface and a second side surface. A cooling air plenum is defined within the bundled tube fuel nozzle assembly and is at least partially defined by the aft plate. A plurality of tubes extends through the forward plate, the cooling air plenum and the aft plate. A micro-cooling channel is disposed along the second side surface of the aft plate and is in fluid communication with the cooling air plenum and is in fluid communication with an exhaust aperture. A cover plate is connected to the aft plate and covers the micro-cooling channel.