A combustion system includes a fuel and oxidant source that outputs fuel and oxidant, a first perforated flame holder, and a second perforated flame holder separated from the first perforated flame holder by a gap. The first and second perforated flame holders sustain a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the first and second perforated flame holders.

A combustion system includes a fuel and oxidant source and a flame holder. The flame holder includes a plurality of discrete slats arranged in parallel defining combustion channels between adjacent slats. The fuel and oxidant source outputs fuel and oxidant into the combustion channels. The flame holder holds a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant in the combustion channels.

According to an embodiment, a fired heater includes a fuel and combustion air source configured to output fuel and combustion air into a combustion volume, the combustion volume including a combustion volume wall defining a lateral extent separate from an exterior volume. According to an embodiment, the fired heater includes a boiler heater and the combustion volume wall comprises a combustion pipe defining a lateral extent of the combustion volume, the combustion pipe being disposed to separate the combustion volume from a water and steam volume. The fired heater includes a mixing tube aligned to receive the fuel and combustion air from the fuel and combustion air source. The mixing tube may be separated from the combustion volume wall by a separation volume. The fired heater includes a bluff body flame holder aligned to receive a fuel and combustion air mixture from an outlet end of the mixing tube. The bluff body flame holder may be configured to hold a combustion reaction for heating a combustion volume wall. The combustion volume wall may include a combustion pipe. The combustion pipe may be configured to heat the water in the water and steam volume.

A two-stage combustor having as constituent parts: a partial oxidation reactor, which catalytically converts a hydrocarbon fuel and a first supply of oxidant into a gaseous partial oxidation product; and a deep oxidation reactor having a premixer plenum fluidly connected to a porous heat spreader, which converts the gaseous partial oxidation product to deep oxidation products. In one embodiment, the premixer plenum provides an empty space wherein combustion occurs in flame mode. In a second embodiment, the premixer plenum contains a high pore density foam matrix, absent catalyst, which facilitates holding a flameless combustion downstream within the porous heat spreader. In both embodiments heat produced during combustion is transmitted from the heat spreader to an associated heat acceptor, such as a heater head of a Stirling engine.

A combustion heater generates heat by means of flame. The combustion heater is disposed adjacent to a refrigerant circuit filled with a combustible refrigerant. The combustion heater includes a combustion unit and a porous body. The combustion unit causes generation of flame. The porous body covers the combustion unit or a periphery of the combustion unit. The porous body at least partially covers both or one of a combustion space receiving combustible refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant circuit and a member in contact with the combustible refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant circuit. The porous body has a plurality of holes. The holes have a diameter d1 equal to or less than an extinction diameter d of the combustible refrigerant.

A combustion system such as a furnace or boiler includes a perforated reaction holder configured to hold a combustion reaction that produces very low oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to burner apparatus for lean premixed flames. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a burner plate, a burner body, and a mesh. A first surface of the burner plate defines a combustion surface for a fuel/air mixture. The burner plate defines a plurality of primary ports. The burner body defines a fuel-air mixing chamber. One surface of the burner body comprises the burner plate. The burner body defines an inlet for receiving air and a fuel in the fuel-air mixing chamber. The mesh is disposed in the fuel-air mixing chamber and is in contact with a second surface of the burner plate.

A furnace includes a perforated flame holder formed from an array of tiles. The perforated flame holder is stabilized by a support member extending between at least adjacent tiles. Elongated support members may be positioned to extend through each of the tiles in a respective column of the array of tiles.

A gas fired radiant emitter comprises a burner deck onto which premix gas is combusted when the emitter is in use; and a metal plate provided at the combustion side of the burner deck. The metal plate is provided to act as radiant screen when the emitter is in use. The metal plate is at least over part of its surface spaced from the burner deck. The metal plate comprises a plurality of elongated slots for passage through the metal plate of flue gas generated on the burner deck. The plurality of elongated slots comprise a first elongated slot. The first elongated slot has a first tangent along a position along the length of the first elongated slot. The plurality of elongated slots comprise a second elongated slot. The second elongated slot has a second tangent along a position along the length of the second elongated slot. The angle between the first tangent and the second tangent is between 45° and 135°.

A burner includes a flame sensor configured to detect at least one of permittivity, capacitance, or resistance across a flame region. The permittivity, capacitance, or resistance is used to determine the presence or absence of the flame in a combustion system. A combustion system supports a combustion reaction. The combustion system utilizes a combustion sensor, and optionally a plasma generator to stabilize the combustion reaction. A controller receives sensor signals from the combustion sensor and controls the plasma generator to stabilize the combustion reaction responsive to the sensor signals. The plasma generator stabilizes the combustion reaction by generating a plasma.