A process for operating a heater that can be operated with hydrocarbon fuel, especially for a vehicle includes providing a substoichiometric air/fuel mixture in a precombustion chamber (18) for a combustion operation and performing a cold flame combustion in the precombustion chamber (18). The precombustion products forming in the precombustion chamber (18) during the cold flame combustion are supplied to a catalyst arrangement (32) and a partial catalytic oxidation is performed for producing a gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The gas produced during the partial catalytic oxidation is supplied to a main combustion chamber (34) for producing a hydrogen/carbon monoxide/air mixture. The hydrogen/carbon monoxide/air mixture is burned in the main combustion chamber (34).

A small-scale thermoelectric power generator and combustion apparatus, components thereof, methods for making the same, and applications thereof. The thermoelectric power generator can include a burner including a matrix stabilized combustion chamber comprising a catalytically enhanced, porous flame containment portion. The combustion apparatus can include components connected in a loop configuration including a vaporization chamber; a mixing chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; a combustion chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; and a heat exchanger connected to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber can include a porous combustion material which can include a unique catalytic material.

A burner system for a cooking device has at least one burner surface wherein the at least one burner surface is designed in such a way that the burner system has a low minimum power density with homogeneous temperature distribution at the same time. In a first aspect, the burner system includes a fuel supply and a first burner surface for burning the fuel that is provided downstream of the fuel supply. The burner system includes a second burner surface for afterburning that is separate from the first burner surface and is provided downstream from the first burner surface. Moreover, a method for operating the burner system is shown.

A burner system for a cooking device has at least one burner surface wherein the at least one burner surface is designed in such a way that the burner system has a low minimum power density with homogeneous temperature distribution at the same time. In a first aspect, the burner system includes a fuel supply and a first burner surface for burning the fuel that is provided downstream of the fuel supply. The burner system includes a second burner surface for afterburning that is separate from the first burner surface and is provided downstream from the first burner surface. Moreover, a method for operating the burner system is shown.

A small-scale thermoelectric power generator and combustion apparatus, components thereof, methods for making the same, and applications thereof. The thermoelectric power generator can include a burner including a matrix stabilized combustion chamber comprising a catalytically enhanced, porous flame containment portion. The combustion apparatus can include components connected in a loop configuration including a vaporization chamber; a mixing chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; a combustion chamber connected to the vaporization chamber; and a heat exchanger connected to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber can include a porous combustion material which can include a unique catalytic material.