A liquid-hydrocarbon fuel is used to produce thermal energy by introducing the liquid-hydrocarbon fuel and air to a vaporizer. The liquid-hydrocarbon fuel is vaporized in the vaporizer to produce hydrocarbon-fuel vapor, and the hydrocarbon-fuel vapor and air are blended to form a hydrocarbon-fuel-vapor-and-air mixture. Then, hydrocarbon-fuel-vapor-and-air mixture is introduced to a catalytic combustor including a catalyst, wherein the catalyst promotes oxidation of the hydrocarbon-fuel vapor to form a carbon-dioxide- and water-vapor-containing exhaust and to generate thermal energy. The carbon-dioxide- and water-vapor-containing exhaust and air is then introduced to a recuperator, wherein the recuperator transfers thermal energy from the carbon-dioxide- and water-vapor-containing exhaust to the air to produce heated air.

A burner system, preferably including input plumbing, a combustion region, and an exhaust section. In some embodiments, the burner system can include, be attached to, be configured to couple with, and/or be otherwise associated with a thermionic energy converter (TEC). A method of burner system operation, preferably including operating the burner system in a combustion mode and optionally including operating a TEC.

The present invention provides a carbon dioxide supplier capable of forming a swirl flow of a mixture gas and evenly distributing the mixture gas through porous grating hole of a catalyst for catalyst combustion to maintain uniform temperature throughout the entire volume of the catalyst to maintain stable combustion of carbon. The carbon dioxide supplier comprises: a mixture gas supply unit supplying a mixture gas of air and fuel; a combustion unit combusting the mixture gas supplied from the mixture gas supply unit; and a swirl forming unit 40 extending between the mixture gas supply unit 30 and the combustion unit 50 in anteroposterior direction, the swirl forming unit 40 swirl-flowing the mixture gas introduced into a rear portion thereof from the mixture gas supply unit 30 to the combustion unit 50 provided at a front portion thereof.

The present invention provides a carbon dioxide supplier capable of forming a swirl flow of a mixture gas and evenly distributing the mixture gas through porous grating hole of a catalyst for catalyst combustion to maintain uniform temperature throughout the entire volume of the catalyst to maintain stable combustion of carbon. The carbon dioxide supplier comprises: a mixture gas supply unit supplying a mixture gas of air and fuel; a combustion unit combusting the mixture gas supplied from the mixture gas supply unit; and a swirl forming unit 40 extending between the mixture gas supply unit 30 and the combustion unit 50 in anteroposterior direction, the swirl forming unit 40 swirl-flowing the mixture gas introduced into a rear portion thereof from the mixture gas supply unit 30 to the combustion unit 50 provided at a front portion thereof.

A burner system, preferably including input plumbing, a combustion region, and an exhaust section. In some embodiments, the burner system can include, be attached to, be configured to couple with, and/or be otherwise associated with a thermionic energy converter (TEC). A method of burner system operation, preferably including operating the burner system in a combustion mode and optionally including operating a TEC.

Recuperator burner including a recuperator, which has two separate flow systems provided for guiding counter-flowing fluids, each system including at least one flow channel being open on both sides, and the at least two fluids entering/leaving via intake inputs and offtake outputs at opposite ends of the burner inlet and burner outlet, and one of the fluids is set up by a combustion air to be preheated and the other by an exhaust gas of the burner, wherein the recuperator accommodates the two flow systems in a heat transfer body which is made of one piece and whose jacket-shaped outer wall section at the burner inlet defines a flow pot including said input and output integrally attached.

A startup burner assembly for a recovery boiler, the startup burner assembly includes a housing having a burner end and a second end distal to the burner end; a main fuel conduit disposed within the housing; and at least one high-pressure air conduit disposed within the burner end of the housing. The high-pressure air conduit includes at least one angled air injection nozzle configured to direct high-pressure air exiting the burner end of the startup burner assembly in a rotational direction.

A startup burner assembly for a recovery boiler, the startup burner assembly includes a housing having a burner end and a second end distal to the burner end; a main fuel conduit disposed within the housing; and at least one high-pressure air conduit disposed within the burner end of the housing. The high-pressure air conduit includes at least one angled air injection nozzle configured to direct high-pressure air exiting the burner end of the startup burner assembly in a rotational direction.