Gas Research Institute

John J Lannutti

Robert M Kendall

John P Kesselring

Richard J Schreiber

Michael A Lukasiewicz

A fiber matrix burner and method of manufacture in which a shaped burner element is formed by accreting a slurry onto a foraminous support. The slurry is comprised of ceramic fibers, a binding agent, a vaporizable filler, and a powdered, normally non-flammable aluminum alloy having a melting point between 660.degree. C. and 1,000.degree. C. After the drying and firing, a porous matrix of the fibers is formed which flamelessly combusts a fuel-air mixture. During combustion, the aluminum alloy inhibits growth of alumina crystals on the fiber surface to prolong burner life and, in addition, protects the burner both from extreme temperature and flashback.

Fiber matrix burner composition with aluminum alloys and method of

A gas-fired radiant tube that employs heterogeneous catalytic combustion, and a high combustion efficiency, low NO.sub.x catalytic combustion radiant tube heating system, incorporating the radiant tube, are disclosed. In the system, essentially mirror image, combined inlet/exhaust units containing heat regenerator units are connected at opposite ends of the catalytic combustion tube. Combustion flow is cycled back and forth through the units and the combustion tube so that during any given cycle the hot exhaust gases heat the regenerator in the exhaust side of the flow for preheating the inlet gases during the next, reversed flow cycle and the natural gas fuel is completely oxidized. Thus, the cycled flow completely consumes the fuel and constantly preheats inlet air so that the sytem provides both high combustion efficiency and high thermal efficiency.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

John J Lannutti