High efficiency radiant burner

Abstract

A naturally aspirated, fully aerated radiant burner and optional heat exchanger arrangement where the radiant burner has a generally enclosed cavity defined, at least in part, by fuel gas impermeable surroundings and a lower surface of fuel gas permeable burner element, wherein cavity preferably has two opening exposed to an oxidizer source. Sealingly coupled to openings are mix tubes, each having respective first ends and second ends, wherein first ends occupy openings and second ends extend into and are exposed to cavity. Fuel gas injectors, which during use are in fluid communication with fuel gas, are positioned to introduce fuel gas into mix tubes and entrain only slightly more air than needed for stoichiometric combustion. Pre-combustion gasses migrate to upper surface where stable stoichiometric combustion occurs, resulting in low CO and NOx emissions, increased wind resistance and elevated combustion gas temperatures Connecting the heat exchanger directly to the burner further increases its wind resistance and prevents dilution of the combustion gases by wind or free convection.

1 . A fuel gas burner, for use with a source of fuel gas, comprising:
 a cavity defined, at least in part, by a fuel gas impermeable surrounding and a fuel gas permeable burner element having an interior surface exposed to the cavity and an exterior surface exposed to the environment, wherein the fuel gas impermeable surrounding has at least one opening;   a mixing element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fluidly coupled to the at least one opening and the second end is fluidly coupled to the cavity; and   a fuel gas injector, operatively coupled to the source of fuel gas, at or proximate to the first end of the mixing element for injecting fuel gas there into, whereby introduction of pressurized fuel gas by the injector into the mixing element and entrainment of an oxidizer from the first end of the mixing element creates a volume of pressurized pre-combustion gas within the cavity, which diffuses from the interior surface of the burner element to the exterior surface of the burner element.   
   
   
       2 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the source of fuel gas is a portable bottle of fuel gas and the burner is characterized as portable by a single person. 
   
   
       3 . The burner of  claim 1  further comprising at least one heat transfer post thermally linked to at least part of the fuel gas impermeable surrounding. 
   
   
       4 . The burner of  claim 3  wherein the at least one heat transfer post is disposed in the path of the pre-combustion gas exiting from the mixing element. 
   
   
       5 . The burner of  claim 1  further comprising a non-planar shielding element proximate to the burner element 
   
   
       6 . The burner of  claim 1  further comprising a thermal fuse for occluding a fuel gas passage between the source of fuel gas and the fuel gas injector. 
   
   
       7 . The burner of  claim 6  wherein the thermal fuse comprises a eutectic alloy. 
   
   
       8 . The burner of  claim 6  wherein the thermal fuse is radially constrained. 
   
   
       9 . The burner of  claim 6  further comprising a check valve having a seat and a plug wherein the thermal fuse is located between the seat and a reacting structure. 
   
   
       10 . A system according to any of the previous claims and further comprising a heat exchanger adapted to mate with a housing portion of the burner. 
   
   
       11 . A heating system comprising:
 a cavity defined, at least in part, by a fuel gas impermeable surrounding and a fuel gas permeable burner element having an interior surface exposed to the cavity and an exterior surface exposed to the environment, wherein the fuel gas impermeable surrounding has at least one opening;   a mixing element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fluidly coupled to the at least one opening and the second end is fluidly coupled to the cavity;   a fuel gas injector, operatively coupled to the source of fuel gas, at or proximate to the first end of the mixing element for injecting fuel gas there into, whereby introduction of pressurized fuel gas by the injector into the mixing element and entrainment of an oxidizer from the first end of the mixing element creates a volume of pressurized pre-combustion gas within the cavity, which diffuses from the interior surface of the burner element to the exterior surface of the burner element; and   a fluid container comprising an integral heat-exchanger adapted to engage with a housing portion of the burner.