Combustion by Free Flames Versus Combustion Reactors

In its efforts to optimize combustion processes, the Institute of Fluid Dynamics in Erlangen (LSTM-Erlangen) has succeeded in developing the technology of combustion in porous media. This technology does not operate with free flames. The entire combustion takes place in a porous matrix, which builds a combustion reactor. This technique stands out for the combination of advantages that no other modern burner technology can show so far, including an extremely high variable power dynamic range (1 : 20) combined with minimum waste gas emissions (NOx < 25 mg/kWh, CO < 3 mg/kWh) and a very compact size (15 times smaller than present compact burners). The concept of porous burner technology is briefly described in the present article. Starting with the general principles, the basic design as well as the structures and the properties of materials that are suitable for the combustion in porous media are described. Additionally, some important fields of application for this novel technology are outlined.