An experimental and theoretical study of a porous-matrix combustor-heater

The surface combustor-heater is a combined combustion/heat-transfer device in which the heat-exchange surfaces are embedded in a stationary bed (porous matrix) of refractory material where gaseous fuel is burned. An experiment is being conducted on a 60-kWth benchscale surface combustor-heater to evaluate its performance and explore the mechanism of combined convectiveradiative heat transfer and its interaction with combustion in the porous matrix. To support the ongoing experimental program at IGT and to aid in scale-up of the small laboratory test stand to a commercial-size unit, a parallel theoretical model development is being pursued. A preliminary analytical study has established the feasibility of such a model. The primary objective of the research is to develop a theoretical computational model to simulate combustion and heat transfer in the porous bed and to predict convection conduction-radiation heat transfer in the combustor heater. The validated computer program will be used for parametric studies and scale-up calculations.