Development of energy efficient porous medium burners on surface and submerged combustion modes

Two compact premixed LPG burners based on submerged and surface combustion modes in porous medium (abbreviated as MSB and SSB respectively) are developed and their combustion and emission characteristics are compared to those of the CB (conventional burner). The preheating and reaction zones of MSB are made from porcelain form and Alumina spheres of 30 mm size, respectively, and the corresponding zones in SSB are made from Alumina (Al2O3) foams of pore densities 26 ppcm and 8 ppcm. NOx emission is reduced by 76% and 75% by the use of MSB and SSB, respectively, compared with the CB, with acceptable CO and SO2 emissions. For a thermal load of 0.62 kW, the thermal efficiencies of CB, MSB and SSB are estimated to be 47%, 59% and 71%, respectively.

► PM (Porous medium) burners on submerged and surface combustion modes are developed.
► The performance of the PM burners is compared with a conventional burner (CB).
► The PM burners could reduce the NOx emission by 75–76% compared to the CB.
► The maximum thermal efficiency achieved is 71%, at the surface combustion mode.
► No ‘flame flash-back’ is observed during a continuous operation of three hours.