Application of Reticulated Metal Foam to Gas Fired Infrared Burners

摘要

MetFlame reticulated metal foams are shown to have advantages over alternative radiating media for gas-fired radiant burners. The metal foam burners are tested back to back with two commercially available infrared burners at identical gas inputs and fuel-air ratios. The heat-up time, infrared output, and exhaust gas pollutant emissions are measured during firing. Independent third party efficiency testing of the metal foam emitter is used as the benchmark for scaling measured relative efficiency differences between the three burners. The results of this study demonstrate that gas-fired infrared burners made from metal foam have faster response time, higher infrared efficiency, and lower CO and NO_x emissions than other commercially available burner technologies.