METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LEAN PREMIXED/PREVAPORIZED COMBUSTION

摘要

A method of combusting an endothermic fuel (20) in a lean premixed/prevaporized combustion system includes transferring thermal energy from a combustion air stream (16) to an endothermic fuel decomposition catalyst (2) to cool the combustion air stream (16) and heat the fuel (20) and catalyst (2) to a temperature sufficient to endothermically decompose an endothermic fuel (20). The catalyst (2) is contacted with fuel (20) to cause the fuel (20) to endothermically decompose into a reaction product stream (22). The reaction product stream (22) is mixed with the cooled combustion air stream (16) to form a well-mixed, uniformly lean fuel/air mixture and the fuel/air mixture is combusted at an equivalence ratio of less than 1 to produce a combustion product stream (28). The invention also includes a system for practicing the method.