摘要 |
A portable catalytically heatable appliance is provided. The appliance includes a catalyst support structure to flamelessly combust liquid or gaseous fuel and thereby provide a lower temperature heat source than a heat source that combusts fuel via flame. The fuel is ignited inside the catalytic support structure by a spark electrode. The ignition of the fuel inside the structure obviates the need for separate flame arresters. The ignition system includes a piezoelectric device that causes a voltage potential to form between the electrode and the catalytic support structure. A spark jumps from the electrode to an interior surface of the structure and ignites the fuel inside the structure, causing a flame to propagate. The flame heats the catalytic structure to an activation temperature, after which the fuel is combusted flamelessly on the surface of the catalytic structure. |