METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING FOAMED LIQUID FUEL

摘要

A method and apparatus for high-efficiency burning of a liquid fuel such as kerosine after it has been foamed. The fuel is converted into a fine foam by supplying foaming air thereinto through a porous element having a mean pore diameter of l - 200 .mu.m and air sufficient for ensuring complete combustion is separately supplied to a combustion chamber. The foaming air is passed through the porous element at an apparent velocity of 0.01 - 1 m/s. The porous element is a sintered metal body having a density of 4 - 6 g/cm3 and a void ratio of 35 - 45% or a ceramic body having a density of 2.0 - 5.0 g/cm3 and an apparent porosity of 15 - 45%. The method and apparatus enable ignition, prolonged continuous combustion and extinguishment to be conducted stably and with exceedingly low generation of CO, NOx and soot, and, as such are applicable to oil space heaters and industrial boilers.