Self-igniting burners

Claim 1

A self-igniting flameless gas burner comprising, in combination: a burner body having an outlet; a gas permeable catalyst support plate forming a support for a load and being impregnated with a catalyst which is active with hydrogen affixed to said burner body so as to close said outlet therein, said catalyst support plate having a number of parallel, recessed grooves formed in its top surface, the bottom walls only of said recessed grooves being impregnated with said catalyst, the top surface of said catalyst support plate with the exception of the area defined by said bottom walls of said recessed grooves being sealed to prevent fuel gas from permeating through it and escaping to the atmosphere; a source of fuel gas coupled into said burner body, control means for controlling the flow of fuel gas from said source into said burner body, a source of hydrogen for providing and mixing hydrogen with the flow of fuel gas into said burner body, and means for controlling the flow of hydrogen from said source of hydrogen, said fuel gas and hydrogen permeating through said catalyst support plate from the underside thereof and said hydrogen in doing so reacting with said catalyst impregnated therein and heating said catalyst support plate to a temperature sufficient to cause combustion of said fuel gas to further heat said catalyst support, whereby combustion of said fuel gas is initiated without the need of any external ignition source and without the need for producing a flame.