Thermal recombiner

Claim 1

Apparatus for thermally recombining gases, said apparatus comprising: a first chamber provided with heating means for initially heating the gases to be combined to a temperature above the threshold for thermal recombination of said gases; a second chamber comprising: an outer shell having closed ends, a generally cup-shaped member mounted coaxially within said outer shell in spaced relation with said outer shell, gas inlet means positioned to deliver gases into said cup-shaped member and cause mixing of reacted gases in said second chamber with the gases being delivered thereto, an open-ended shroud encircling said gas inlet means to form a venturi section and provide for mixing a portion of the previously reacted gases with the gases delivered through said gas inlet means, and gas outlet means communicating with the space between the closed end of said cup-shaped member and the adjacent end of said outer shell for removing reacted gases from said second chamber; a passageway to provide communication between said first chamber and said second chamber gas inlet means; a temperature sensing means associated with said second chamber for sensing the temperature therein; and a temperature control means for controlling said first chamber heating means in response to the temperature sensed in second chamber by said temperature sensing means to substantially maintain a desired temperature in said second chamber.