Hi:

I’m thinking of hypothetical oxyhydrogen-fired radiant heater in which
the significant emitter of thermal radiation is the flame itself.

In terms of oxidant/fuel ratio, the flame is lean – more oxygen than
hydrogen. Oxygen [O2] is the only oxidant to burn the fuel.

Each and every molecule of the hydrogen is fully-oxidized by the
oxygen. There is also an additional oxygen pumped in with the
oxyhydrogen mixture to ensure that there all hydrogen molecules are
completely burned into water molecules. This is so that there is no
unburned hydrogen to any extent.

There are 6 sides to this radiant heater. Left, right, back, front,
up, and down. The height of the left, right, front and back are the
same. The top and bottom are shorter in length than the heights of the
aforementioned. However, the top and bottom are of the same width as
the widths of the left and right. The front of the heater is what
faces the object intended to be heated. The front consists of eco-
friendly material that is completely transparent to all EM radiation
from 100,000 nm to 300 nm. The interior of the back of the heater
consists of eco-friendly material that completely reflects all
wavelengths of EM radiation from 100,000 nm to 300 nm. The interiors
of the left and right of the panel also consist of eco-friendly
material that totally reflects wavelengths of EM radiations from
100,000 nm to 300 nm. The bottom of the panel is where the flame is
emitted. The length of the flame is almost as long as the bottom of
the panel. The top of the panel is where hot gases from the combustion
escape – this is the exhaust and is as long as the flame. The material
on the front of this heater has a low-enough heat conduction
coefficient that it remains perceptibly cool even though it allows
thermal radiation to escape outward.

There are three pipes attaches to the bottom of this heater. One
carries the hydrogen, while the other two carry oxygen.

This infrared heater is air-tight prior to combustion. Also, prior to
combustion, the only gas present in the heater is additional amount of
oxygen. There is a sufficient amount of oxygen [but not more] such
that the air pressure inside the heater equates to the air pressure
outside the heater – this is to prevent any damage to the heating
panel caused by pressure differences. Just before ignition of the
fuel, the correct amount of oxygen is removed such that the high-
temperature of the flame does not raise the internal air pressure to
the point of damage. Also, the ignition is smooth and completely non-
explosive. Just prior to the ignition, an adequate amount of hydrogen
and oxygen are discharged into the heater in the slow, smooth,
continuous manner. Now, when the amount of the oxyhydrogen mixture is
enough for ignition and self-sustaining combustion, an electric spark
is discharged which causes the fuel to catch fire. The amount of flame
is adjustable in terms of height and width – however the length is
constant. At the lowest setting there is just enough flame for the IR
radiation to be perceptible as warmth. At the highest setting the
flame nearly fills up the entire heating panel.

I’m thinking of two applications for this radiant heater:

1. Use mild versions of the heater in cold parts of the world in
outdoor public places to keep citizens warm – such as the roof-tops
dining locations of restaurants in Northern Europe, where the climate
is often cold and wet.
2. More intense versions of this heater can be used to cook food
"medium rare". Think charred pork that’s bloody red on the inside.


Thanks,

Green Xenon