Box heater including a perforated flame holder

Abstract

An enclosed heater includes a plurality of tubes (or a continuous serpentine tube) and a perforated flame holder within an interior volume. The plurality of tubes carries a working fluid. The perforated flame holder supports a combustion reaction of fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder and radiates heat to the tubes to heat the working fluid.

1 . An enclosed heater, comprising:
 one or more walls defining an interior volume;   a plurality of tubes positioned within the interior volume along one or more of the walls and configured to carry a working fluid;   a first fuel and oxidant source configured to output fuel and oxidant; and   a first perforated flame holder positioned to receive the fuel and oxidant, the first perforated flame holder being configured to support a majority of a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the first perforated flame holder and to transfer heat to the tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first perforated flame holder includes:
 an input face proximal to the first fuel and oxidant source;   an output face opposite the flame holder; and   a plurality of perforations extending from the input face to the output face and configured to receive the mixture of fuel and oxidant and to support the majority of the combustion reaction within the perforations.   
     
     
         3 . The enclosed heater of  claim 2 , wherein the first perforated flame holder is positioned laterally from the first fuel and oxidant source. 
     
     
         4 . The enclosed heater of  claim 2 , wherein the first perforated flame holder is positioned vertically from the first fuel and oxidant source. 
     
     
         5 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a second fuel and oxidant source configured to output fuel and oxidant; and   a second perforated flame holder positioned to receive the fuel and oxidant from the second fuel and oxidant source, the second perforated flame holder configured to support a majority of a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant from the second fuel and oxidant source within the second perforated flame holder and to transfer heat to the tubes.   
     
     
         6 . The enclosed heater of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first perforated flame holder is positioned laterally from the first fuel and oxidant source;   the second perforated flame holder is positioned laterally from the second fuel and oxidant source; and   the first and second perforated flame holders are positioned to transfer heat to each other.   
     
     
         7 . The enclosed heater of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a partial partition separating the first perforated flame holder from the second perforated flame holder along a line of sight between the first and second perforated flame holders;   wherein the partial partition is configured to receive heat from the first and second flame holders, reach an elevated temperature, and radiate heat energy to the tubes.   
     
     
         8 . The enclosed heater of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first perforated flame holder is positioned above the first fuel and oxidant source; and   the second perforated flame holder is positioned above the second fuel and oxidant source.   
     
     
         9 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is crude oil. 
     
     
         10 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosed heater is a crude oil pipeline heater. 
     
     
         11 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes are joined together as a single tube. 
     
     
         12 . The enclosed heater of  claim 11 , wherein the single tube is positioned along the one or more walls in a serpentine fashion. 
     
     
         13 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1 , including four walls and a roof. 
     
     
         14 . The enclosed heater of  claim 13 , including a peaked roof. 
     
     
         15 . The enclosed heater of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of one or more of the plurality of tubes is positioned along a ceiling of the enclosed heater. 
     
     
         16 . The enclosed heater of  claim 13 , including a flue vent in the roof configured to pass flue gas from the combustion reaction from the interior volume to an exterior of the enclosed heater. 
     
     
         17 . The enclosed heater of  claim 13 , wherein the first fuel and oxidant source includes one or more fuel nozzles configured to output the fuel and oxidant onto the first perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         18 . The enclosed heater of  claim 13 , wherein the first fuel and oxidant source includes a premix chamber in which the fuel and oxidant are mixed prior to being output to the first perforated flame holder. 
     
     
         19 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1  wherein the enclosed heater is a cabin heater. 
     
     
         20 . The enclosed heater of  claim 1  wherein the enclosed heater is a cylindrical enclosed heater. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 outputting fuel and oxidant onto a first perforated flame holder positioned within an interior of an enclosed heater, the enclosed heater including one or more walls defining the interior;   supporting a majority of a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the first perforated flame holder;   passing one or more working fluids through a plurality of tubes lining the one or more walls within the interior; and   transferring heat from the first perforated flame holder to the working fluid.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the perforated flame holder includes an input face, an output face, and a plurality of perforations extending between the input and output faces. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the perforated flame holder supports a majority of a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforations. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 outputting fuel and oxidant onto a second perforated flame holder positioned within the interior of the enclosed heater;   supporting a second combustion reaction within the second perforated flame holder; and   transferring heat from the second perforated flame holder to the working fluid.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the working fluid includes a fossil fuel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the working fluid includes water. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the enclosed heater is a box heater. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the enclosed heater is a cylindrical enclosed heater. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the enclosed heater is a cabin heater. 
     
     
         30 . A box heater, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a tube including:
 a first segment positioned external to the enclosure; 
 a second segment positioned within the enclosure; and 
 a third segment positioned external to the enclosure, the second segment connecting the first segment to the third segment, the tube being configured to pass a working fluid from the first segment, through the second segment, to the third segment; 
   a fuel and oxidant source positioned within the enclosure and configured to output fuel and oxidant; and   a perforated flame holder positioned to receive the fuel and oxidant, to sustain a combustion reaction of the fuel and oxidant within the perforated flame holder, and to transfer heat from the combustion reaction to the working fluid as the working fluid passes through the second segment positioned within the enclosure.   
     
     
         31 . The box heater of  claim 30  wherein the enclosure includes one or more walls, the second segment being positioned adjacent to one or more of the one or more walls. 
     
     
         32 . The box heater of  claim 30 , wherein the second segment winds in a serpentine fashion within the enclosure. 
     
     
         33 . The box heater of  claim 30  wherein the enclosure includes a vent configured to pass flue gas from within the enclosure to an exterior of the enclosure.