This is a report on a flameless catalytic heater, for tents; campers and vans.
Having just returned from 3 weeks in western Qld (mid July), some of the nights were fairly (read extremely) cold. So - we decided to look into gas heaters.
The standard heater screws onto a gas cylinder, and burns noisily while glowing red hot (+ flame). A reflector plate directs the heat foward.
We noticed a new type of heater in the camping stores - using a catalyst.
It boasts no flame; gentle heat with the fumes being mainly water vapour and CO2. (there is one previous post on this type).
As you know, most cars use a catalyst in their exhausts. The purpose is to reduce the harmful gases (Nitrous Oxides). As the N-O exhaust gases pass over the surface of the catalyst, they are held long enough for the Oxygen molocules to bond, and release, then the
Nitrogen bond together and release. You start with a noxious gas, and end with two harmless gases - Oxygen and
Nitrogen.
The heater works in a similar manner. The propane gas ( C3 H8) flows over the surface of the catalyst (Platinum). The oxygen from the air combines with the propane to produce heat + H2O + CO2.
The reaction temperature is significantly below the ignition point of the propane - hence no flame.
The head is about 8" (20cm) in diameter, so the heat is radiated from a fairly large surface. I had it alight last night and the only output is a soft, almost inaudible hiss; the heat, and a few small sections glowing a very dull red (only visible because at night all the lights were off).
The web site states it will run 7 hours on the small 16.4 oz cylinder.
You do need to light it to start - appartently the catalyst needs to be at a certain temperature for the reaction to begin. This takes about 10 seconds.
So - for all those campers who want more toys - here is a high tech one that works
well...........................regards..............Keith