Patent ID: 8479508

Claim:
A catalytic reactor apparatus for generating heat and transferring the heat to a heater head of a Stirling engine, the apparatus comprising the following components: (a) a housing comprising a combustion chamber; (b) a fuel inlet means for feeding a fuel into the chamber; (c) an oxidant first inlet means for feeding an oxidant into the chamber; (d) a combustion catalyst positioned within the chamber in fluid communication with the fuel and oxidant inlet means; (e) a heat acceptor surface positioned within the chamber downstream from the catalyst, the heat acceptor surface positioned in thermal communication with a heater head of a Stirling engine; (f) a heat spreader positioned in between the catalyst and the heat acceptor surface and contacting both the catalyst and the heat acceptor surface; (g) an ignition means positioned within the chamber for igniting the catalyst and thus initiating flameless combustion of the fuel with the oxidant; and (h) one or more outlet means for exhausting combustion gases from the chamber.