This paper deals with the performance tests of a PRB (porous radiant burner) used for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) domestic cooking stoves. The burner consists of a two-layer porous media. The combustion zone is made up of silicon carbide, and alumina balls forms the preheating zone. For a given burner diameter, the performances of the burner, in terms of thermal efficiency and emission characteristics, are analysed for different equivalence ratios and thermal loads (wattages). The water boiling test as prescribed in the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standard): 4246:2002 was used to calculate the thermal efficiency of both the conventional LPG cooking stoves and the PRB. The maximum thermal efficiency of the LPG cooking stoves with a PRB was found to be 68% which is 3% higher than that of the maximum thermal efficiency of the conventional domestic LPG cooking stoves. Unlike the conventional LPG stoves, for which the CO and NOx emissions were found in the ranges 400-1050 mg/m(3) and 162-216 mg/m(3), respectively, for the one with PRB, the same were in the ranges of 25-350 mg/m(3) and 12-25 mg/m(3). The axial temperature distribution in the burner showed that the reaction zone was close to the interface of the two zones and at a higher thermal load, it shifted towards the downstream. The surface temperature of the PRB was found to be uniform. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.