Abstract: A method of effecting burning is described wherein combustible materials are introduced into a vortex having a high pressure periphery and a lower pressure center, or are caused to form such a vortex and there is provided further fluid to provide for the combustion of this material, and the mixture is ignited whilst in the vortex. A variation of this is method of effecting burning which includes the step of introducing as a burnable mixture, a mixture into a vortex of a type having an outer periphery with a higher pressure than its pressure at a center of the vortex. The methods are useful for generating heat, steam or disposal of wastes.