Abstract: In a combustion apparatus having multiple primary fuel inputs and a flue gas exhaust, a method for controlling combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber in which a concentration of at least one flue gas component indicative of fuel/oxidant ratio in flue gases is measured at a plurality of locations proximate the flue gas exhaust, each location corresponding to one of the primary fuel inputs. An overall average concentration of the at least one flue gas component is then determined, based upon which a delta value, the difference between the overall average and the flue gas component concentration at each location, for the at least one flue gas component at each of the locations is determined. Based upon the delta values obtained, the fuel input rate is adjusted as necessary for each of the primary fuel inputs, such that the delta value is either reduced or increased to zero.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for low-NOx combustion of a pulverized solid fuel in which combustion products from a partial oxidation combustor are mixed with a pulverized solid fuel, thereby preheating the pulverized solid fuel and resulting in devolatilization of at least a portion of the pulverized solid fuel. The preheated pulverized solid fuel and the devolatilization products are then burned in a burner firing directly into a combustion chamber.