Abstract: Burner apparatus for use in controlled low NO.sub.x combustion. Mixing and flow-directing means receive and mix fuel and air provided thereto and form a flow of the resulting combustible mixture. A combustion zone defined by a porous high temperature-resistant matrix includes an input end for receiving the combustible flow. Cooling means are mounted in proximity to the input end of the combustion zone, for maintaining the temperature of the flowing combustible mixture proximate the input end below ignition temperature, thereby limiting the flame produced by combustion in the porous matrix to the downstream side of the cooling means. The method for controlled low NO.sub.x combustion is also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A burner has first and second nozzles communicated with a combustion chamber and defined in a wall structure surrounding the combustion chamber. The first and second nozzles are opposed to each other and positioned adjacent an exit opening of a fuel supply passage that is defined in the wall structure. The burner also has first and second secondary air supply ports defined in the wall structure adjacent the exit of the combustion chamber in opposition to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for profiling the bed of a furnace involves the production of a digital image of the bed and background. The digital image is processed to determine transitions in the image which correspond to transitions between the bed and background and thereby to the boundary of the bed. Bed characteristics, such as the bed profile, the bed height, the slope of the bed and the volume of the bed are determined from the processed image. The image may be displayed for use in controlling the performance of a furnace. In addition, the determined bed characteristics may be compared with reference bed characteristics, with the differences being displayed, used in controlling the operation of the furnace, or in activating an indicator, such as an alarm, in the event the reference and determined bed characteristics differ by a threshold amount.

Abstract: In a premixing burner, which consists of two hollow partial conical bodies (1, 2), which are positioned on one another and have a cone inclination increasing in the direction of flow, the fuel feed takes place via central fuel nozzle (3) and/or via a plurality of fuel nozzles (17), which are placed along the inflow of the combustion air (15) into the interior (14) of the burner. The combustion air (15) itself is a mixture of fresh air and exhaust gas. The fresh air is led up via a first flow funnel (23a, 23b ) and exhaust gas recirculation takes place via a second flow funnel (22a, 22b). These two gases mix with one another before flowing tangentially into the interior (14). An optimum, homogenous fuel concentration over the cross-section arises in the region of the return flow zone (6).

Abstract: Provided is an atomizer-equipped combustion apparatus including an atomizing device for atomizing a fuel, a spray chamber for mixing the fuel atomized by the atomizing device with air to form a mixture, and for moving the mixture downwardly toward an opening at a distal end portion of the spray chamber, and a wind box provided so as to surround a lower portion of the spray chamber for forming a combustion space between itself and the spray chamber, the wind box being provided with a plurality of air supply holes facing a lower portion of the spray chamber. A mixture of external air and a fine spray of fuel produced by the atomizer can be ignited instantaneously by means of a comparatively simple structure, odors produced at igition and extinguishment can be greatly suppressed and a high turn-down ratio can be obtained.

Abstract: An improved fuel burning combustion apparatus and method of combusting a fuel-air mixture wherein the apparatus includes a burner housing having a plurality of angularly adjoined flat wall panels to define a burner chamber of preselected geometric configuration having tangentially disposed combustion air inlets and air turbulence forming areas extending longitudinally along the angularly adjoined flat wall panels to provide a thorough mixing of air and fuel introduced into the burner chamber.

Abstract: A method for reducing the flame temperature of an oxy-fuel burner, such a burner comprising a central oxygen nozzle at least one fuel nozzle radially spaced from the central oxygen nozzle, and at least one peripheral oxygen nozzle at greater radial distance from the central oxygen nozzle than the fuel nozzle, all nozzles being at least substantially parallel, a casing surrounding the nozzles and whose forward end lies in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the burner, and whose rear portion defines an oxygen chamber, and means for the supply of oxygen-containing gas and fuel, respectively, to the nozzles. The peripheral oxygen nozzle is in the form of a Laval nozzle or, if it is an annular nozzle, is of the same cross-sectional variation as the Laval nozzle throughout its entire length.

Abstract: An oxygen-fuel burner is disclosed wherein the atomizing fluid not only atomizes a liquid fuel, but also functions to cool the burner tip and prevent eddying of the atomized fuel from collecting on the burner tip, which could create undesirable high temperatures upon ignition. Further, oxygen may be utilized as an atomizing fluid in view of the fact that the atomization of the fuel is accomplished so close to the discharge end of the burner and the discharge velocity is maintained at such a high level, that the contact time of the oxy-fuel within the burner is extremely short, thereby precluding preignition within the burner. Further, the oxygen itself also functions to cool the burner tip and prevent preignition or cracking of the liquid fuel in the atomizing chamber. The burner may be utilized with carbon dioxide as an atomizing fluid wherein the burner temperature is thus lowered reducing the amount of NO.sub.

Abstract: A combustion process for nitrogen- or for sulphur- and nitrogen-bearing fuels wherein fuel combustion is divided, by staged oxygen (preferably in the form of air) injection, into at least two combustion zones. The first combustion zone involves providing fuel-rich stoichiometric conditions under which nitrogen chemically bound in the fuel (i.e. fuel-bound nitrogen) is substantially converted to molecular nitrogen. The second (final) combustion zone comprises at least two stages. In the first stage of the final combustion zone, combustion products from the first combustion zone are further conbusted under a condition of fuel-rich stoichiometry, preferably at an oxygen/fuel stoichiometric ratio of from about 0.08 to about 1.0 and at a temperature of less than about 2200 K. In the second stage of the final combustion zone, combustion products from the first stage are combusted at an oxygen/fuel stoichiometric ratio of greater than about 1.0 and at a temperature of less than about 1500 K.

Abstract: Low NO.sub.x combustion is effected by a method wherein a fuel, e.g., natural gas, and a source of oxygen, e.g., air, are mixed and the mixture is combusted in at least two successive combustion zones filled with a porous matrix, the void spaces of which provide sites at which substantially all of the said combustion occurs; viz. a first zone wherein the mixture is fuel-rich, and a second zone wherein the mixture is fuel-lean. Preferably, the method utilizes an additional combustion zone which precedes or is upstream of the first zone and is filled with a said porous matrix, wherein the mixture is fuel-lean. Apparatus for low NO.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for burning a liquid fuel by introducing gas into the liquid fuel through capillaries, a porous plate, cloth, a particle layer or the like to bubble the liquid fuel to control the fuel level and simultaneously by supplying combustion air separately to accomplish complete combustion.

Abstract: A high efficiency linear gas burner assembly having a mixture manifold assembly for delivering a combustible gas and air mixture to a burner. The mixture manifold assembly supports an elongate, channel-shaped, secondary air plenum which receives therein a burner housing. The burner housing supports two, spaced, parallel plates, each having apertures therethrough. The gas/air mixture is delivered through the mixture manifold assembly and secondary air plenum to the burner housing where the mixture passes first through the apertures of the lower plate, then between the plates, then through the apertures of the upper plate or burner surface. The size and number of apertures in the upper plate and the space between the plates ensures that the flame remains stable during a wide range of turndown, and that the flame does not retrogress through the burner apertures. Secondary air ports are provided along the interior of the secondary air plenum to provide additional air for combustion.

Abstract: Furnace gas is aspirated through furnace gas conduits (44) to the low pressure throats (42) of the Venturi conduits (41) that move high oxygen content gas to the combustion chamber (28) of the aspirating burner (20). Fuel is injected through fuel conduit (46) to the combustion chamber (28) to mix with the gases and form the flame in the combustion chamber which is emitted at high velocity from the burner into the furnace.

Abstract: Serving drying and gas cleaning processes, and thus also the intermediate heating of gas or flue gas, is a line burner where the fuel gas is fed through a fuel gas pipe and a fuel gas feed to fuel gas manifolds that extends lengthwise in a burner housing and in which fuel gas ports are provided. The necessary primary combustion air flow proceeds through an air manifold, after passing a diffuser plate and an orifice plate into a mixing zone adjacent to the fuel gas ports. Parallel with it, combustion air is fed past the fuel gas manifolds through additional combustion air channels, generating secondary flows of combustion air. Upon flowing around the fuel gas manifolds, these secondary flows are fed to the flame, effecting a dual-stage combustion. Extension plates support angle irons hich lie in spaced relation to the fuel gas manifolds to form a pair of combustion air channels for conducting a portion of the combustion air around the fuel gas manifolds to a downstream location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons in a which a first toroidal vortex of fuel and a combustion supporting gas is created with its center adjacent the axis of an elongated combustor; a second toroidal vortex of combustion supporting gas is generated between the first toroidal vortex; the fuel is burned in the presence of the combustion supporting gas to produce a fuel gas at the downstream end of the combustor; water is introduced into the flue gas adjacent the downstream end of the combustion to produce a mixture of flue gas and water; a major portion of the water is vaporized in a vaporizor to produce a mixture of flue gas and steam; and the mixture of flue gas and steam is injected into a hydrocarbon bearing formation.

Abstract: Two-stage combustion of nitrogen-containing gas with low NO.sub.x emissions, in a combustion chamber, wherein first, pre-combustion is performed in a primary stage at an air number of approximately .lambda.=0.6 to 0.9 and subsequently post-combustion is performed in a secondary stage at an air number of approximately .lambda.=1.3 to 2, characterized in that in the primary stage, an inert substance is supplied via a multiplicity of openings in the walls of the primary stage, which substance cools the walls and keeps the combustion zone remote from the walls.

Abstract: Nitrous oxide emissions are reduced in an industrial thermal process and system which operates a gas fired burner at substantially sub-stoichiometric conditions to produce products of combustion rich in combustibles and control flame temperatures at temperatures which do not exceed predetermined levels. Completion air at stoichiometric proportions is subsequently employed to burn the combustibles. Regenerative and recuperative means to cool gases after each partial combustion step are used to extract heat and use is in conventional heating processes. A novel regenerative heat exchange system is used to extract heat from the gases so that the gases never exceed a temperature whereat nitrous oxide formation tends to occur.

Abstract: A burner nozzle for burning petroleum products. The burner nozzle includes a fluid conduit with an air jacket disposed therearound such that a dead air space is defined therebetween to prevent fluid leakage from entering the air jacket. The burner nozzle comprises a replaceable air jetting assembly which provides an annular stream of air, either cylindrical or conical in configuration, which impinges the fluid stream exiting the nozzle for atomization thereof. The jetting assembly includes a replaceable and interchangeable jetting insert. A swirl chamber is provided in the fluid conduit to impart a swirling motion to fluid flowing therethrough. The swirl chamber is clamped in position on opposite sides thereof so that it is always in compression, thus allowing use of non-weldable materials. One embodiment has a variable air jetting orifice.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel burner provides substantial reduction of nitrogen oxide content in the combustion gases by creating a screen of premix combustion products, by introducing secondary gaseous fuel for admixture with the screen, and by exposing secondary air to the mixture for reaction with the secondary gaseous fuel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultra-low pollutant emission combustion of fossil fuel wherein an elongated cyclonic primary combustion chamber has a cross-sectional area about 4 to about 30 percent that of an elongated cyclonic secondary combustion chamber and a volume about 1 to about 20 percent the combined primary and secondary combustion chamber volume. A first fuel portion of about 1 percent to about 20 percent of the total fuel and primary combustion air in an amount selected from about 40 to about 90 percent and about 140 percent to about 230 percent of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the first fuel portion is introduced into the primary combustion chamber. A second fuel portion of about 80 to about 99 percent of the total fuel is introduced into the secondary combustion chamber with secondary combustion air in an amount of about 150 percent to about 260 percent of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: A burner assembly in which an inlet is located at one end of an annular passage for receiving fuel, and an outlet is located at the other end of the passage for discharging the fuel. A register assembly is provided which includes an enclosure for receiving air and a divider for directing the air from the enclosure towards the outlet in two parallel paths extending around the burner. Registers are disposed in each of the paths for regulating the quantity of air flowing through the paths and an injector is provided in the outer path for injecting sulfur adsorbent into the secondary air stream.

Abstract: Two-stage combustion of nitrogen-containing gas with low NO.sub.x emissions, in a combustion chamber, wherein first, pre-combustion is performed in a primary stage at an air number of approximately .lambda.=0.6 to 0.9 and subsequently post-combustion is performed in a secondary stage at an air number of approximately .lambda.=1.3 to 2, characterized in that in the primary stage, an inert substance is supplied via a multiplicity of openings in the walls of the primary stage, which substance cools the walls and keeps the combustion zone remote from the walls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing radiant heat production of hydrocarbon fuel combustion systems are provided. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a pair of spaced electrodes through which a hydrocarbon fuel gas is flowed. An electrica arc is struck across the electrode gap to pyrolyze a portion of the hydrocarbon fuel gas, leading to the formation of carbonaceous heat radiative bodies which are entrained in the hydrocarbon fuel gas stream. In the presence of an oxidant gas such as air, a turbulent diffusion flame is created having an increased luminous radiant heat output, an improved turn-down ratio, increased flame stability, and reduced nitric oxide emissions. The method and apparatus are particularly adapted to increasing the luminous radiant output of hydrocarbon fuels having a low carbon-to-hydrogen ratio such as natural gas.

Abstract: A combustion method enabling reduced NO.sub.x formation wherein fuel and oxidant are separately injected into a combustion zone in a defined velocity relation, combustion gases are aspirated into the oxidant stream prior to intermixture with the fuel, and the fuel is maintained free from contact with oxygen until the intermixture.

Abstract: A non-water cooled, nozzle-mixed oxy-fuel burner wherein high oxidant velocity and a venturi aspirate or recycle products of combustion through the burner block and mix them into the flowing oxidant stream to act as a diluent and provide mass to moderate flame temperature. The burner includes means in said oxidant stream to improve flame stability.

Abstract: A burner assembly (75) for the combustion of liquid fuels in furnaces (12) and the like. The assembly comprises fuel gun means (78) for creating a mixture of combustible fuel and an atomizing medium and injecting a stream of the mixture into the interior of a furnace; housing means (76) supporting the fuel gun means, attachable to the furnace, so that the combustible fuel mixture is delivered to the interior of the furnace for combustion and for supplying a first flow of air (B) into the furnace separate from the air mixed with the fuel to encompass the injected fuel mixture; and sirler means (79) having a plurality of blades (94) interposed within the housing means so that the first flow moves around and through the blades for imparting a rotation to the first flow of air to break up the stream of fuel mixture.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for catalytic combustion in which a combustible gas stream is mixed with part of the recycled hot product stream and then fed to a combustion zone containing a combustion catalyst, and from which the hot pressurized product is obtained. The recycle is preferably effected by means of a constriction at the end of the inlet gas supply producing a region of lower pressure than the pressure of the product gas.

Abstract: A feed gas which contains H.sub.2 S is combusted with oxygen and air in at least one burner, which opens into a combustion chamber. The resulting gas mixture contains H.sub.2 S and SO.sub.2 and is intended to be converted to elementary sulfur by the Claus process. The combustion chamber is supplied with oxygen through a central tube of the burner, with the H.sub.2 S-containing feed gas through a second tube, which coaxially surrounds the central tube, and with air through a coaxial outer tube. The feed gas supplied to the burner contains H.sub.2 S and at least 5% by volume hydrocarbons or CO.sub.2. Velocities of flow of oxygen of 50 to 250 m/sec. and of the H.sub.2 S-containing feed gas of 10 to 30 m/sec. are adjusted at the outlet of the burner. Temperatures in the range from 2000.degree. to 3000.degree. C. are generated in the core zone of the burner flame. A gas mixture which contains at least 2% by volume CO and at least 8% by volume H.sub.2 and is at temperatures from 1350.degree. to 1650.degree. C.

Abstract: A phase contactor adopted, e.g., for combustion and pollution control, comprises a mixing zone and means for separately injecting and disintegrating at least two gaseous flowstreams therein, a central element within said mixing zone defining an annular space into which said gaseous flowstreams are injected and disintegrated, and a downstream reaction zone.

Abstract: This invention concerns the burning of fuels, such as natural gas, at high temperatures. The invention includes a high-efficiency burner which achieves substantially complete combusiton at modest cost. The burner of the present invention includes a generally cylindrical housing having a central bore and two concentric annular regions. A lance is inserted through the central bore, and protrudes slightly from the front face of the burner housing. The fuel is directed through the inner annular region, and oxygen-enriched combustion air is directed through the outer annular region. Substantially pure oxygen is directed through the lance. The gases in the lance and the annular regions do not communicate with each other within the burner housing, and all burnign takes place outside the housing. The same supply of oxygen can be used to supply the lance and to enrich the combustion air.

Abstract: A gas-injection lance, burner, and method for use in a high temperature heating system which provides a non-axisymmetric flow of a reaction-rate enhancing gas in sufficient proximity to the flame of the system, which extends over the surface to be heated, to create an aerodynamically reduced pressure field sufficient to deform the flame and displace it in the direction of the surface to be heated. The present method provides substantially enhanced heating with the virtual elimination of hot spots.

Abstract: A method for burning a fuel, containing chemically bound nitrogen, in a two-stage, rich-lean combustion process, including; introducing the fuel and at least one stream of primary air into a primary combustion region at a fuel-air ratio above the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to intimately mix the fuel and air and establish a stabilized flame adjacent the upstream end of the primary combustion region, maintaining the flame in the primary combustion region for a period of time sufficient to produce a combustion product mixture containing less than a predetermined amount of NO.sub.x pollutants and abruptly terminating the primary combustion region while introducing at least one stream of secondary air into the secondary region in an amount sufficient to reduce the overall fuel-air ratio below the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to prevent backflow of the secondary air into the primary combustion region.

Abstract: A method of combusting fuel in a furnace having a pair of regenerative burners, each burner having a combustion chamber and a regenerative bed having an exhaust means incorporated therewith introducing simultaneously into said combustion chamber of each burner approximately identical amounts of fuel and approximately identical amounts of oxidizing gases from at least two sources of oxidizing gases having different oxygen concentration to produce two approximately identical flame patterns directed toward the interior of said furnace; terminating the supply of fuel and said oxidizing gases to one of said burners to create a non-firing burner having a non-firing period while maintaining the production of a flame in the remaining burner to create a firing burner having a firing period; applying negative pressure to the exhaust end of the regenerative bed of said non-firing burner to initiate the exhausting of flue gases produced by said firing burner; alternating the introduction of fuel and at least one oxidizin

Abstract: A process and apparatus for oxygen-rich combustion wherein a first portion of about 5 to about 40 percent of the total fuel to be cracked and combusted is introduced to a cracking chamber where it is combusted and cracked at a temperature below about 2200.degree. F. to produce a cracked products mixture. Oxygen-rich gas of greater than about 30 volume percent oxygen is introduced to the cracking chamber in about 5 to about 50 percent of the stoichiometric requirement for complete combustion of the first portion of fuel introduced to that chamber. Cracked products mixture, a second remaining portion of fresh fuel and oxidizer having sufficient oxygen for substantially complete combustion of the combustible portion of the cracked porducts mixture and the fresh fuel are introduced to a combustion chamber wherein the combustible portion of the cracked products mixture and the fresh fuel are combusted.

Abstract: A method for burning a fuel, containing chemically bound nitrogen, in a two-stage, rich-lean combustion process, including: introducing the fuel and at least one stream of primary air into a primary combustion region at a fuel-air ratio above the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to intimately mix the fuel and air and establish a stabilized flame adjacent the upstream end of the primary combustion region, maintaining the flame in the primary combustion region for a period of time sufficient to produce a combustion product mixture containing less than a predetermined amount of NO.sub.x pollutants and abruptly terminating the primary combustion region while introducing at least one stream of secondary air into the secondary region in an amount sufficient to reduce the overall fuel-air ratio below the stoichiometric ratio and in a manner to prevent backflow of the secondary air into the primary combustion region.

Abstract: The pre-combustion chamber (1), in which liquid fuel is burnt sub-stoichiometrically, is connected upstream of a secondary combustion chamber (16), in which complete combustion takes place over-stoichiometrically. The sub-stoichiometric quantity of combustion air (11) for the pre-combustion chamber (2) is injected close to the wall from the outlet duct (3) upwards into the casing (2), which has a heart-shaped axial cross-section. The injection nozzles (7) for the fuel are positioned so that the jets of fuel (8) shield the layer of combustion air close to the wall from the partially burnt combustion mixture flowing through the outlet duct (3) into the secondary combustion chamber (16). At the end of the outlet duct (3) the quantity of auxiliary air required for complete combustion in the secondary combustion chamber (16) is added to the partially burnt combustion mixture.

Abstract: A pulse combustion device wherein pulse combustion of a rich mixture of primary air and gaseous fuel is established without provision of conventional non-return valves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for combusting hydrocarbonaceous fuels such that minimal amounts of NO.sub.x are produced. This is accomplished by combusting the fuel in a first stage at substoichiometric conditions followed by a second stage combustion at conditions to complete combustion wherein the temperature of the combustion gases exiting the first stage is specifically controlled by a heat transfer device so that they are at least 500.degree. F. lower than the combustion temperature of the first stage but not lower than the ignition temperature of the combustion gases exiting the heat transfer device.

Abstract: Gas burner of relatively low power of the blown air and premixture type comprising separate intakes for air and for combustible gas passing into a premixing chamber discharging into a combustion chamber at the level of which the premixture is ignited by means of a lighting electrode, the air intake and combustible gas intake each comprising at least one flow regulating valve. The burner is characterized in that a device having a calibrated orifice of the injector type is provided on the combustible gas intake while a passage of relatively small cross-section, of the diaphragm type, is provided on the air intake. The invention is particularly applicable to installations comprising this burner to serve as a pilot lighting burner.

Abstract: In the method, a process medium (14) is heated in two stages, in which fuel oil and gas premixed with air in a burner device (1) are partially burnt in a preliminary combustion chamber (12) substoichiometrically with an air coefficient (.lambda.) of approximately 0.7. The partially burnt mixture, which is low in nitrogen oxides, reaches a temperature of 1800.degree.-1900.degree. C., heats the process medium (14), which is already preheated to an intermediate temperature, to its final temperature in a heat exchanger (13) with counter-current flow and is cooled to 700.degree.-900.degree. C. In an air injection region (15) of the process heat generator the partially burnt mixture is mixed with quenching air in a stoichiometric ratio with respect to the unburnt fractions and is thereby completely burnt in a secondary combustion chamber (18) during which practically no nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) are produced. It reaches a temperature of 900.degree.-1300.degree. C.

Abstract: A process to combust fuel and oxidant at high efficiency and with low NO.sub.x generation even when the fuel has non-uniform characteristics and the oxidant is pure oxygen, wherein fuel and oxidant are first combusted within a high velocity oxidant-rich jet, fuel is mixed with combustion products in a recirculation zone and the mixture is aspirated into the oxidant-rich jet and combusted in a diffuse secondary flame at the periphery of the oxidant-rich jet.

Abstract: The invention relates to an afterburner apparatus and an incineration system and methods of waste destruction in primary incineration combustion means and afterburner means which both preferably utilize at least two different oxidizing gases. By varying the ratio of said oxidizing gases, the amount of total oxygen and nitrogen delivered in either means can be dynamically adjusted in accordance with the process requirements. Varying the flows of at least two oxydizing gases and auxiliary fuel in both the primary incinerator and afterburner makes it possible to operate the system under fluctuating waste loading conditions, by controlling temperature, partial pressure of oxygen and heat available for the process as a function of said ratio.

Abstract: The emission of NOx, soot and particulates is minimized by combusting fuel in two sequential steps, viz. a first combustion step wherein a number of fuel jets and a substoichiometric amount of combustion air in the form of an equal number of high-velocity air jets are injected into a combustion chamber in such a manner that(a) each fuel jet merges into one high velocity air jet,(b) the characteristic mixing time of each fuel jet is less than about 10.sup.-4 sec, and(c) a plurality of separate fuel/air jets is generated forming at ignition a plurality of primary flames in which a residence time for the fuel of substantially at least 100 ms is maintained;and a second combustion step comprising introducing further combustion air into said combustion chamber for complete combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: A method and firing equipment for burning solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels, especially pulverized coal. The method includes the steps of tangentially introducing main fuel via main burners into a combustion chamber, where the fuel is burned, introducing reducing fuel via reduction burners into the combustion chamber to reduce the nitrogen oxides produced during the combustion of the main fuel, with the reducing fuel being burned under partial stoichiometric conditions, and, to ensure the burning-out of the fuel introduced into the combustion chamber, introducing burn-air above the feed of the main fuel and the reducing fuel, with a helically rising flow being provided in the combustion chamber. The reducing fuel of a given reduction burner is mixed, at a given distance from the opening of the associated main burner, with the curved afflux leaving that main burner for helical flow about the center of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An air register apparatus, method, and arrangement is disclosed in which each air register includes two portions, one of which feeds combustion air to an inner, ignition zone where fuel is first ignited, the other of which feeds combustion air to an outer, supplemental zone where the main combustion takes place. These two register portions provide separate and discrete air streams having measurable characteristics which accurately reflect the characteristics of the overall flow through each register portion and which characteristics govern combustion characteristics in the associated zone. Each air stream passes through an inwardly spiralling scroll passageway having a simple upstream air valve at the entrance to the passageway for controlling the flow of air through the passageway. This upstream air valve is remote from the hostile environment of the furnace or other combustion device.

Abstract: A burner and method is disclosed in which a first oxidizing gas containing a high oxygen concentration is injected as a stream into the central zone of combustion tunnel, and part of the fuel is injected into said central pyrolysis zone to mix with said first oxidizing gas to create a highly luminous, high temperature flame core containing microparticles of carbon of the proper size for maximum luminosity and high temperature, and a relatively small amount of hydrocarbon radicals. In addition, the remaining part of the fuel is injected in a plurality of streams about said flame core to mix with a second oxidizing gas containing a lower oxygen concentration than the first oxidizing gas and injecting said second oxidizing mixture about said flame core and said remaining fuel flow to mix with said remaining fuel flow. This creates a plurality of fuel lean flames which are directed toward said luminous flame core to form a final flame pattern having high temperature, high luminosity and low NO.sub.x content.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for introducing slurry fuels into the combustion zone of high power density combustors, boilers, industrial furnaces or steam generators. Having the general form of an elongate cylinder, the apparatus comprises a central conduit for a flow of particulate carbonaceous fuel suspended in a carrier liquid, and separate annular passageways for an atomizing fluid and a coolant. The slurry flows longitudinally to about the position where it is to be dispersed into the combustion zone, is there divided into a plurality of streams that are deflected to flow individually through a corresponding plurality of radially extending passages and slurry portholes spaced apart around the periphery of the cylindrical structure. Just before these streams leave the injector they are each impinged by a higher-velocity longitudinal flow of atomizing fluid which breaks the filaments of viscous slurry into minute droplets.

Abstract: In a low NO.sub.x stage combustor, the hot fuel rich combustion gases exit the primary combustion chamber through a constriction including a throat portion and pass into a secondary combustion chamber wherein burning is completed by injection of secondary air such as the exhaust from a turbine. Swirl is imparted to the primary gas stream in the primary combustion chamber so as to cause the primary gas stream to fill the entire primary combustion chamber and for increasing the residence time within the primary chamber for reducing fuel NO.sub.x emissions. Swirl suppression means are employed in the throat of the flow constrictor, between the primary and secondary combustion chambers, for suppressing swirl in the outermost regions of the primary gas stream so as to reduce turbulent mixing with the injected, secondary air thereby reducing the peak flame temperature in the secondary combustion chamber and for reducing thermal NO.sub.x emissions.

Abstract: A flame retention head assembly for use in a fuel burner having a fuel nozzle mounted coaxially within an air pipe. This assembly comprises a continuously contoured, outwardly diverging flame retention head mounted concentrically within the air pipe in front of the fuel nozzle. This head successively defines, starting from its inlet end: an air-and-fuel mixture chamber; a first expansion chamber; a throttle and a second expansion chamber. A spinner plate is mounted transversely across the inlet end of the head. This plate comprises a central ring provided with a central hole having a diameter substantially identical to the one of the fuel nozzle, and a plurality of blades regularly distributed around the ring to cause air to enter and swirl into the mixture chamber. A round-shaped deflector is also mounted concentrically transversally within the retention head, to cause the air and fuel entering the head through its inlet end to stay longer within the first or second expansion chamber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high temperature heating, melting, refining and superheating of materials, such a steel scrap, metals, ceramics or glass. The invention provides an economizing method of hydrocarbon fluid fuel combustion in an ongoing flame in a liquid cooled combustion chamber by separately supplying streams of fuel and at least two oxidizing gases wherein a first oxidizing gas reacts with the fuel, and a second oxidizing gas is directed about the flame core to further react with the fuel, while controlling the flow of the fuel, the oxidizing gases and cooling liquid to provide the required heat input, combustion product chemistry, temperature, velocity, emissivity and combustion block temperature. Also disclosed are burners for carrying out the invention.