Abstract: A low NO.sub.x, integrated boiler-burner apparatus includes a horizontally fired, factory assembled package boiler having an inlet plenum and a furnace space is provided with a multi-nozzle burner (MNB) array including a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced burner nozzles located at an entrance to the furnace space for supplying fuel for combustion into the furnace space. The MNB array distributes the heat of the combustion exhaust gases across the furnace space for minimizing NO.sub.x formation. One or more chill tube assemblies are located within the furnace space just downstream of the MNB array for rapidly reducing the temperature of the combustion exhaust gases. Alternatively, laterally perforated internal air duct assemblies can also be provided within the furnace space alone or in combination with the chill tube assemblies in various arrangements to provide staged air for completing combustion in the furnace space.

Abstract: The loader device comprises a cartridge-carrying carousel provided with a set of cartridge-holders in which sealed closed cartridges are mounted in removable manner, each cartridge being designed to contain a sample for processing in a space furnace, the device further comprising a control mechanism for imparting indexed rotary drive to the cartridge-holders. The carousel is mounted to one side of the furnace in such a manner that its axis of rotation is parallel to longitudinal axis of the furnace. Each cartridge-holder of the carousel co-operates with a transfer mechanism that includes a translation arm extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the carousel to enable each cartridge to be brought successively into a working position in which the axis of the cartridge is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the furnace. The control mechanism for imparting rotary drive to the cartridge-holders and the transfer mechanism are activated alternately by a single electric motor.