Abstract: A burner for combusting gas and/or liquid fuel and air in an enclosure includes a burner block of non-combustible material, such as ceramic material, having a central opening therethrough communicating with a combustion zone. The burner block has a plurality of spaced apart recirculation gas passageways paralleled to and spaced from the central opening, each of the recirculation gas passageways having an injection passageway communicating with the block member central opening. Fuel, which may be liquid and/or gas, is injected into said burner block central opening. Venturi action causes furnace gas to be drawn from the cool fringes of the combustion zone through the recirculation gas passageways for passage back into the central opening wherein air and fuel are thoroughly mixed and cooled for combustion within the enclosure. This recirculation system serves to reduce the temperature and oxygen content of the local combustion process to thereby reduce NO.sub.x production.

Abstract: A burner for combusting fuel gas and air in an enclosure includes a block member of non-combustible material, such as ceramic material, having a central opening therethrough. The block member has a plurality of spaced apart recirculation gas passageways paralleled to and spaced from the central opening, each of the recirculation gas passageways having an injection passageway communicating with the block member central opening. A fuel gas jet is positioned within each of the recirculation gas passageways for injecting fuel gas into the injection passageways to cause the injected fuel gas by Venturi action, to draw furnace gas from the cool fringes of the combustion zone through the recirculation gas passageways for passage back into the central opening after local combustion wherein modified air and fuel gas are thoroughly mixed and cooled for combustion within the enclosure. This recirculation system serves to reduce the temperature and oxygen content of the local combustion process to thereby reduce NO.sub.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in conjunction with boiler flue gases, for generating inert blanketing gases, for safety in the pumping out of hydrocarbons or other flammable liquids from tanks or containers, such as might be used on board ship while unloading liquid fuels, etc. The apparatus comprises a circular vessel with a vertical axes. Coaxial with the outer wall of the vessel is an inner refractory wall of lesser diameter, which houses a combustion zone. Liquid fuel is supplied under pressure axially at the top of the combustion zone and, with atomizer means, a spray of liquid fuel droplets is projected downwardly in the combustion zone. Flue gases from a boiler or similar source is supplied, along with combustion air from a blower, to a plenum upstream of the fuel spray. This provides a downgoing flame inside of the combustion chamber, which flows downwardly, past the bottom edge of the refractory wall, and upwardly in the annular space between the refractory wall and the vessel wall.

Abstract: A regenerative tile structure for fluid fuel burners having a zirconium oxide coated metal flange shaped member providing a central orifice for producing a significant and very rapid increase in flame temperature by guided recirculation of hot flame gases.