Abstract: Apparatus for burning fuel comprises a conduit having an outlet end for supplying a fuel/air mixture to a fuel burning zone. A nozzle structure is provided adjacent the outlet end of the conduit mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot axis extending transversely across the conduit. The nozzle structure has an inlet end portion surrounding the outlet end of the conduit and has a plurality of separate outlet sections joining the inlet end portion. Swirl vanes are mounted in each of the outlet sections for causing the fuel/air mixture in adjacent outlet sections to swirl about respective central swirl axes of the outlet sections in opposite directions.

Abstract: A furnace, a burner and a method for burning pulverized coal in a highly efficient and precisely controlled manner includes a tubular nozzle with a venturi flow control adjacent the outlet for directing a primary air and coal mixture into a primary combustion zone of the furnace for burning. A coal spreader is mounted in the divergent outlet section of the venturi and swirl vanes on the spreader divide and form the stream into plurality of fuel rich and fuel lean streams discharged into the combustion zone. A tubular conduit in coaxial alignment around the coal nozzle directs a swirling flow of secondary air into the combustion zone around the primary combustion zone and a plurality of tertiary air conduits spaced outwardly of the secondary air conduit are provide to introduce directionally controllable streams of tertiary air into the combustion zone.

Abstract: A new and improved burner for pulverized coal comprises a tubular nozzle for containing a primary, flowing stream of coal/air mixture having an outlet for discharging the stream into a combustion zone of a furnace. A venturi is mounted in the nozzle having a convergent section, a throat, and divergent flow section adjacent the outlet. The convergent section concentrates the pulverized coal toward a central portion of the flowing stream in the throat of the venturi. A conical flow spreader is mounted in the divergent section and includes a hollow, open outer end.

Abstract: A method of burning pulverized coal and other fuels comprises the steps of containing a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture received adjacent an inlet end of a tubular nozzle for discharge at an outlet end into a combustion zone of a furnace for burning. The stream is accelerated in a convergent venturi section upstream of the outlet to distribute and concentrate the coal particles toward a central portion of the venturi in a minimum area throat, followed by decelerating the flow downstream of the venturi throat in a convergent flow section while forming a shallow, annular, conically shaped flow pattern around a hollow spreader cone mounted in the convergent section.