Abstract: Method of operating a combustion furnace comprising at least one pair of particulate fuel burners positioned opposite one another across a combustion zone, whereby each burner of a pair operates in turn to generate a flame directed at the other inactive burner of the pair so as to locally overheat the burner block of the inactive burner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combustion furnace that comprises a combustion chamber defining a combustion zone within the combustion chamber and having at least one chamber wall facing the combustion zone, and at least one main particulate fuel burner mounted in a chamber wall and adapted to generate in the combustion zone a main flame directed away from the chamber wall by injecting oxidant in gaseous form and fuel in particulate form into the combustion zone for combustion therein. With regard to the combustion chamber, the main particulate fuel burner has associated therewith at least one auxiliary burner mounted in the burner wall. The auxiliary burner is located in the vicinity of the main particulate fuel burner and is adapted to generate an auxiliary flame in the combustion zone located proximate the chamber wall and at least partially directed towards the main particulate fuel burner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for operating a combustion furnace, wherein the combustion furnace comprises a combustion chamber defining a combustion zone within the combustion chamber and having at least one chamber wall facing the combustion zone, and at least one particulate fuel burner mounted in a chamber wall and adapted to generate a flame in the combustion zone by injecting oxidant in gaseous form and fuel in particulate form into the combustion zone for combustion therein. In the process, at least one particulate fuel burner is operated so as to alternate between a first phase in which the burner generates a wide flame proximate the chamber wall into which the burner is mounted and a second phase in which the burner generates a narrower flame directed away from the chamber wall into which the burner is mounted.