Burner with Diffuser Resistant to High Operating Temperatures

Abstract

A burner suppliable with a mixture of air and fuel, comprising a diffuser on which holes are made for the passage and subsequent combustion of said mixture, said diffuser being divided into a plurality of diffuser elements adjacent to one another, said diffuser elements are fixable to a support and distribution element provided with first coupling elements for coupling with said diffuser elements and with openings for distributing said mixture to said diffuser elements.

Description

The present invention relates to a burner with a diffuser resistant to high operating temperatures, in particular to a premix burner.

In the burners subject to high operating temperatures, such as for example the premix burners, the high thermal stresses can easily causes deformation and mechanical stresses on the diffuser of the burner, which may cause the diffuser to break. This drawback occurs with any form of diffuser of the burner, but has been shown to be particularly serious in burners with flat diffusers. In order to remedy the above drawback, it has been proposed to use special materials for making the diffuser of the burner, for example a metal mesh or a ceramic material. However, this results in a significant increase in the cost of the burner in the event of use of the metal mesh and significant fragility of the diffuser in the event of use of a ceramic material.

It has also been proposed to divide the diffuser of the burner to reduce mechanical stresses arising from temperature variations during burner operation. Burners of this type are known from patent applications M02003A000180 and M02004A000031, in the name of the same applicant.

In these patent applications burners are disclosed wherein the diffuser of the burner is divided into a plurality of diffuser elements that are adjacent to one another, that are free to expand in at least one direction.

The burners disclosed in the aforementioned patent applications satisfactorily solve the problem of reducing the mechanical stresses generated by the temperature variations to which the diffuser is subjected during operation of the burner and by temperature differences between the various zones of the diffuser; nevertheless, said burners are complex to make and are relatively expensive.

The present invention aims at providing burners of the aforementioned type with divided diffusers that are simpler and cheaper to make.

According to the present invention a burner is provided that is suppliable with a mixture of air and fuel, comprising a burner body provided with a diffuser on which openings are made for the passage and subsequent combustion of said mixture, said diffuser being divided into a plurality of diffuser elements that are adjacent to one another, characterised in that said diffuser elements are fixed to a support and distribution element provided with first mechanical coupling means for coupling with said diffuser elements and with openings for distributing said mixture to said diffuser elements.

Owing to the invention, the construction and assembly of the burner is significantly simplified, in as much as a same element acts as a support for the diffuser elements and as a distributor of the mixture to the diffuser elements and it is therefore no longer necessary to provide a distributing element for each diffuser element. Furthermore, fixing the diffuser elements to said support and distribution element is very simple and rapid to achieve, thus reducing considerably burner assembly time.

Further advantages and features of the invention will be shown by the disclosure that follows that is given merely by way of non-limitative example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view from above of a burner according to the invention, with a substantially flat diffuser;

FIG. 2 is a view from above of a support element of the diffuser of the burner in FIG. 1, that also acts as a distributing element of the mixture with which the burner is supplied;

FIG. 3 is a view from above of a diffuser element of a burner according to the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, a side view and a frontal view of the diffuser element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the diffuser element of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a burner according to the invention, with a prismatic diffuser;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the burner in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the burner in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10, is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a support and distribution element for a burner diffuser according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a burner diffuser made with the support and distribution element of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a support and distribution element for a burner diffuser according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a view from above of the support and distribution element in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a burner diffuser made with the support and distribution element in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a view from above of the burner diffuser in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a support and distribution element for a burner diffuser according to the invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a burner diffuser made with the support and distribution element of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a support frame for a burner diffuser according to the invention;

FIGS. 19-23 illustrate details of the frame in FIG. 18.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a burner diffuser fitted in the frame of FIG. 18;

FIG. 25 is a partial view from above of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is the section XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is the section XXVII-XXVII of FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 25;

FIG. 29 is the section XXIX-XXIX of FIG. 25;

FIG. 30 is a view from above of a further embodiment of burner diffuser according to the invention;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the diffuser in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a side view of the diffuser in FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a view from above of a further embodiment of a support and distribution element for a burner diffuser according to the invention;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of the support and distribution element in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is the section XXXVI-XXXVI in FIG. 34;

FIG. 37 is the section XXXVII-XXXVII in FIG. 34;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a burner diffuser made with the support and distribution element in FIG. 34;

FIG. 39 is a view from above of a burner diffuser according to the invention, which illustrates an alternative arrangement of the diffuser elements on a support and distribution element;

FIG. 40 is a view like the one in FIG. 39, that illustrates a further arrangement of the diffuser elements on a support and distribution element;

FIG. 41 is a view like those in FIGS. 39 and 40, which illustrates a still further arrangement of the diffuser elements on a support and distribution element

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a support and distribution element according to the invention;

FIG. 43 is a view according to arrow F of the support and distribution element in FIG. 42;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a support and distribution element according to the invention;

FIG. 45 is a view according to arrow F1 of the support and distribution element in FIG. 44;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a support and distribution element according to the invention, schematising the coupling to a wall of a heat exchanger, or of a combustion chamber;

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the support and distribution element in FIG. 35, schematising the coupling to a wall of a heat exchanger, or of a combustion chamber.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a burner according to the invention wherein the diffuser 1 consists of a plurality of diffuser elements 2, shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 6, each of which has a substantially open box shape, with an upper face 3 intended to face the outside of the burner, two front faces 4, substantially perpendicular to the smaller sides of the upper face 3 and two side faces 5, 6, substantially perpendicular to the larger sides of the upper face 3. On the upper face 3 openings 7, 8, 9 are made for the exit of the mixture of air and fuel supplied to the burner. Said openings comprise rows of slits 7, for example two rows parallel to one another between which a plurality of holes 8 is arranged. At regular intervals along the rows of slits 7 and holes 8 further slits 9 can be arranged that extend over the entire width of said upper face 18. These further slits 9, in addition to acting as further openings for the passage of said mixture, enable said upper face 3 to absorb heat expansion without being subject to excessive mechanical stresses generated by said expansion. From each of the side faces 5, 6, appendages 10 protrude that are tilted towards the corresponding appendages 10 of the opposite side face, the function of which will be explained below.

The diffuser elements 2 are fitted next to one another on a support and distribution element 11, that may have the form of a flat quadrangular plate, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but may also have a polygonal, circular oval shape and have a convex surface. In the plate 11 slits 12 are made that are arranged in rows that are substantially parallel to one another and are intended to be coupled with the appendages 10 of the diffuser elements 2 to fix the elements in position. The plate 11 is furthermore provided with groups of rows of holes 13, each group being arranged between two rows of slits 12, in such a way as to be level with a diffuser element 2 when the diffuser elements 2 are fitted to the plate 11. The groups of rows of holes 13 distribute the mixture of air and fuel delivered to the burner to the openings 7, 8, 9 of each diffuser element 2, guaranteeing a distribution of the flow of mixture to the aforementioned openings. The rows of slits 12 and the rows of holes 13 can be arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of the plate 11 or tilted in relation to the sides of the plate 11. The plate 11 performs both the function of support to the diffuser elements 2 and the function of distributor of the flow of mixture, which makes the burner structure more compact and makes assembly thereof very simple, it no longer being necessary to provide a separate distributor element for each diffuser element.

The plate 11, with the diffuser elements 2 that are fixed to it, constituting the diffuser 1 of the burner, can be fixed to a support frame, with a shape corresponding to the shape of the plate 11, which will be disclosed below.

The diffuser elements 2 can be made of metal, ceramic material or of any other material resistant to the operating temperatures of the burner. The upper face 3 of the diffuser elements 2, rather than being provided with the openings 7, 8, 9, can be made of porous material with pore dimensions sufficient to ensure the passage of the mixture of air and fuel without excessive load losses.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of a burner according to the invention, in which the diffuser elements 2 are fixed to a support and distribution element 14 with a prismatic shape, which similarly to the plate 11 disclosed previously, also performs the function of distributor of the mixture of air and fuel delivered to the burner. Each face of the support and distribution element 14 is provided with two parallel rows of slits 12, intended to be coupled with the appendages of a diffuser element 2, to fix in position the diffuser element 2 on the respective face of the support element 14. Between the two rows of slits 13 parallel rows of holes 13 are arranged, to distribute the mixture to the openings made on the upper face of the diffuser element 2.

The burner is completed by an upper base and by a lower base that are not shown, in one of which a hole is made for connecting a pipe supplying the mixture of air and fuel.

The support and distribution element 14 may as an alternative have a cylindrical shape, in which the diffuser elements 2 will preferably have a slightly arched shape, in such a way as to define as a whole a diffuser 1 with a substantially cylindrical shape.

In FIGS. 10 to 17 further versions of the support and distribution element in a burner according to the invention are shown.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 a support and distribution element 14a is shown that has an upper face 15 in which a plurality of rows of slits 12 is made for fixing diffuser elements 2; between pairs of rows of adjacent slits 12 rows of holes 13 are made for distributing to the respective diffuser element 2 the mixture of air and fuel supplied to the burner. Both the rows of slits 12 and the rows of holes 13 are arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said upper face 15.

The support and distribution element 14a furthermore has two L-shaped side faces 16, 17 connected to a pair of opposite sides of the upper face 15, to constitute two support feet for the support and distribution element, suitable for example for facilitating the coupling with a support frame and/or adjusting the height of the diffuser of the burner inside a combustion chamber, by varying for example the height H of the side faces 16, 17. In the support and distribution element 14a the rows of slits 12 and the rows of holes 13 are arranged perpendicular to the pair of sides to which the side faces 16 and 17 are connected. In FIGS. 12 to 14 another version of a support and distribution element 14b according to the invention is shown, which differs from the support and distribution element 14a inasmuch as the rows of slits 12 and the rows of holes 13 are parallel to the pair of sides to which the side faces 16 and 17 are connected. A burner according to the invention can be made with a support and distribution element 14a, 14b, with the respective diffuser elements 2 fixed thereto (FIGS. 11 and 14, 15), all fitted in a support frame.

Alternatively, a burner according to the invention can be made with a plurality of support and distribution elements 14a, 14b that are placed near one another and fitted in a containing frame, with the respective diffuser elements 2 fixed to each support and distribution element 14a, 14b.

In FIGS. 16 and 17 a still further version of a support and distribution element 14c is shown that differs from the support and distribution elements 14a and 14b by the fact that it has a box structure with an L-shaped side face 16, 17, 18, 19 connected to each of the sides of the upper face 15; rows of slits 12 and holes 13 are arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of the upper face 15 of the support and distribution element 14c.

The rows of slits 12 and the rows of holes 13 made in the upper face 15 of the support and distribution elements 14a, 14b, 14c can also be arranged tilted in relation to the sides of said upper face 15.

The upper face 15 of the support and distribution elements 14a, 14b, 14c, similarly to the plate 11, may be flat and quadrangular in shape, but also have a polygonal, circular, oval shape and have a convex surface.

FIGS. 18 to 23 show an embodiment of a support and containing frame 21, with which the support and distribution elements 11, 14a, 14b, 14c can be coupled, with the relative diffuser elements 2, to assemble a burner according to the invention.

The frame 21 is a composable frame 21, consisting of two pairs of frame elements 22, 22a; 23, 23a that are assemblable together. Each element 22, 22a of the first pair of frame elements consists of a substantially rectangular flat element 24 a longitudinal edge 25 of which is folded back into a squashed “S” shape, with an upper part 25a having a height a and a lower part 25b having a height b<a.

Each element 23, 23a of the second pair of frame elements also consists of a flat element 26, a longitudinal edge 27 of which is folded back into a non-squashed “S” shape, with an upper part 27a having a height c and a lower part 27b having a height d.

The height c of the upper part 27a of the longitudinal edge 27 is less than the height a of the upper part 25a of the longitudinal edge 25 and the height d of the lower part 27b of the longitudinal edge 27 is greater than the height b of the lower part 25b of the longitudinal edge 25.

The frame elements 22, 22a, 23, 23a are coupled together to form a quadrangular frame, as shown in FIG. 18, by inserting the upper part 27a of each edge 27 of the frame elements 23, 23a inside the upper part 25a of each edge 25 of a corresponding frame element 22, 22a, whereas the lower part 25b of each edge 25 of the frame elements 22, 22a is inserted into the lower part 27b of a corresponding frame element 23, 23a, all as shown in FIG. 19. The fixing of the frame elements 22, 22a, 23, 23a can be achieved by crushing the elements after they have been coupled together and can be reinforced by welding.

FIGS. 24 to 29 illustrate the assembly of a support and distribution plate according to the invention, for example a plate of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Two opposite edges 11a of the plate 11 are inserted inside the upper parts 25a of the longitudinal edges 25, folded into the shape of a squashed “S”, of the elements 23, 23a, of the frame 21, as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, whereas the other two opposite edges 11b of the plate 11 are inserted in upper parts 27a of the longitudinal edges 27, folded into the shape of a non-squashed “S”, of the elements 22, 22a of the frame 21, as shown in the FIG. 29.

When the frame elements are fixed together by crushing, the edges 11a, 11b of the plate 11 remain immobilised in the respective squashed frame elements.

The plate 11 shown in FIGS. 24 to 29 has a slightly convex shape, but the same assembly can be achieved with a flat plate 11, or with a plate 14a, 14b, 14c.

FIGS. 30 to 33 show another diffuser version 28, associable with a frame 21 like the one shown in FIG. 18 and/or a support and distribution plate 11, 14a, 14b, 14c.

The diffuser 28 consists of a plurality of diffuser elements 29 arranged parallel to one another and connected together along the longer sides by elastic-hinge connecting means 30.

The elastic-hinge connecting means 30 are used to absorb the heat expansion generated by the temperature variations to which the diffuser 28 is subjected during burner operation, thus enabling a reduction of the mechanical stresses due to said heat expansion and an increase in the working life of the diffuser 28.

The diffuser 28 may be provided with appendages similar to the appendages 10 of the previously disclosed diffuser elements 2 for coupling with a support and distribution plate 11, 14a, 14b, 14c.

FIGS. 34 to 37 show a further embodiment of a support and distribution element 31 according to the invention, which has an upper face 32 in which a plurality of rows of slits 12 is made for fixing diffuser elements 31; between pairs of rows of adjacent slits 12 rows of holes 13 are made for distribution to the respective diffuser element 2 of the mixture of air and fuel supplied to the burner. Both the rows of slits 12 and the rows of holes 13 are arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said upper face 15.

The support and distribution element 31 furthermore has two side faces 33, 34 connected to a pair of opposite sides of the upper face 32. The side faces 33, 34 are each provided with a recess 35, 36 that extends over the entire length of the respective side face 33, 34. The recesses 35, 36 are suitable for facilitating, for example, coupling with a support frame and/or enabling easy coupling of the support and distribution element 31 with a combustion chamber or a heat exchanger.

The upper face 32 of the support and distribution element 31, similarly to the plate 11 and to the upper face 15 of the support and distribution elements 14a, 14b, 14c, may be flat and quadrangular in shape but may also have a polygonal, circular, oval shape and have a convex surface.

The diffuser elements 2 can be assembled on the support and distribution elements 11, 14a, 14b, 14c, 31, not only in configurations shown in FIGS. 1, 11, 14, 15, 17, 38, but also according to any other configuration. Certain non-limitative examples of other configurations of the diffuser elements 2 are illustrated in FIGS. 39, 40 and 41.

FIG. 39 illustrates a support and distribution element 11, on which three groups of diffuser elements 31 are arranged.

The diffuser elements 2 of each group are parallel to one another whereas the diffuser elements 2 of the central group are oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the diffuser elements 2 of the other two groups.

FIG. 40 illustrates a support and distribution element 11 on which two groups of diffuser elements 2 are arranged that are separated by a space S free of diffuser elements.

FIG. 41 illustrates a support and distribution element 11, on which four groups of diffuser elements 2 are arranged tilted in relation to the sides of the support and distribution element and delimiting a central space S1 free of diffuser elements 2.

The slits 12 and the holes 13 on the support and distribution element must be arranged in such a way as to correspond to the arrangement of the diffuser elements 31.

As already said, any other arrangement configuration of the diffuser elements 2 is possible, by distributing in a corresponding manner the slits 12 and the holes 13, the configuration of the diffuser elements 2 thus being adaptable, for example, to the features of the heat exchanger of a boiler in which a burner according to the invention is installed.

FIGS. 42 and 43 illustrate a further version of a support and distribution element 37, that has an upper face 38 in which a plurality of rows of slits 12 is made for fixing diffuser elements 2; between pairs of adjacent rows of slits 12 rows of holes 13 are made for the distribution to the respective diffuser element 2 of the mixture of air and fuel supplied to the burner. Both the rows of slits 12, and the rows of holes 13 are arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said upper face 15. The support and distribution element 37 furthermore has two side faces 39, 40 connected to a pair of opposite sides of the upper face 38. The side faces 39, 40 are each provided with a plurality of recesses 41 arranged on each of said side faces 39, 40. The recesses 41 are suitable for facilitating, for example, coupling with a support frame and/or enabling easy coupling of the support and distribution element 31 with a combustion chamber or a heat exchanger.

FIGS. 44 and 45 illustrate a further embodiment of a support and distribution element 42 according to the invention that differs from the support and distribution element 37 shown in FIGS. 42 and 43 due to the fact that the side faces 39, 40 are provided with a plurality of protrusions 43, having the same function as the recesses 41 made on the side faces 39, 40 of the support and distribution element 37.

FIG. 46 shows a further embodiment of a support and distribution element 44 according to the invention, similar to the support and distribution element 31 shown in FIG. 35, from which it differs due to the fact that the side faces 33, 34 are each provided with respective protrusions 45, 46 that extend along the entire length of the respective side face 33, 34 and which perform the same function as the recesses 35, 36 made in the side faces of the support and distribution element 31.

FIG. 46 furthermore schematically illustrates the fixing of the support and distribution element 44 to a heat exchanger or to a combustion chamber. Fixing occurs by coupling one of the protrusions 45, 46 with a corresponding recess 48 made in a respective wall 47 of the heat exchanger or of the combustion chamber.

FIG. 47 illustrates the fixing of a support and distribution element 31 to a heat exchanger or to a combustion chamber. In this case, fixing occurs by means of coupling of one of the recesses 35, 36 with a corresponding protrusion 49 made in a corresponding wall 47 of the heat exchanger or of the combustion chamber.

Similarly, with reference to the versions of the support and distribution element illustrated in FIGS. 42 to 45, fixing of the support and distribution element 37, 42 to a heat exchanger or to a combustion chamber occurs by coupling of the recesses 41 or protrusions 43 with corresponding protrusions or recesses made on the walls of the heat exchanger or of the combustion chamber.

In the practical embodiment, the materials, the dimensions and the constructional details may be different from those indicated but be technically equivalent without thereby falling outside the legal scope of the present invention.

Claims

1-48. (canceled)

49. A Burner suppliable with a mixture of air and fuel, comprising a diffuser on which apertures are made for the passage and subsequent combustion of said mixture, said diffuser being divided into a plurality of diffuser elements that are adjacent to one another, wherein said diffuser elements are fixable to a support and distribution element provided with first coupling elements for coupling with said diffuser elements and openings for distributing said mixture to said diffuser elements.

50. The burner according to claim 49, wherein said diffuser elements are provided with second coupling elements suitable for coupling with said first coupling elements.

51. The burner according to claim 50, wherein said first coupling elements comprises further openings made in said support and distribution element.

52. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said second coupling elements comprises appendages of said diffuser elements, suitable for coupling with said further openings.

53. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said further openings are arranged in rows, said rows being arranged in pairs, the rows of each pair of rows being parallel to one another.

54. The burner according to claim 53, wherein each pair of rows of said further openings is provided for coupling with the appendages of a diffuser element.

55. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said further openings have the shape of slits.

56. The burner according to any one of claims 53, wherein said openings for distributing said mixture are arranged between said pairs of rows of said further openings.

57. The burner according to claim 56, wherein said openings are arranged in rows parallel to the rows of said further openings.

58. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said support and distribution element has the shape of a quadrangular, circular, polygonal or oval plate.

59. The burner according to claim 58, wherein said plate is flat.

60. The burner according to claim 58, wherein said plate is convex.

61. The burner according to claim 58, wherein said rows of openings and said rows of further openings are arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said plate.

62. The burner according to claim 58, wherein said rows of openings and said rows of further openings are arranged tilted in relation to the sides of said plate.

63. The burner according claim 51, wherein said support and distribution element has a tubular, cylindrical or prismatic shape.

64. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said support and distribution element comprises an upper face and two “L”-shaped side faces, connected to a pair of opposite sides of the upper face, to act as two support feet.

65. The burner according to claim 64, wherein in said upper face a plurality of rows of said further openings is made, between pairs of rows of said further openings rows of said openings being made, both the rows of further openings and the rows of openings being arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said upper face.

66. The burner according to claim 64, wherein in said upper face a plurality of rows of said further openings is made, between pairs of rows of said further openings rows of said openings being made, both the rows of further openings and the rows of openings being arranged tilted in relation to sides of said upper face.

67. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said support and distribution element comprises an upper face and four “L”-shaped side faces, each of which is connected to a respective side of the upper face.

68. The burner according to claim 67, wherein in said upper face a plurality of rows of said further openings is made, between pairs of rows of said further openings rows of said openings being made, both the rows of further openings and the rows of openings being arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said upper face.

69. The burner according to claim 67, wherein in said upper face a plurality of rows of said further openings is made, between pairs of rows of said further openings rows of said openings being made, both the rows of further openings and the rows of openings being arranged tilted in relation to sides of said upper face.

70. The burner according to claim 51, wherein said support and distribution element comprises an upper face and two side faces connected to a pair of opposite sides of the upper face, each of said side faces being provided with connecting means suitable for allowing the connection of said support and distribution element to a heat exchanger or to a combustion chamber.

71. The burner according to claim 70, wherein said connecting means comprises at least a recess obtained in each of said side faces.

72. The burner according to claim 71, wherein said at least a recess substantially extends over the entire length of the respective side face.

73. The burner according to claim 70, wherein said connecting means comprises at least a protrusion obtained in each of said side faces.

74. The burner according to claim 73, wherein said at least a protrusion substantially extends over the entire length of the respective side face.

75. The burner according to claim 70, wherein in said upper face a plurality of rows of said further openings is made, between pairs of rows of said further openings rows of said openings being made, both the rows of further openings and the rows of openings being arranged parallel to a pair of opposite sides of said upper face.

76. The burner according to claim 70, wherein in said upper face a plurality of rows of said further openings is made, between pairs of rows of said further openings rows of said openings being made, both the rows of further openings and the rows of openings being arranged tilted in relation to the sides of said upper face.

77. The burner according to claim 49, furthermore comprising a composable support and containing frame with which said support and distribution elements are couplable.

78. The burner according to claim 77, wherein said frame comprises a first pair of frame elements and a second pair of frame elements that are assemblable together to constitute said frame.

79. The burner according to claim 78, wherein each element of said first pair of frame elements consists of a flat substantially rectangular element a longitudinal edge of which is folded into a squashed “S” shape.

80. The burner according to claim 79, wherein said longitudinal edge comprises an upper part and a lower part, said upper part having a height greater than a height of said lower part.

81. The burner according claim 80, wherein each element of said second pair of frame elements consists of a flat substantially rectangular element a respective longitudinal edge of which is folded into an “S” shape.

82. The burner according to claim 81, wherein said respective longitudinal edge comprises an upper part and a lower part, said upper part having a height lower than the height of said upper part of the longitudinal edge of each frame element of said first pair of frame elements, said lower part having a height greater than the height of said lower part of each frame element of said first pair of frame elements.

83. A support and containing frame for a burner, characterised in that it comprises a first pair of frame elements and a second pair of frame elements that are assemblable together to constitute said frame.

84. The frame according to claim 83, wherein each element of said first pair of frame elements consists of a substantially rectangular flat element a longitudinal edge of which is folded back into a squashed “S” shape.

85. The frame according to claim 84, wherein said longitudinal edge comprises an upper part and a lower part, said upper part having a height greater than a height of said lower part.

86. The frame according to claims 85, wherein each element of said second pair of frame elements consists of a substantially rectangular flat element a respective longitudinal edge of which is folded back into a non-squashed “S” shape

87. The frame according to claim 86, wherein said respective longitudinal edge comprises an upper part and a lower part, said upper part having a height lower than the height of said upper part of the longitudinal edge of each frame element of said first pair of frame elements, said lower part having a height greater than the height of said lower part of each frame element of said first pair of frame elements.

88. A burner suppliable with a mixture of air and fuel, comprising a diffuser on which holes are made for the passage and the subsequent combustion of said mixture, said diffuser being divided into a plurality of diffuser elements adjacent to one another, wherein said diffuser elements are connected together by elastic hinge connecting elements.

89. The burner according to claim 88, wherein said diffuser is provided with coupling elements suitable for enabling coupling of said diffuser with a support and distribution element, said support and distribution element being provided with further coupling elements for coupling with said diffuser elements and openings for distributing said mixture to said diffuser elements.

90. The burner according to claim 89, wherein said further coupling elements comprises further openings made in said support and distribution element.

91. The burner according to claim 90, wherein said coupling elements comprises appendages of said diffuser elements suitable for coupling with said further openings of said support and distribution element.

92. The burner according to claim 88, wherein said diffuser elements are made of metal material.

93. The burner according to claim 88, wherein said diffuser elements are made of ceramic material.

94. The burner according to claim 88, wherein said diffuser elements are made of a material with great resistance to the burner's operating temperatures.

95. The burner according to claim 88, wherein said diffuser elements have an upper face made of porous material.

96. The burner according to claim 88, wherein said diffuser elements are arranged on said support and distribution element according to any arrangement configuration.