Abstract: A superemissive combustion device of this invention comprises a porous distributive layer and an apparatus for delivering a fuel/oxidizer mixture to an upstream face of the porous distributive layer. A superemissive advanced emissive matrix in is disposed within an active flame zone downstream from the porous distributive layer. The emissive matrix is in the form of a three dimensional matrix of radiating bodies that is optically thin to electromagnetic radiation. The emissive matrix is either formed from or includes a coating of a superemissive material that is selected to emit photons within a predetermined wavelength range when thermally stimulated. The emitted photons are received by one or more photovoltaic cells disposed adjacent the matrix.

Abstract: A nozzle for a recuperative radiant tube burner system is constructed to provide uniform combustion along the length of the inner tube. The nozzle includes combustion air ports disposed at compound angles and having different axial components to provide staged mixing of air and fuel. The staged mixing produces a combustible mixture along the length of the tube to produce a more uniform flame. The nozzle further has an outer wall disposed normal to the combustion air ports to improve air flow through the ports. A fuel outlet tube has relief ports for continuing fuel flow in the event that a main orifice is plugged, which may result from air pressure fluctuations in the burner system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fast cooking system through the use of an oven having radiant burners located interiorly at the top portion thereof. The oven includes a rotary spit on which the meat is supported and rotated to prevent burning. A blower is located at the lower portion of the oven below the spit to remove smoke and simultaneously pull heat from the top of the oven causing airflow downwardly from the top of the oven. The blower facilitates combustion and increases cooking efficiency and eliminates the need for a Ni-Cad screen adjacent the ceramic plates.

Abstract: Air heater comprising a gas burner and heat exchange means including at least one heat-exchange wall which separates a first passage for flow of air to be heated from a second passage for flow of the flue gases produced by the burner, the air to be heated being made to flow by blower means through the first passage, the hot flue gases flowing in counter current through the second passage, wherein the burner is of the radiation type, and the heat-exchange wall comprises a convective-exchange part and an absorption part for absorbing the radiation from the burner, the flue gases heating the air by convection mainly in the region of the convective-exchange part, the radiation from the burner being mainly emitted towards the absorption part, the air flowing over this absorption part after it has flowed over the convective-exchange part.

Abstract: A gas-fired infrared radiator comprising a closed housing which includes a combustion chamber, with a side of the radiator that is to be directed towards an object being a radiation plate which forms a boundary of the combustion chamber, and comprising at least one burner, wherein the or each burner is a high-speed burner adapted for combustion in two combustion stages, with the second combustion stage taking place in the combustion chamber, the or each high-speed burner is arranged in such a manner that a flame formed by the or each high-speed burner is directed at the radiation plate, and gas guiding means are provided for partly recirculating flue gas which has been passed along the radiation plate, to the first or second combustion stage.

Abstract: An unvented gas-fired heater assembly including a base having a gas burner mounted thereon in a combustion area. Gas logs are disposed in the combustion area for heating by the gas burner. A duct assembly is provided which directs heated air from the heater assembly, and the duct assembly is height adjustable to change the height at which air is discharged from the unit. All of the components of the heater are assembled as a unit so that the unit is easily insertable and mountable in an enclosure sure as a fireplace.

Abstract: A radiant wall oven with a heating chamber and hot air chamber separated by a radiant wall, an air heating chamber, supply and return ducts between the air heating chamber and hot air chamber and blower means for circulating hot air through the ducts is provided with a radiant wall temperature control comprising two cascaded closed loop controls. The first compares the radiant wall temperature with a first setpoint value to generate the difference as a second setpoint value for the second, which compares the temperature of the supply duct with the second setpoint value to control a heat source such as a burner. Under certain conditions, the air heating chamber is vented to atmosphere.

Abstract: The apparatus for heating and generating infrared rays has a heating apparatus for indirectly heating a heat medium such as air and water, by a combustion heat and a radiator, wherein a branch combustion gas passage is provided for a combustion gas passage through which the combustion gas in said heating apparatus flows at temperatures of 400.degree. C. or more and 800.degree. C. or less, and said branch combustion gas passage and said radiator are connected.

Abstract: A direct-fired make-up furnace comprises a cabinet which houses an air blower. A gas fired burner located in a sloped passage, which is formed by walls of a return air compartment and a by-pass air compartment, radiates heat at an angle relative to the blower. The return air compartment substantially blocks direct radiation of the burner. An exit opening of the by-pass air compartment is located between the burner and the blower.

Abstract: Zone-controlled radiant burners are provided for retrofit installation in existing heaters. The burners comprise hollow cylindrical fiber matrix layers with baffles forming separate plena. A main stream of pre-mixed fuel and air is directed into the middle plenum, with the mixture flowing through the fiber matrix layer and incandescently combusting on the active surface zones to radiantly heat the tube coils. A reduced flow of fuel/air mixture, or only air, is directed into the remaining plenum so that the surrounding surface zones are combustibly less active or inactive to avoid destructive overheating of the burner surfaces.

Abstract: The underfeed stoker has a retort (6) which is located at a height `h`, an arch having a minimum width `w`. The ratio of the minimum width `w` to the height `h` is greater than 1.5 and less than 2.

Abstract: A segmented radiant burner assembly for installation in the combustion chambers of firetube boilers and the like. The individual segments can be assembled together for on-site installation within the boiler. The segments include support structures comprising mounting flanges which are secured together in series to form the burner assembly. Gas and thermal sealing between the active material of the burner and the inactive support structure is provided by a sealing system which includes a dense fiber composition material and adhesive agent of ceramic composition. The mixture of unburned reactants is directed through a valving and manifold system into separate plena within the burner segments. The flow rates of reactants to the different burner segments is selectively controlled in a sequence which achieves a broad firing rate range.

Abstract: A gas-fired condensing convector or convector/radiant room heating appliance comprising a sealed combustion chamber 12 communicating with a baffled heat exchanger 21, a gas burner 13 within the chamber 12 fed with forced or induced air for combustion from a toroidal air blower 16, a convector fan 25 for circulating air over at least the heat exchanger, and a small bore flue pipe 24 terminating in a two-way outlet terminal means for the discharge of waste gases and liquid condensate. The thermal efficiency of the appliance is at least 90% and the temperature of the waste gases is below the dew point and at less than 50.degree. C.

Abstract: An infra-red heating apparatus includes a radiating surface and an adjacently located black body receiver spaced from the radiating surface. A fuel supply plenum is located adjacent to the radiating surface to provide jets of fuel along the radiating surface to be ignited thereby. Fins of heat radiating material are attached to the black body receiver and project therefrom into an air duct. Air moving through the air duct is heated as it passes over the fins.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use with a source of heat in the form of a burner arrangement. The heat exchanger includes a relatively high flow resistance main passage for collecting combustion products from directly above the burner and a low flow resistance secondary passage opening forwardly of the main passage inlet and conveying any combustion products not collected by the main passage relatively directly to the flue. Flue downdraft principally affects flow in the secondary passage. The main passage may include a plurality of chambers to increase the heat exchange surface area. Water condensing in the main passage can be collected and drained to an evaporator rear the burner.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for use with a portable oven. The disclosed heat exchanger maximizes the conversion of heat caloric content of a combustible fuel to useable heat energy. A gas fueled infra-red burner mounted above the heat exchanger directs radiant energy toward a metal plate which also is contacted by waste or effluent from the burner. The metal plate in turn transmits heat by conduction to a sealed passageway or flow path through which air circulates on its way to the oven. By heating the plate with both effluent and radiation approximately 70% of the heat caloric content of the gas fuel is converted to heat energy for heating air in the passageway. Use of a sealed passageway allows conditions inside the oven to be controlled to make the oven suitable for use as a test oven.

Abstract: A red-hot type oil burner capable of effectively accomplishing uniform vaporization of a fuel oil during the normal combustion operation. A heat transfer means is provided between a combustion chamber and a vaporization chamber to transmit a part of combustion heat to the vaporization chamber. The oil burner may be provided in a mixing chamber with a diffusion plate having a cutout to allow the ignition to be rapidly and safely effected. The oil burner may be also provided with a device for preventing the generation of a bad odor. There is also disclosed a red-hot type oil burner capable of surely confirming the completion of the igniting and fire extinguishing operations.

Abstract: A gas-fired, forced air furnace system employing a fiber matrix burner element and a condensing-type heat exchanger to achieve both high system thermal efficiency and low emission of NO.sub.X and other gaseous pollutants. The value of excess air in the fuel-air reactants supplied to the ceramic fiber matrix burner is selected to be equal to or greater than ten percent to provide NO.sub.X emissions below fifteen ppm on an air-free basis, with CO and HC emissions substantially comparable to those from existing furnaces, and the surface area of the condensing portion of the heat exchanger system is designed to produce sufficient condensation of moisture in the combustion gasses to produce an overall system thermal efficiency of at least about ninety percent.

Abstract: A radiant heater is provided with a fuel-fired radiant housed in a combustion chamber having a wall with a radiation-transmissive panel. A plenum adjacent the combustion chamber is provided with air under pressure greater than that in the combustion chamber. Air from the plenum is employed as primary combustion air for the fuel-fired radiant, and air from the plenum also is caused to flow cocurrently into the combustion chamber and to provide adjacent the inner surface of the radiation-transmissive panel a constantly replenished pool or cushion of cool air cooling the panel and providing a buffer layer to prevent impingement of hot combustion product gases thereon. The orientation of the heater within a space to be heated may be varied within limits without adversely affecting its operation, and the heater may be made of small size.

Abstract: A heating panel for use in explosion-prone furnaces comprises a heating element on the inner side thereof, and on the outer side of the heating element a series of spaced parallel sheets of aluminum foil which, in the case of an explosion, simply blow out and are easily replaceable. The panel is rectangular and bordered with insulating material and it is contemplated that a plurality of the panels can be assembled in side-by-side relationship. The heating element may be electrical or run on gas or oil.