Burner with split combustion and exhaust induction air paths

Abstract

A burner having a fuel tube, a heat recuperator disposed at least partially around the fuel tube, a cover disposed at least partially around the heat recuperator, and a housing coupled to the fuel tube. The housing has an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and an eductor body. The eductor body has a first pathway for directing inlet air toward the heat recuperator and a second pathway directing inlet air into the exhaust outlet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 294,173, filed Jan. 12, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.BACKGROUND[0002]Burners that withdraw combustion product gases from a furnace environment are known. Such burners typically incorporate an elongated hollow recuperator of ceramic material or the like that is disposed in spaced-apart surrounding relation to an axial gaseous fuel supply tube leading to a burner head. Dedicated combustion air travels along the annulus between the fuel supply tube and the recuperator for combustion with the gaseous fuel at the burner head. A portion of the combustion product gases then travels back over the exterior of the recuperator in counter-current flow to the combustion air. When the burner has an open- ended construction, the combustion product gases are typically drawn out of the furnace and into a low pressure venturi exhaust ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by incorporating a system in which the inlet air which is delivered by a blower or other pressure source is split such that a first portion is delivered to a combustion chamber while a second portion is delivered through an annular constriction and into an exhaust outlet in fluid communication with the combustion product gas return path. The inlet air passing through the annular constriction has sufficient velocity to generate a low pressure zone within the exhaust outlet thereby pulling the combustion product gases out of the furnace and into the exhaust outlet. A single air supply such as a blower or the like can thus be used for combustion air feed as well as for inducing recovery of combustion product gases. System complexity is thereby substantially reduced.

Problems solved by technology

While such prior systems work well, the need for an air supply feeding the venturi exhaust outlet results in increased complexity.

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