Patent ID: 7637739
Filing Date: 2009-12-29
Classification: F23C,F23D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a furnace having an injector and injector control apparatus that are a) configured to inject fuel and oxidant separately into a combustion zone in the furnace such that mixing and auto-ignition of the fuel and oxidant within the combustion zone produce hot products of combustion beside an outer surface of a load to be heated in the furnace, b) configured to give the hot products of combustion a non-uniform temperature profile in a control direction extending across the outer surface of the load, and c) configured to vary the non-uniform temperature profile of the hot products of combustion in a controlled manner with reference to a range that is predetermined relative to the distance that the outer surface of the load extends in the control direction, whereby the load can be given a predetermined temperature profile in the control direction.