Patent ID: 6250915
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: C03B,F23C,F23D,F27D,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for heating a surface susceptible to oxidation or reduction comprising the steps of:generating substantially parallel fuel rich and fuel lean jets, each jet having a shroud of Substantially stoichiometric combustion products to minimize mixing between the substantially parallel fuel rich and fuel lean jets; andcontacting said surface with said substantially parallel fuel rich and fuel lean jets thereby forming a flame at or near said surface;wherein said step of generating substantially parallel fuel rich and fuel lean jets comprises the steps of:generating a primary fuel stream as the core of the fuel rich jet;generating an annular secondary oxygen stream around the primary fuel stream to generate the shroud of substantially stoichiometric combustion products at the periphery of the fuel rich jet;generating a plurality of primary oxygen streams around the periphery of the fuel rich jet each primary oxygen stream being a core of a fuel lean jet; andgenerating an annular secondary fuel stream around each of the primary oxygen streams to generate the shroud of substantially stoichiometric combustion products at the periphery of each of the fuel lean jets.