Patent ID: 7618254
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: F23N,F23Q

Abstract:
1. A method for igniting a burner in an industrial furnace, said method comprising the steps of: supplying fuel and oxidant to a burner head including at least one conduit for the supply of fuel and at least one conduit for the supply of oxidant, wherein the oxidant has an oxygen content of over 85% by weight, and wherein the conduits extend to respective conduit outlets at a burner head outer surface that faces a furnace interior space; directing a laser beam onto a beam contact point on the burner head outer surface adjacent to the conduit outlets and in a region in which an ignitable fuel-oxidant mixture is present to heat the beam contact point to a temperature that exceeds the ignition temperature of the fuel/oxidant mixture; detecting the existence of a flame outside the burner head by a light detector; emitting a signal from the light detector to a control circuit when the fuel/oxidant mixture has been ignited and a flame is detected by the light detector; and providing a signal from the control circuit to turn off the laser beam after a flame is detected.