Patent ID: 8454349

Claim:
A method for combusting fuel in a combustion zone of a furnace, comprising the steps of: (a) combining in a mixing zone fuel and primary air, flue gas or mixtures thereof to produce a mixture and conveying the mixture from said mixing zone through at least one burner tip into said combustion zone, wherein (i) said mixing zone is located at a predetermined location within a burner, (ii) said burner tip is located downstream of said mixing zone and upstream of said combustion zone, and (iii) the primary air is obtained from a primary air chamber within the burner; (b) igniting the fuel using an igniter inserted into a lighting chamber, said lighting chamber being adjacent to said burner tip; (c) combusting the fuel in said combustion zone, wherein a plurality of air ports are disposed adjacent to said lighting chamber providing secondary air from a secondary air chamber to the combustion zone, wherein (i) said secondary air chamber is located within said burner and (ii) said burner is configured to substantially prevent direct fluid communication between said secondary air chamber and said primary air chamber; and (d) plugging-off said lighting chamber during the combusting by inserting a removable lighting chamber plug into said lighting chamber, wherein the plugging-off substantially prevents fluid communication via said lighting chamber between said secondary air chamber and said combustion zone.