Air/gas burner system

Abstract

A burner manifold for one or a series of burners including a first chamber having at least one outlet leading to said one or more burners and gas supply means arranged to introduce gas to mix with the air. Air is introduced into the first chamber from a second chamber, which is supplied with air under pressure via an inlet and the first and second chambers are arranged to be in fluid communication via a plurality of apertures.

1 . A burner manifold for one or a series of burners, said manifold apparatus comprising a first chamber having at least one outlet leading to said one or more burners and into which air is introduced from a second chamber, an inlet for the supply of air under pressure into the second chamber, gas supply means arranged to introduce gas to mix with the air, wherein said first and second chambers are arranged to be in fluid communication via a plurality of apertures.  
   
   
       2 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second chambers are separated by a plate with the apertures provided therein so as to control the flow of air from the second chamber into the first chamber.  
   
   
       3 . A burner manifold according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate is perforated.  
   
   
       4 . A burner manifold according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate forms a wall of each of the first and second chambers.  
   
   
       5 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply means supplies gas into the first chamber such that mixing of the air and gas occurs in said first chamber and the air/gas mixture is supplied to the one or more burners.  
   
   
       6 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply means supplies gas into the vicinity of the one or more outlets from the first chamber such that the gas mixes with the air upon exit of the air from the first chamber so as to provide an air/gas mixture to the one or more burners.  
   
   
       7 . A burner manifold according to  claim 6 , wherein the first chamber primarily contains air.  
   
   
       8 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , including a third chamber primarily containing gas as part of the gas supply means.  
   
   
       9 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply means includes one or a series of ducts having an opening through which gas is supplied.  
   
   
       10 . A burner manifold according to  claim 9 , wherein one duct is provided for each of the burners which are connected to the manifold.  
   
   
       11 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas supply means injects gas tangentially to the air flow.  
   
   
       12 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the air is introduced into the second chamber via a fan unit.  
   
   
       13 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the air passing through the burner is supplied by the fan unit.  
   
   
       14 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more outlets include a main aperture and one or more radial apertures.  
   
   
       15 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is substantially sealed from the atmosphere.  
   
   
       16 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the manifold forms an elongate member and the first and second chambers extend along the length of the manifold.  
   
   
       17 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the burner comprises a flamestrip which extends substantially along a side of the manifold.  
   
   
       18 . A burner manifold according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more burners comprise a flamestrip which extends from a side of the manifold.  
   
   
       19 . A burner system, said system comprising a manifold to which is connected one or a series of burners, said manifold incorporating gas supply means for introducing gas to each burner via one or more outlets in the manifold, and at least one chamber into which air is introduced via at least one air inlet, wherein substantially all of the air supplied to said one or more burners is introduced from externally of the manifold under pressure into said chamber.  
   
   
       20 . A burner system according to  claim 19 , including a first chamber into which air is introduced from a second chamber.  
   
   
       21 . A burner system according to  claim 20 , wherein air is introduced into the first chamber from the second chamber via a plurality of apertures.  
   
   
       22 . A burner system according to  claim 20 , wherein the gas supply means introduces gas downstream of the second chamber.  
   
   
       23 . A burner system according to  claim 19 , wherein the air is supplied under pressure to the manifold by a fan unit.  
   
   
       24 . A burner system according to  claim 19 , wherein between 120-135% of the air required for combustion is supplied to the manifold.  
   
   
       25 . A method of premixing air and gas prior to combustion comprising the steps of: providing a manifold including two or more chambers; 
 introducing air into one chamber under pressure from externally of the manifold;    introducing air into a further chamber from said one chamber via a plurality of apertures;    introducing gas into the air flow downstream of said one chamber via one or more gas supply means;    passing said air and gas through one or more outlets in the manifold.    
   
   
       26 - 28 . (canceled)