Regenerative burner apparatus

Abstract

A baffle for a regenerative burner has a primary reactant port, secondary reactant ports, and internal flow paths. The primary port is centered on an axis. The secondary ports are arranged in an array that is asymmetrical relative to a plane containing the axis. The internal air flow paths convey secondary air streams from the regenerative bed to the secondary ports. A reactant delivery structure for use with the baffle includes a pilot burner, a main fuel conduit, and a primary air conduit. The pilot burner projects a pilot flame toward the primary port. The main fuel conduit has an annular outlet that directs a main fuel stream over the pilot flame and outward from the primary port. The primary air conduit has an annular outlet that directs a primary air stream outward from the primary port over the main fuel stream.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a regenerative bed; and   a baffle having a primary reactant port centered on an axis, an array of secondary reactant ports that is asymmetrical relative to a plane containing the axis, and internal air flow paths communicating with the regenerative bed to convey secondary air streams from the regenerative bed to the secondary reactant ports.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a pilot burner configured to project a pilot flame toward the primary reactant port, a main fuel conduit having an annular outlet arranged to direct a main fuel stream over the pilot flame and outward from the primary reactant port, and a primary air conduit having an annular outlet arranged to direct a primary air stream outward from the primary reactant port over the main fuel stream. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein the pilot burner has an outlet that is coplanar with the outlets of the main fuel conduit and the primary air conduit. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 3  wherein the baffle defines a bore through which the coplanar outlets of the conduits and the burner face axially toward the primary reactant port. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for use with a regenerative bed in a furnace, comprising:
 a refractory structure defining a primary reactant port centered on an axis, a secondary reactant port, and an air flow path configured to convey a secondary air stream from a regenerative bed to the secondary reactant port;   a pilot burner configured to project a pilot flame toward the primary reactant port;   a main fuel conduit having an annular outlet arranged to direct a main fuel stream over the pilot flame and outward from the primary reactant port; and   a primary air conduit having an annular outlet arranged to direct a primary air stream outward from the primary reactant port over the main fuel stream.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 5  further comprising a reactant supply and control system configured to provide the pilot burner with pilot fuel and pilot air streams, and to modulate the pilot fuel and pilot air streams independently of the main fuel and primary air streams. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 6  wherein the pilot burner has an outlet that is coplanar with the outlets of the main fuel conduit and the primary air conduit. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein the refractory structure defines a bore through which the coplanar outlets of the conduits and the pilot burner face axially toward the primary reactant port. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for use with a regenerative bed in a furnace, comprising:
 a baffle having a primary reactant port centered on an axis, an array of secondary reactant ports that is asymmetrical relative to a plane containing the axis, and internal air flow paths configured to convey secondary air streams from a regenerative bed to the secondary reactant ports;   a pilot burner configured to project a pilot flame toward the primary reactant port;   a main fuel conduit having an annular outlet arranged to direct a main fuel stream over the pilot flame and outward from the primary reactant port; and   a primary air conduit having an annular outlet arranged to direct a primary air stream outward from the primary reactant port over the main fuel stream.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9  wherein the pilot burner has an outlet that is coplanar with the outlets of the main fuel conduit and the primary air conduit. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein the baffle defines a bore through which the coplanar outlets of the conduits and the pilot burner face axially toward the primary reactant port.