Burner with split combustion and exhaust induction air paths

Abstract

A burner having a fuel tube, a heat recuperator disposed at least partially around the fuel tube, a cover disposed at least partially around the heat recuperator, and a housing coupled to the fuel tube. The housing has an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and an eductor body. The eductor body has a first pathway for directing inlet air toward the heat recuperator and a second pathway directing inlet air into the exhaust outlet.

1 . A burner comprising:
 a fuel tube;   a heat recuperator disposed at least partially around the fuel tube;   a cover disposed at least partially around the heat recuperator; and   a housing coupled to the fuel tube, the housing having an air inlet and an exhaust outlet, the housing having an eductor body, the eductor body having a first pathway for directing inlet air toward the heat recuperator, and the eductor body having a second pathway directing inlet air into the exhaust outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the air inlet and the exhaust outlet are part of the eductor body. 
     
     
         3 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the air from the second pathway is directed into the exhaust outlet via an opening into the exhaust outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The burner of  claim 3  further comprising a sleeve disposed at least partially in the eductor body, wherein the opening is formed between the sleeve and an interior surface of the eductor body. 
     
     
         5 . The burner of  claim 4  wherein the eductor body has a stepped base for contacting the sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The burner of  claim 4  wherein the sleeve is adjustable to determine a size of the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The burner of  claim 1  further comprising a damper for restricting air passage along the second pathway. 
     
     
         8 . The burner of  claim 7  wherein the damper is adjustable from an exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein the exhaust outlet receives a combustion gas, and the inlet air directed along the second pathway is combined with the combustion gas, the inlet air directed along the second pathway having not undergone combustion. 
     
     
         10 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein a majority of the total inlet air is directed along the first pathway. 
     
     
         11 . An eductor for a burner comprising:
 an eductor body, the eductor body having an air inlet and an exhaust outlet; the eductor body having a bypass pathway for air from the air inlet to enter the exhaust outlet.   
     
     
         12 . The eductor of  claim 1  wherein the air from the bypass pathway is directed into the exhaust outlet via an opening into the exhaust outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The eductor of  claim 12  further comprising a sleeve disposed at least partially in the eductor body, wherein the opening is formed between the sleeve and an interior surface of the eductor body. 
     
     
         14 . The eductor of  claim 13  wherein the eductor body has a stepped base for contacting the sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The eductor of  claim 13  wherein the sleeve is adjustable to determine a size of the opening. 
     
     
         16 . The eductor of  claim 11  further comprising a damper for restricting air passage along the bypass pathway. 
     
     
         17 . The eductor of  claim 16  wherein the damper is adjustable from an exterior of the eductor. 
     
     
         18 . The eductor of  claim 11  wherein the exhaust outlet receives a combustion gas, and the inlet air directed along the bypass pathway is combined with the combustion gas, the inlet air directed along the bypass pathway having not undergone combustion. 
     
     
         19 . The burner of  claim 1  wherein a minority of the total inlet air is directed along the bypass pathway. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a burner comprising:
 providing a burner having a housing, a fuel tube coupled to the housing, a heat recuperator disposed at least partially around the fuel tube, and a cover disposed at least partially around the heat recuperator, the housing having an air inlet for receiving air into the housing and an exhaust outlet for exhausting combustion gases from the housing;   directing a first portion of the air from the air inlet into the heat recuperator; and   directing a second portion of the air from the air inlet into the exhaust outlet.