Low NO.sub.x gas burner and method of operation

• US 5,988,116 A
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: State Industries Incorporated (A. O. Smith Corporation)
• Original Assignee: State Industries Incorporated (A. O. Smith Corporation)
• Inventors: Pryor, William M., Donastorg, Hector J., Vago, Otto Z., Carlton, Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): DORITY, CARROLL B
• Application Number:
  US09/159,449
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 431/171, 431/172, 431/8, 126/39 R, 126/39 H, 126/361, 239/554, 239/567, 239/520, 122/13.1, 122/14
• US Class Current: 122/17.1
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 2203/20 using heat absorbing device in flame F23C2203/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 14/06 with radial outlets at the burner head
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 14/70 Baffles or like flow-disturbing devices
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2213/00 Burner manufacture specifications

Abstract

A gas burner adapted to discharge said fuel at its the periphery for combustion, includes upper and lower concave plates secured together to define a chamber and an outer periphery having a plurality of burner ports. The upper plate preferably has a periphery extending radially at least as far as the lower plate. The periphery of the upper plate is downwardly angled, preferably more steeply than the periphery of the lower plate. The peripheral edge of at least one or the other of the top or bottom burner plates extends radially outwardly from the central axis a distance beyond the location of the burner ports and into the path of burning gases issuing from the ports whereby the temperature of said burning gases is reduced. Preferably, the periphery of the upper plate extends downwardly to an elevation below the upper edges of the burner ports, so that gases emerging from the ports are caused to impinge against the periphery, thus cooling the gases and thereby reducing the NO_x content of the combustion gases.

Claims

1. The method of reducing the NO_x characteristics of the gas burner flame emanating from a gas burner in a gas-fired water heater, said gas burner adapted to receive fuel gas from a gas inlet conduit and to discharge said fuel at a periphery of said burner for combustion, said burner including upper and lower concave plates secured together to define a plurality of burner ports, said burner having a central axis, comprising the steps of:

a) introducing the fuel gas into the chamber between the upper and lower plates of the burner;

b) directing the fuel gas to said burner ports;

c) burning the fuel gas exteriorly of the burner ports;

d) directing the burning fuel gas around the periphery of the combustion chamber in the form of individual flames of burning gas;

e) deflecting the flow of burning gas emanating from the ports to thereby reduce the temperature of the flames of burning gas.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of the upper plate is angled downwardly from the horizontal to thereby deflect the flow of burning gas emanating from the ports.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the peripheral edge of the upper plate is angled downwardly from the horizontal approximately 27°

.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge of said upper plate is angled downwardly to an elevation below the elevation of the upper edges of said burner ports.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the downwardly angled peripheral edge of said upper plate is spaced radially from said central axis a distance at least equal to the distance that the peripheral edge of the lower plate extends from the central axis.