Method and apparatus for furnace air supply enrichment

摘要

A method and system for enhancing the supply of combustion air delivered to a burner of a furnace to increase productivity and thermal efficiency of the burner while minimizing changes to the nominal combustion ratio of the burner are disclosed. Oxygen and fuel are introduced into an air plenum upstream of the burner assembly in controlled quantities to form a nonflammable premix of pressurized gases in the air plenum formed from the air, fuel, and oxygen. The air plenum has an outlet that communicates the nonflammable premix of pressurized gases to the burner for combustion. The nonflammable premix of pressurized gases has a predetermined percentage level of oxygen and a predetermined percentage level of fuel. The predetermined percentage level of fuel is selected so that the percentage level of fuel is less than that required to create a flammable premix in the air plenum. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that is will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 C.F.R. § 1 .72(b).