Low maintenance combustion method suitable for use in a glass forehearth

摘要

A combustion method using a burner recessed from a combustion space in a burner block (1) adjacent the combustion space whereby a secondary reactant (a second portion of a first reactant) is injected around and upstream of a stream of a primary reactant (a first portion of the first reactant) and a stream of a second reactant in order to prevent or inhibit deposition of material from recirculating gases in the combustion space upon the burner. The first reactant is one of a fuel and an oxidant while the second reactant is the other of a fuel and an oxidant. The secondary stream may be injected from a continuous annulus (26) formed in an outer body (25) of the burner or from a plurality of radially spaced holes formed in the outer body. The primary stream is injected from one of an inner bore (30) formed in an inner body (24) of the burner and a reactant annulus (28) defined between the inner and outer bodies while the second reactant is injected from the other of the inner bore (30) and the reactant annulus (28).