METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE IGNITION AND COMBUSTION OF PARTICULATE FUEL

摘要

Disclosed is ignition apparatus for igniting particulate fuel, the ignition apparatus comprising an inlet for receiving a fuel-gas mixture comprising particulate fuel and oxygen-containing gas, an outlet, and an ignition chamber located intermediate the inlet and the outlet, the ignition chamber being defined at least in part by a first body portion having a first surface and a second body portion having a second surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposed and spaced-apart from each other and the ignition chamber is formed and arranged so that received fuel-gas mixture passes between the opposed spaced-apart first and second surfaces, the ignition chamber further comprising heating apparatus operable to heat one or both of the first and second surfaces to above the autoignition temperature of a particulate fuel to ignite a proportion of received fuel particles which contact the heated one or both of the first and second surfaces in use. There is also disclosed a furnace including the ignition apparatus.