METHOD OF OPERATING A FURNACE

摘要

The method of the invention concerns operation of a furnace (1) utilising a hydrogen-rich gas as furnace fuel. The furnace (1) has a multiplicity of burners (17) for burning fuel supplied thereto. The method comprises providi ng ignition means for lighting a flame at at least one burner of the multiplici ty of burners. An oxygen-containing gas and a combustible gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas are supplied to each of the multiplicity of burners (17) in amounts capable of forming an ignitable mixture. A flame is ignited at the predetermined one burner which is then allowed to propagate from the at leas t one predetermined burner to the other burners of the multiplicity of burners (17). Then the composition of the combustible gas is altered over a period o f time so as to replace at least a major part of the hydrocarbon gas by a hydrogen-rich gas until a hydrogen flame is established at each of the multiplicity of burners (17).