Waste oil burning system

Abstract

A waste oil burning system having a burner and a heat exchanger for preheating atomizing air before the atomizing air is supplied to the nozzle. The burner includes a fuel conduit for supplying waste oil to the burner and an air supply line for supplying atomizing air to the burner. The burner has a nozzle which atomizes the waste oil by mixing the waste oil with the air from the air supply line. The nozzle sprays the atomized waste oil into a combustion zone where the atomized waste oil is combusted. The heat exchanger is positioned in the combustion zone, so that energy produced from the combustion of the waste oil preheats the air supplied through the air supply line before the air is mixed with the waste oil.

1 . A waste oil burning system, comprising:
 a. a burner, including
 i. a fuel conduit, configured to supply said waste oil to said burner; 
 ii. an air supply line, configured to supply air to said burner; 
 iii. a nozzle, configured to atomize said waste oil by mixing said waste oil with said air from said air supply line, wherein said nozzle is configured to spray said atomized waste oil into a combustion zone where said waste oil is combusted; and 
   b. a heat exchanger positioned in said combustion zone, said heat exchanger configured to preheat said air supplied through said air supply line with heat produced from the combustion of said waste oil before said air is mixed with said waste oil.   
   
   
       2 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 1 , wherein said air passing through said air supply line is preheated to at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit before said air is mixed with said waste oil. 
   
   
       3 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle is an external mix nozzle. 
   
   
       4 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a starter fuel supply line, said starter fuel supply line configured to supply a starter fuel to said fuel conduit so that said starter fuel mixes with said waste oil. 
   
   
       5 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 2 , wherein said nozzle is an external mix nozzle. 
   
   
       6 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 2 , further comprising a starter fuel supply line, said starter fuel supply line configured to supply a starter fuel to said fuel conduit so that said starter fuel mixes with said waste oil. 
   
   
       7 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 1 , wherein said waste oil burning system is configured to supply a starter fuel to said nozzle for a defined period of time, said designed period of time corresponding to a length of time for which said starter fuel must be burned until said air passing through said heat exchanger is preheated to a temperature of at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       8 . The waste oil burning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of said air before said air is mixed with said waste oil, wherein said waste oil burning system is configured to supply a starter fuel to said nozzle until said air passing through said heat exchanger is preheated to a temperature of at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       9 . A method of combusting waste oil, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a burner, said burner including:
 i. a fuel conduit, configured to supply said waste oil to said burner; 
 ii. an air supply line, configured to supply air to said burner; 
 iii. a nozzle, configured to atomize said waste oil by mixing said waste oil from said fuel conduit with said air from said air supply line, wherein said nozzle is configured to spray said atomized waste oil into a combustion zone where said waste oil is combusted; 
   b. supplying waste oil to said fuel conduit;   c. supplying air through said air supply line to said nozzle;   d. mixing said air and said waste oil at said nozzle;   e. combusting said air and said waste oil in a combustion zone; and   f. preheating said air to at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit prior to mixing said air with said waste oil.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said nozzle is an external mix nozzle. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of supplying a starter fuel to said nozzle for a defined period of time, said designed period of time corresponding to a length of time for which said starter fuel must be burned until said air supplied to said nozzle is preheated to a temperature of at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 a. sensing said temperature of said air prior to mixing said air with said waste oil, and   b. supplying a starter fuel to said nozzle until said air supplied to said nozzle is preheated to a temperature of at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit.