Submerged oxy-fuel burner

Abstract

A burner for melting material in a furnace includes an elongated member having a first end with a heat source, a second end with an exhaust, and a combustion chamber disposed in the elongated member interconnecting the first and second ends, a portion of the elongated member between the first and second ends in contact with the material to be melted. A method for melting the material is also provided.

1 . A burner for melting material in a furnace, comprising an elongated member having a first end with a heat source, a second end with an exhaust disposed remote from the material, and a combustion chamber disposed in the elongated member interconnecting the first and second ends, a portion of the elongated member between the first and second ends in contact with the material to heat and melt said material. 
     
     
         2 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises a combustion flame. 
     
     
         3 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein at least 20% of the elongated member is in contact with the material. 
     
     
         4 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the second end is at a higher elevation than the first end. 
     
     
         5 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends are parallel with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends are in a common plane. 
     
     
         7 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member comprises a sidewall composition resistant to deformation when in contact with the melted material. 
     
     
         8 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member may be arranged up to 90° from a surface of the material to be melted. 
     
     
         9 . The burner of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the elongated member in contact with the material is arranged in a W-shape. 
     
     
         10 . A furnace for melting particulate material, comprising:
 a housing;   a combustion chamber in the housing;   a bath of material in the combustion chamber;   a burner for melting the material in the combustion chamber, comprising an elongated member having a first end with a heat source, a second end with an exhaust disposed remote from the material, and a combustion chamber disposed in the elongated member interconnecting the first and second ends, a portion of the elongated member between the first and second ends in contact with the material to heat and melt said material.   
     
     
         11 . The furnace of  claim 10 , wherein the heat source comprises a combustion flame. 
     
     
         12 . The furnace of  claim 10 , further comprising a port disposed in the housing through which gas is introduced into the combustion chamber to inert an atmosphere of the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The furnace of  claim 12 , wherein the gas is selected from nitrogen and argon. 
     
     
         14 . The furnace of  claim 10 , further comprising a door disposed in the housing for providing access to the combustion chamber and the material. 
     
     
         15 . The furnace of  claim 14 , wherein the door comprises a transparent portion for viewing the combustion chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A method of melting particulate material in a furnace, comprising providing a combustion flame at a first end of a hollow elongated member, heating the elongated member with the combustion flame, disposing at least a portion of the elongated member in the particulate material, heating the particulate material by conduction of the heat from the elongated member for melting said particulate material, and exhausting combustion gases from a second end of the elongated member disposed at a location remote from the material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the exhausting of the hollow elongated member is at an elevation higher than the combustion flame. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising introducing a gas into an atmosphere proximate the particulate material, and inerting the atmosphere with the gas. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the gas is selected from nitrogen and argon.