Burner assembly with crescent shuttered airplate

Abstract

A burner assembly for an oil or gas dehydration system is provided which allows for standard pilot access through the burner assembly. The burner assembly includes an airplate system having a crescent shaped shutter plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A burner assembly providing for adjustable airflow and pilot access comprising:
 an airplate assembly including a circular airplate having a plurality of openings for passage of air and a shutter plate having a plurality of openings for passage of air, wherein the shutter plate is adjustably positioned adjacent to the circular airplate so that a plurality of openings in the airplate assembly created by an overlap of the plurality of openings in the circular airplate and the plurality of openings in the shutter plate may be adjusted to increase or decrease a dimension of said plurality of openings in the airplate assembly by rotating the shutter plate with respect to the circulate airplate;   a burner unit, including a main burner mixer, an inspirator tube, and a burner nozzle, wherein the burner unit is positioned substantially perpendicular to the airplate assembly and wherein the main burner mixer is disposed on a first side of the airplate assembly and the burner nozzle is disposed on a second side of the airplate assembly and wherein the burner unit extends through the airplate assembly; and   a pilot assembly, including a pilot nozzle, wherein the pilot assembly is positioned substantially parallel to the burner unit and the pilot assembly extends through an opening in the airplate assembly so that the pilot nozzle is disposed adjacent to the burner nozzle;   wherein the shutter plate is configured in a substantially crescent shape to permit the pilot assembly to be disposed through the airplate assembly at an angle substantially parallel to the burner unit.   
     
     
         2 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shutter plate is comprised of a heat resistant material. 
     
     
         3 . The burner assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the heat resistant material is selected from the group consisting of steel, alloy, and ceramic. 
     
     
         4 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the airplate is comprised of a heat resistant material. 
     
     
         5 . The burner assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the heat resistant material is selected from the group consisting of steel, alloy, and ceramic. 
     
     
         6 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the crescent shape of the shutter plate is comprised of an arch of between about 250 degrees and about 265 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the crescent shape of the shutter plate is comprised of an arch of between about 270 degrees and about 315 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the crescent shape of the shutter plate is comprised of an arch of between about 185 degrees and about 245 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The burner assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shutter plate further comprises at least one finger-like member extending from at least one end of an arch forming the crescent shape of the shutter plate. 
     
     
         10 . An airplate system providing for adjustable airflow and pilot access for a burner assembly comprising:
 a circular airplate having a plurality of openings for passage of air;   a shutter plate having a plurality of openings for passage of air; and   a hub plate configured with an opening in the hub plate to permit disposing a pilot assembly through the hub plate;   wherein the shutter plate is adjustably positioned adjacent to the circular airplate between the hub plate and the airplate so that a plurality of airplate assembly openings are created by an overlap of the plurality of openings in the circular airplate and the plurality of openings in the shutter plate and so that the plurality of airplate assembly openings may be adjusted to increase or decrease a dimension of said plurality of airplate openings by rotating the shutter plate with respect to the circulate airplate; and   wherein the shutter plate is configured in a substantially crescent shape to permit the pilot assembly to be disposed through the airplate assembly at a substantially perpendicular angle to the airplate.   
     
     
         11 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , wherein the crescent shape of the shutter plate is comprised of an arch of between about 250 degrees and about 265 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , wherein the crescent shape of the shutter plate is comprised of an arch of between about 270 degrees and about 315 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , wherein the crescent shape of the shutter plate is comprised of an arch of between about 185 degrees and about 245 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , wherein the shutter plate is comprised of a heat resistant material. 
     
     
         15 . The airplate system of  claim 14 , wherein the heat resistant material is selected from the group consisting of steel, alloy, and ceramic. 
     
     
         16 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , wherein the airplate is comprised of a heat resistant material. 
     
     
         17 . The airplate system of  claim 16 , wherein the heat resistant material is selected from the group consisting of steel, alloy, and ceramic. 
     
     
         18 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , further comprising a pilot assembly wherein the pilot assembly is positioned substantially perpendicular to the airplate and the pilot assembly extends through an opening in the airplate assembly and through an opening between a first end of an arch forming the crescent shape of the shutter plate and a second end of the arch forming the crescent shape of the shutter plate. 
     
     
         19 . The airplate system of  claim 10 , wherein the shutter plate further comprises at least one finger-like member extending from at least one end of an arch forming the crescent shape of the shutter plate. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a burner assembly providing for adjustable airflow and pilot access comprising:
 selecting an airplate assembly including a circular airplate having a plurality of openings for passage of air and a shutter plate having a plurality of openings for passage of air, wherein the shutter plate is adjustably positioned adjacent to the circular airplate so that a plurality of openings in the airplate assembly created by an overlap of the plurality of openings in the circular airplate and the plurality of openings in the shutter plate may be adjusted to increase or decrease a dimension of said plurality of openings in the airplate assembly by rotating the shutter plate with respect to the circulate airplate and wherein the shutter plate is configured in a substantially crescent shape to permit the pilot assembly to be disposed through the airplate assembly at an angle substantially parallel to a burner unit;   selecting a burner unit, including a main burner mixer, an inspirator tube, and a burner nozzle;   selecting a pilot assembly, including a pilot mixer and a pilot nozzle;   disposing the burner unit substantially perpendicular to the airplate assembly so that the main burner mixer is disposed on a first side of the airplate assembly and the burner nozzle is disposed on a second side of the airplate assembly and wherein the burner unit extends through the airplate assembly;   disposing the pilot assembly substantially parallel to the burner unit so that the pilot assembly extends through an opening in the airplate assembly and so that the pilot nozzle is disposed adjacent to the burner nozzle; and   securing the airplate assembly, the burner unit, and the pilot assembly in a flame arrestor housing.