Gas burner attachment

Abstract

Apparatus for increasing burning efficiency including a bottom shell having a plate defining a first opening for receiving a fuel source and a side wall extending in an upward direction. The side wall has a first side wall end coupled to the plate and a second side wall end spaced from the first side wall end in the upward direction. Additionally, the apparatus includes a top shell having inner and outer walls defining a cavity for receiving the second side wall end of the side wall of the bottom shell. The inner wall has a first inner end and a second inner end and the outer wall has a first outer end and a second outer end. The first inner end is coupled to the first outer end and the second inner end is spaced from the second outer end to receive at least the second side wall end.

1 . A apparatus for increasing the efficiency of burning gaseous fuels, comprising:
 a bottom shell including a plate defining a first opening for receiving a fuel source and a side wall extending from the plate in an upward direction, the side wall having a first side wall end that is coupled to the plate and a second side wall end spaced from the first side wall end in the upward direction,   a top shell supported by the bottom shell and including an inner wall and an outer wall defining a cavity for receiving at least the second side wall end of the side wall of the bottom shell, the inner wall having a first inner end and a second inner end and the outer wall having a first outer end and a second outer end, the first inner end coupled to the first outer end and the second inner end spaced from the second outer end to receive at least the second side wall end.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall, and the side wall includes a plurality of apertures configured for permitting air flow. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second inner end contacts the plate of the bottom shell and the inner wall defines the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top shell and the bottom shell form a passageway extending therebetween, the passageway including a first section extending between the outer wall of the top shell and the side wall of the bottom shell and a second section extending between the inner wall of the top shell and the side wall of the bottom shell. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the passageway is configured such that the first section is in fluid communication with the second section. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of apertures is in fluid communication with at least one of the first opening of the bottom shell and the passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall of the bottom shell has a concave configuration along the upward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall has a length that is shorter than a length of at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall of the top shell are formed of a single material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate and the side wall of the bottom shell are formed of a single material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the single material comprises steel, copper, bronze, brass, titanium, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the single material comprises steel, copper, bronze, brass, titanium, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner wall, the outer wall, and the side wall has a catalyst coating. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall of the top shell has a catalyst coating. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the side wall of the bottom shell has a catalyst coating. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the inner wall, the outer wall, and the side wall have a catalyst coating. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the catalyst coating is selected from the group consisting of platinum and palladium. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the top shell is configured to have a de Laval nozzle shape. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the inner wall of the top shell is configured such that an expelled exhaust gas has a linear velocity according to the formula: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   v 
                   e 
                 
                 = 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         T 
                         ⁢ 
                         R 
                       
                       M 
                     
                     · 
                     
                       
                         2 
                         ⁢ 
                         γ 
                       
                       
                         γ 
                         - 
                         1 
                       
                     
                     · 
                     
                       [ 
                       
                         1 
                         - 
                         
                           
                             ( 
                             
                               
                                 p 
                                 c 
                               
                               p 
                             
                             ) 
                           
                           
                             
                               γ 
                               - 
                               1 
                             
                             γ 
                           
                         
                       
                       ] 
                     
                   
                 
               
               , 
             
           
         
         where v e  is an exhaust velocity at a nozzle exit, 
         T is an absolute temperature of an inlet gas, 
         R is the universal gas law constant, 
         M is a gas molecular mass, 
       
       
         
           
             
               γ 
               = 
               
                 
                   c 
                   p 
                 
                 
                   c 
                   v 
                 
               
             
           
         
          is an isentropic expansion factor, 
         c p  is a specific heat of the gas at a constant pressure, 
         c v  is a specific heat of the gas at a constant volume, 
         p c  is an absolute pressure of the expelled exhaust gas at the nozzle exit, and 
         p is an absolute pressure of the inlet gas. 
       
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be attached to a gas combustion chimney. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be attached to a gas burner for at least welding, melting, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be attached to at least one of an oil burner and kerosene burner.