Torch, and hood assembly, with provision for atomizing fuel for easy combustion, and provision for auto-ignition of fuel

A torch-hood assembly comprising:

• a hood with substantially open back and front ends, and a selection from the group consisting of:
• a closed top and closed sides;
• a closed top and at least one open side;
• and
• an at least partially open top and closed sides;
• said torch-hood assembly having at least one torch mounted at the back thereof for producing flame and directing it into said substantially open back end of said hood, said torch having an opening for receiving an end of an elongated fuel line at one end thereof, said received end of said fuel line being attached to a fuel nozzle, said torch further being open at a longitudinally forward distal end thereof, said torch being otherwise substantially closed on top, bottom and left and right sides, said torch being characterized by comprising:
• an ignition system comprising a bluff body wall projecting interiorly thereinto from said top, and being positioned forwardly distal from the opening for receiving said fuel line, said ignition system further having an opening in the top for receiving a spark plug;
• said ignition system further comprising, during use, a spark plug present in said opening for receiving such, and exterior to said torch, a high voltage spark coil which when functionally applied provides a high voltage to said spark plug;
• and
• said elongated fuel line being secured to the outside of said torch such that heat can pass from hot gas and flame inside said torch thereinto during use, said fuel line having a fuel flow swirl producing element therewithin that enters turbulence into fuel passing therethrough to thereby enable efficient transfer of heat from said torch to liquid fuel therewithin by disrupting formation of a gaseous insulating layer between said liquid fuel and the elongated fuel line;
• and
• a thermocouple at a location in the torch so that it intercepts a relatively high temperature region of a flame caused to ignite in said torch by application of a spark from said spark plug while fuel is flowing thereinto;
• such that in use liquid fuel is caused to flow through said elongated fuel line and exit into the interior of said torch via said nozzle, and such that in use, said ignition system is simultaneously operated to the end that said spark plug causes a spark to occur at a location forwardly distal to the bluff body, said bluff body serving to slow the velocity of said fuel exiting said nozzle such that reliable ignition of said fuel is achieved;
• and
• such that said thermocouple which is secured in position with respect to said bluff wall, senses the presence of a temperature related to the burning of fuel inside said torch, and provides a signal to provide a spark to said spark plug should that temperature significantly decrease while fuel is still flowing, thereby indicating flame extinction.

A torch, said torch having an opening for receiving an end of an elongated fuel line at one end thereof, said received end of said fuel line being attached to a fuel nozzle, said torch further being open at a longitudinally forward distal end thereof, said torch being otherwise substantially closed on top, bottom and left and right sides, said torch being characterized by comprising:

• an ignition system comprising a bluff body wall projecting interiorly thereinto from said top, and being positioned forwardly distal from the opening for receiving said fuel line, said ignition system further having an opening in the top for receiving a spark plug;
• said ignition system further comprising, during use, a spark plug present in said opening for receiving such, and exterior to said torch, a high voltage spark coil which when functionally applied provides a high voltage to said spark plug;
• and
• said elongated fuel line being secured to the outside of said torch such that heat can pass from hot gas and flame inside said torch thereinto during use, said fuel line having a fuel flow swirl producing element therewithin that enters turbulence into fuel passing therethrough to thereby enable efficient transfer of heat from said torch to liquid fuel therewithin by disrupting formation of a gaseous insulating layer between said liquid fuel and the elongated fuel line;
• and
• a thermocouple at a location in the torch so that it intercepts a relatively high temperature region of a flame caused to ignite in said torch by application of a spark from said spark plug while fuel is flowing thereinto;
• such that in use liquid fuel is caused to flow through said elongated fuel line and exit into the interior of said torch via said nozzle, and such that in use, said ignition system is simultaneously operated to the end that said spark plug causes a spark to occur at a location forwardly distal to the bluff body, said bluff body serving to slow the velocity of said fuel exiting said nozzle such that reliable ignition of said fuel is achieved;
• and
• such that said thermocouple senses the presence of a temperature related to the burning of fuel inside said torch, and provides a signal to provide a spark to said spark plug should that temperature significantly decrease while fuel is still flowing, thereby indicating flame extinction;
• and
• said torch being distinguished in that said thermocouple is affixed to said bluff body and is positioned in said torch at a position at or near a location therein at which the highest temperature is achieved for a set of given conditions, said location of highest temperature being determined empirically by a procedure of repeatedly:
• (1) setting the pressure at which fuel enters the fuel line;
• (2) visually identifying the flame zone (OB)-(CL)-(OB));
• (3) locating the thermocouple (TC) at many locations with respect to said flame zone;
• and
• (4) monitoring thermocouple output;
• followed by examining data provided by said procedure to determine the highest temperature location.