Burner with flow distribution member

A pre-mix burner apparatus, comprising:

• a fuel and air mixer for pre-mixing a fuel and air mixture;
• a blower located downstream of the fuel and air mixer, the blower including a blower outlet having a blower outlet cross-sectional area;
• a burner having a generally cylindrical burner surface so that generally radially outward extending flames may form on the generally cylindrical burner surface, the burner having a central axis and having a generally circular burner inlet at one end of the burner, the burner inlet having an inlet diameter defining an inlet cross-sectional area greater than the blower outlet cross-sectional area;
• the blower and the burner being arranged such that the blower outlet spans the central axis of the burner and is oriented to direct an inlet stream of fuel and air mixture along the central axis of the burner;
• and
• a flow distribution member arranged to distribute flow of fuel and air mixture from the blower outlet into the burner, the flow distribution member including:
• a closed axially central portion configured to block flow of the inlet stream of fuel and air mixture axially centrally into the burner;
• and
• a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the closed axially central portion, the vanes being configured to generate a swirling flow of fuel and air mixture about the central axis of the burner and flowing through the vanes into the burner.