Dual mode regenerative burner system and a method of heating a furnace using a dual mode regenerative burner system

A regenerative burner system for a furnace comprising:

• a first burner assembly comprising a burner, a regenerative media bed, an oxidizing gas supply line directly connected to the burner from an oxidizing gas supply for introducing oxidizing gas into the burner, a second oxidizing gas supply line connected to the regenerative media bed for introducing oxidizing gas into the regenerative media bed, a low calorific fuel supply line connected to the regenerative media bed for introducing low calorific fuel into the regenerative media bed, a high calorific fuel supply line directly connected to the burner from a high calorific fuel supply for introducing high calorific fuel into the burner, an inlet in the regenerative media bed through which exhaust gases from the furnace enter the regenerative media bed, and an outlet in the regenerative media bed through which exhaust gases that have passed through the regenerative media bed exit the regenerative media bed;
• and
• a second burner assembly comprising a burner and a regenerative media bed, an oxidizing gas supply line directly connected to the burner from the oxidizing gas supply for introducing oxidizing gas into the burner, a second oxidizing gas supply line connected to the regenerative media bed for introducing oxidizing gas into the regenerative media bed, a low calorific fuel line connected to the regenerative media bed for introducing low calorific fuel into the regenerative media bed, a high calorific fuel supply line directly connected to the burner from a high calorific fuel supply for introducing high calorific fuel into the burner, an inlet in the regenerative media bed through which exhaust gases from the furnace enter the regenerative media bed, and an outlet in the regenerative media bed through which exhaust gases that have passed through the regenerative media bed exit the regenerative media bed,
• wherein, during operation, the regenerative bed of each burner assembly is supplied with oxidizing gas or low calorific fuel, and the burner of each burner assembly is supplied with oxidizing gas and/or a high calorific fuel.