Single inlet oxygen burner for metal making

A method of controlling oxygen pressure in a burner apparatus, the burner comprising:

• a tubular body having a first end and second end;
• a first oxygen circuit disposed inside of the tubular body with an outlet at the first end;
• a second oxygen circuit attached to the outside of the tubular body, where the tubular body includes openings connected with the second oxygen circuit;
• a valve disposed in the tubular body proximate to the second end, the valve comprising:
• a hollow piston, comprising:
• a piston wall with a first end and a second end;
• and
• an end cap connected to the first end of the piston wall;
• wherein the piston wall comprises a plurality of piston ports;
• a cylinder configured to receive the hollow piston, wherein the cylinder has a plurality of cylinder ports aligned with an inlet of the first oxygen circuit and an inlet of the second oxygen circuit;
• a biasing member in physical communication with the hollow piston and the tubular body and responsive to oxygen pressure applied at the second end;
• and
• wherein, when the hollow piston is positioned at different points within the cylinder, one or more of the piston ports align with one or more of the cylinder ports;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• applying oxygen to the valve at a first pressure wherein the hollow piston is in a first position associated with a first ratio between an output flow from the first oxygen circuit and an output flow form the second oxygen circuit;
• and
• changing the first pressure to a second pressure causing the hollow piston to move to a second position associated with a second ratio between the output flow from the first oxygen circuit and the output flow from the second oxygen circuit.