Burner and method for hydrogen combustion with enhanced luminosity

A combustion burner using hydrogen as the primary fuel, the burner comprising:

• a burner housing enclosing a plenum;
• a hydrogen fuel conduit extending longitudinally within the housing and defining a hydrogen fuel exit opening;
• a combustion air conduit extending longitudinally within the housing and defining a combustion air exit opening;
• a hydrocarbon fuel conduit defining a hydrocarbon fuel exit opening;
• and
• a mixing/combustion zone in which the hydrogen fuel, the combustion air, and the hydrocarbon fuel mix and combustion takes place,
• wherein the hydrocarbon fuel exit opening is positioned such that the hydrocarbon fuel injected from the hydrocarbon fuel exit opening is heated prior to mixing with the combustion air injected from the combustion air opening;
• and
• a baffle including a baffle face, wherein the baffle is positioned between the plenum and a burner port block that defines the mixing/combustion zone, wherein combustion air entering the mixing/combustion zone from the combustion air exit opening and hydrogen fuel entering the mixing/combustion zone from the hydrogen fuel exit opening enter a first area adjacent to the baffle face while hydrocarbon fuel enters the mixing/combustion zone in a second area that is farther from the baffle face than the first area.