LOW NOx BURNER APPARATUS AND METHOD

A burner apparatus for discharging a burner flame in a heating system having gaseous products of combustion therein, the burner apparatus comprising:

• a burner wall having a forward longitudinal end and an exterior,
• a flow passageway for air or other oxygen source which extends through and is at least mostly surrounded by the burner wall, the flow passageway having a discharge at the forward longitudinal end of the burner wall;
• a combustion zone of the burner apparatus which has a beginning end located substantially at the forward longitudinal end of the burner wall;
• a series of primary fuel ejection structures which are positioned outside of and which at least partially surround the flow passageway, the primary fuel ejection structures being located rearwardly of and radially outward from the forward longitudinal end of the burner wall and each of the primary fuel ejection structures being oriented to eject a primary fuel stream along a primary fuel flow path outside of the burner wall toward the combustion zone;
• at least one primary radial impact structure which is provided on the exterior of the burner wall and is positioned in the primary fuel flow paths for contacting by at least a portion of the primary fuel stream ejected by each of the primary fuel ejection structures;
• a series of secondary fuel ejection structures which are positioned outside of and which at least partially surround the flow passageway, the secondary fuel ejection structures being located rearwardly of and radially outward from the primary fuel ejection structures and each of the secondary fuel ejection structures being oriented to eject a secondary fuel stream along a secondary fuel flow path outside of the burner wall toward the combustion zone;
• and
• at least one secondary radial impact structure which is provided on the exterior of the burner wall and is positioned rearwardly of the at least one primary radial impact structure, in the secondary fuel flow paths, for contacting by at least a portion of the secondary fuel stream ejected by each of the secondary fuel ejection structures.