HIGH PERFORMANCE LOW NOx BURNER AND SYSTEM

A low NOx burner, comprising:

• a main fuel nozzle disposed at a proximal position in a furnace and configured to output a main fuel into a combustion air stream;
• a pilot burner disposed at a distal position and configured to support a pilot flame to initiate combustion of the mixed main fuel and combustion air;
• and
• a distal flame holder positioned to receive the mixed main fuel and combustion air, and configured to hold a combustion reaction of the mixed main fuel and combustion air wherein the distal flame holder consists essentially of metal parts.

A method for operating a low NOx burner, comprising:

• receiving main fuel and combustion air into a proximal end of a mixing tube;
• outputting mixed main fuel and combustion air from a distal end of the mixing tube;
• receiving the mixed main fuel and combustion air at a distal flame holder;
• and
• causing ignition of the mixed main fuel and combustion air at a location coincident with the distal flame holder with a pilot flame supported by a continuous pilot burner,
• wherein each of the continuous pilot burner and the distal flame holder at least partially include shared structure.