Oxy-fuel burner, ignition and flame control system and method for controlling ignition and flame

An oxy-fuel burner adapted to be housed within a wall of a melting furnace, the oxy-fuel burner comprising:

• a housing, which defines an oxidizing-agent supply channel running in a longitudinal direction, from an upstream end to a downstream end of the housing and having an oxidizing-agent outlet port at the downstream end of the housing,
• a fuel supply channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing and having a fuel outlet port located at the downstream end of the housing,
• an oxidant injector extending in the longitudinal direction inside the fuel supply channel and having an oxidant outlet port located at the downstream end of the housing, and
• an ignition and flame-control electrode extending inside the oxidizing-agent supply channel and adapted to provide initial ignition of the burner and subsequent control of a burner flame, wherein said ignition and flame-control electrode is adapted to be connected to a system for automatically controlling the ignition and flame control of a burner.

A system for automatically controlling the ignition and flame control of the oxy-fuel burner according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises:

• an ignition device;
• a combustion-signalling device;
• a cut-off valves unit, designed with the ability to be connected to a gas-oxygen unit which regulates the flows of fuel, oxidizing agent, oxidant and instrument air and supplies same to the burner;
• and a control unit designed with the ability to communicate with the gas-oxygen unit, the ignition device, the combustion-signalling device and the cut-off valves unit.