Aerodynamic fuel combustor

A fuel burner which comprises:

• a mixing chamber,
• said mixing chamber including means for introduction thereinto of combustible material and combustion-supporting gas material and for mixture of the same therein to produce a combustible mixture, and including a downstream mixing chamber outlet,
• a combustion chamber,
• said combustion chamber including a combustion chamber inlet and a combustion chamber outlet, and
• a flameholder,
• said flameholder being positioned between said mixing chamber outlet and said combustion chamber inlet and including a hub, a plurality of vanes extending outwardly from said hub, and enclosure means for cooperation with said vanes in defining a corresponding plurality of separated passages through said flameholder,
• said vanes including mixture guidance surfaces at an angle to the direction of net fluid flow through said flameholder from said mixing chamber to said combustion chamber, to produce a whirling motion in said mixture,
• said vanes including also downstream end bluff body means for producing eddying of said mixture thereat, said eddying being of amount effective, in conjunction with said whirling motion, to hold separate flames at respective separate said vanes, thus producing a visible blue whirling flame pattern,
• said combustion chamber having an inner surface for confining and guiding burning mixture and efficient delivery, for then doing work, of hot gas through said combustion chamber outlet, and said combustion chamber outlet being open.