Burner assembly for coal fired furnaces

A method for supplying pulverized coal and air to furnaces and the like through a burner assembly resulting in increased combustion efficiency comprising the steps of:

• delivering a pulverized coal funnel through a port in the wall of said furnace and directly into the interior thereof with fuel feeding means;
• providing a first flow of air into the interior of said furnace separate from said pulverized coal funnel and said fuel feeding means;
• supplying a second flow of air through said feeding means and into said furnace interior separate from said first flow of air and said pulverized coal funnel prior to entrance into said furnace interior;
• interrupting said first flow of air to provide a major portion and a minor portion;
• directing said major portion through a plurality of curved slotted passageways formed by a plurality of overlapping blades which foreclose direct axial passage between adjacent blades along their entire length;
• allowing said major portion of air to expand radially as it passes through said curved slotted passageways;
• directing said minor portion around the circumferential edge of said blades to combine with said radially expanding air as said major and minor portions move forward into said furnace interior;
• and
• encompassing said pulverized coal funnel with said first flow of air as said coal funnel enters said furnace while simultaneously expanding said coal funnel with said second flow of air whereby both said flows break up said coal funnel within said furnace.