Combustion apparatus and method

A method comprising:

• (a) providing a first hollow member having a longitudinal axis, an interior surface, an exterior surface, at least one inlet which communicates with the interior of said hollow member, and an outlet which communicates with the interior of said hollow member and which is longitudinally spaced form said at least one inlet;
• (b) providing a nozzle which comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member positioned generally coaxially within said first tubular member so as to define a first generally annular space therebetween, said nozzle having an exterior surface, an outlet, and at least one combustible gas swirl vane within said nozzle, and wherein said nozzle extends into the interior of said hollow member such that said nozzle outlet is longitudinally positioned between said at least one hollow member inlet and said hollow member outlet and such that a passageway is defined through said hollow member having a first zone defined by the exterior surface of said nozzle and the interior surface of a first portion of said hollow member longitudinally extending between said at least one hollow member inlet and said nozzle outlet, said passageway further comprising a second zone defined by the interior surface of a second portion of said hollow member longitudinally extending between said nozzle outlet and said hollow member outlet;
• (c) providing at least one oxidant gas swirl vane fixedly mounted within said first zone;
• (d) directing an oxidant gas stream in a direction generally toward said at least one hollow member inlet so as to flow along and in contact with at least a portion of the exterior surface of said second portion and then along and in contact with at least a portion of the exterior surface of said first portion;
• (e) directing the entirety of said oxidant gas stream through said at least one hollow member inlet and into said first zone so as to flow, in a direction generally toward said second zone, around and in contact with said at least one oxidant gas swirl vane to thereby produce a swirling stream of oxidant gas;
• (f) passing a first combustible gas stream through said first generally annular space and a second combustible gas stream through said second tubular member so as to flow around and in contact with said at least one combustible gas swirl vane, whereby swirling first and second combustible gas streams exit said nozzle outlet into said second zone so as to contact and mix with the swirling stream of oxidant gas in said second zone;
• (g) combusting said first and second combustible gas streams in said second zone to thereby produce combustion products;
• (h) discharging said combustion products through said hollow member outlet.