Method and apparatus for minimizing turbulence in a submerged combustion system

In a submerged combustion system wherein hot gaseous products of combustion are forced through a liquid solution to heat the solution, the hot gaseous combustion products being created by burning a fuel with air in the interior of a hollow fuel-air retaining means a base portion of which is submerged in the liquid solution, and the hot gaseous products of combustion being exhausted from the interior of the retaining means into the liquid solution below the surface of the liquid solution, the improvement comprising exhausting the hot gaseous products of combustion through

• (a) a plurality of first ports disposed at a first elevation around the perimeter of the walls of the base of the retaining means below the level of the solution,
• (b) a plurality of second ports disposed at a second elevation around the perimeter of the walls of the base of the retaining means below the first elevation with the elevations of the tops of the plurality of second ports intersecting with the elevations of the bottoms of the plurality of first ports;
• (c) a plurality of third ports disposed at a third elevation around the perimeter of the walls of the base of the retaining means below the second elevation with the elevations of the tops of the plurality of third ports intersecting with the elevations of the bottoms of the plurality of second ports, the size of the plurality of ports being predetermined to minimize turbulence in the solution and foam being created at the surface of the solution, wherein said plurality of first ports, said plurality of second ports and said plurality of third ports are circular and vertically offset from one another, the centres of radius of the plurality of first ports intersecting with the tops of the plurality of second ports, the centres of radius of the plurality of second ports intersecting with the tops of the plurality of first ports, and the centres of radius of the plurality of third ports intersecting with the tops of the plurality of second ports.