Method and apparatus for feeding air into a furnace

A method of feeding combustion gas to a furnace through a gas nozzle disposed in association with a furnace wall, the nozzle having a longitudinal axis of elongation, an exterior, and a hollow interior;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) directing cooling gas into contact with the nozzle exterior in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of elongation of the nozzle, to cool the nozzle;
• and
• (b) passing combustion gas through the nozzle hollow interior substantially along the longitudinal axis of elongation thereof so that the combustion gas enters the furnace and facilitates combustion within the furnace.

A furnace assembly, comprising:

• a furnace wall defining a furnace combustion chamber on a first side thereof, and having a second, opposite, side thereof;
• a gas inlet nozzle having a longitudinal axis of elongation, an exterior, a hollow interior, and a first end section thereof positioned with respect to said furnace wall so that combustion gas flowing through said hollow interior passing into said combustion chamber, and an opening remote from said first end and through which gas passes into said hollow interior;
• a duct disposed on the second side of the furnace wall for supplying combustion gas to said opening of said nozzle;
• means defining an open volume around said nozzle exterior adjacent said first end section of said nozzle, and between said furnace wall and said duct, and sealed from said combustion chamber;
• and
• means for directing cooling gas into said open volume to cool said nozzle.