Low NOx burner

A method of operating a burner so as to limit NOx emissions, said burner having a central axis and a first upper plate and a second lower plate, comprising:

• directing air and fuel through an opening of said second plate into a central chamber of said burner formed between said first plate and said second plate and thereby forming a fuel/air mixture, each of said first plate and said second plate having an outer peripheral edge that is spaced outwardly from the central axis, said outer peripheral edge of said second plate extending from the central axis by a greater distance than said outer peripheral edge of said first plate;
• directing said fuel/air mixture from said chamber through a plurality of ports that extend outwardly from said chamber;
• forming a flame as a result of combustion of said fuel/air mixture;
• wherein an outer peripheral portion of said first plate extends downwardly toward an outer peripheral portion of said second plate, comprising deflecting said flame against said outer peripheral portion of said first plate downwardly onto said second plate without blocking a path of said flame with a burner component that reduces temperature of said flame effective to significantly reduce NOx emissions;
• causing said flame to travel along said outer peripheral portion of said second plate effective to reduce a temperature of said flame;
• and
• introducing air flowing outside said burner into said flame from around said outer peripheral edge of said second plate.

A method of operating a burner so as to limit NOx emissions, said burner having a central axis and a first upper plate and a second lower plate comprising:

• directing air and fuel through an opening of said second plate into a central chamber of said burner formed between said first plate and said second plate and thereby forming a fuel/air mixture, each of said first plate and said second plate having an outer peripheral edge that is spaced outwardly from the central axis, said outer peripheral edge of said second plate extending from the central axis by a greater distance than said outer peripheral edge of said first plate;
• directing said fuel/air mixture from said chamber through a plurality of ports that extend outwardly from said chamber;
• forming a flame as a result of combustion of said fuel/air mixture;
• wherein an outer peripheral portion of said first plate extends downwardly toward an outer peripheral portion of said second plate, comprising deflecting said flame against said outer peripheral portion of said first plate downwardly onto said outer peripheral portion of said second plate;
• limiting outside air flowing outside said burner from reaching said flame by introducing a first portion of said outside air to said flame through openings located in said outer peripheral portion of said second plate;
• directing said flame along said outer peripheral portion of said second plate effective to reduce temperature of the flame;
• and
• introducing into said flame a second major balance portion of said outside air from around said outer peripheral edge of said second plate.

A burner that can receive air and fuel and discharge a fuel/air mixture for combustion into a flame at a periphery of said burner while limiting NOx emissions, said burner having a central axis, comprising:

• first and second plates constructed and arranged so as to form therebetween a central chamber and a plurality of ports extending outwardly of said chamber, said first plate and said second plate each having an outer peripheral edge spaced outwardly from the central axis and located outwardly of said ports, said second plate being disposed below said first plate and including an opening for receiving said air and fuel into said chamber, wherein the outer peripheral edge of said second plate is located a greater distance from the central axis than the outer peripheral edge of said first plate, said second plate including an imperforate heat sink region which is located between the outer peripheral edge of said first plate and the outer peripheral edge of said second plate and around an entire circumference of the burner, said first plate having an outer peripheral portion that extends downwardly toward an outer peripheral portion of said second plate effective to deflect the flame downwardly onto said heat sink region, wherein said outer peripheral portion of said second plate is constructed and arranged relative to said ports so as to cause said flame to contact said heat sink region and to limit air outside the burner from contacting the flame effective to cool the flame and lower NOx emissions.

A burner that can receive air and fuel and discharge a fuel/air mixture for combustion into a flame at a periphery of said burner while limiting NOx emissions, said burner having a central axis, comprising:

• first and second plates constructed and arranged so as to form therebetween a central chamber and a plurality of ports extending outwardly of said chamber and at an upward angle relative to a horizontal plane, said first plate and said second plate each having an outer peripheral edge spaced outwardly from the central axis and located outwardly of said ports, said second plate being disposed below said first plate and including an opening for receiving said air and fuel into said chamber, wherein said outer peripheral edge of said second plate is located a greater distance from the central axis than said outer peripheral edge of said first plate, said second plate including an imperforate heat sink region located between said outer peripheral edge of said first plate and said outer peripheral edge of said second plate around an entire circumference of the burner, said first plate having an outer peripheral portion that extends downwardly toward an outer peripheral portion of said second plate effective to deflect flame downwardly onto said heat sink region, wherein said outer peripheral portion of said second plate comprises an inner annular portion that extends from said ports at a downward angle away from said first plate and an annular lip portion that extends outwardly from said inner annular portion to said outer edge of said second plate, wherein said outer peripheral portion of said second plate is constructed and arranged relative to said ports so as to cause said flame to contact said heat sink region and to limit air outside the burner from contacting the flame effective to cool the flame and lower NOx emissions.