Methods and apparatus for generating infrared radiation from convective products of combustion

An apparatus for cooking food with infrared radiation generated from convective products of combustion, wherein combustible gas, primary air and secondary air are supplied to the combustion, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing at least partially defining an interior space, wherein the interior space is for at least partially containing each of the combustion, the convective products of the combustion, and a mixture of the combustible gas, the primary air and the secondary air, wherein the housing includes an opening to the interior space;
• at least one burner in fluid communication with the interior space for providing a mixture of the combustible gas and the primary air to the combustion;
• an infrared emitter having opposite first and second sides, wherein
• the first side of the infrared emitter at least partially obstructs the opening to the interior space, at least partially defines the interior space and is in opposing face-to-face relation with the interior space, so that the first side of the infrared emitter is for being exposed to, and heated by, the convective products of the combustion in the interior space, and
• the second side of the infrared emitter is for emitting infrared radiation;
• and
• a support member positioned for supporting the food at a location in which the food is cooked by at least some of the infrared radiation emitted by the second side of the infrared emitter, wherein the infrared emitter is positioned between the interior space and the support member,
• wherein the apparatus is configured so that excess air present in gasses exhausted from the housing is less than 300% while the burner is operating, and
• the apparatus further comprises an exhaust port positioned between the housing and the first side of the infrared emitter, wherein the apparatus is configured so that excess air present in gasses exhausted from the housing by way of the exhaust port is less than 300%, while the burner is operating.

An apparatus for cooking food with infrared radiation comprising:

• a burner assembly comprising
• a burner container having an upper end, a bottom, and an interior volume,
• a burner element positioned within the burner container below the upper end thereof, the burner element having a plurality of discharge ports for discharging and burning a mixture of a combustible gas and primary air within the burner container, and
• secondary air intake openings positioned within the burner container at an elevation lower than the discharge ports of burner element and
• an infrared emitter positioned above the burner element such that convective products of combustion produced in the burner container will contact and heat a lower side of the infrared emitter,
• wherein the interior volume and the secondary air intake openings of the burner container are sized such that, when exiting the upper end of the burner container, the convective products of combustion produced in the burner container will have an excess air content of less than 300% when the burner element is operated at from 50% to 100% of its full high fire capacity.