Exemplary embodiments of a system and method for bimodal air control in a kettle-style grill are configured to be detachably mounted to the exterior of a kettle-styled grill such as, but not limited to, a Weber® charcoal grill. When mounted to the kettle-styled grill, a plenum-like component directs air flows to the interior of the grill's kettle via the kettle's lower body damper holes. A manually adjustable intake damper in the plenum component allows, restricts, or prevents a drawn ambient air flow into the plenum component. Separately, a forced air flow generated by a fan may also be provided into the plenum component. Adjustment of the intake damper may also adjust damper blades inside the grill's kettle. Ash that falls out of the kettle's damper holes falls through the plenum component and is captured in an ash receptacle that is removably mounted to the plenum component.

An apparatus (having at least one burner having a plurality of co-axial channels and a control system for regulating a length of a flame for partial oxidation of hydrocarbon feed in a reactor is provided. The at least one burner has a first channel to inject a stream of oxidizer, a second channel to inject a stream of the hydrocarbon feed and a third channel to inject a stream of swirl gas at a first velocity into the hydrocarbon feed stream. The control system regulates the length of the flame to have a constant flame shape and position by regulating the first velocity of the swirl gas that generates the swirl motion within the hydrocarbon feed stream.

A shaft furnace for firing carbonate-containing material may include, in a flow direction of the material, a preheating zone, a firing zone, a cooling zone, and a material outlet for discharging the material from the shaft furnace. Burner lances project into the firing zone. At least one burner lance has a first penetration depth into the firing zone and at least one further burner lance has a second penetration depth into the firing zone that is greater than the first penetration depth. A primary air conduit may be configured to convey combustion air and may be connected to at least one burner lance. An oxygen conduit for conveying oxygen into the firing zone may be arranged such that oxygen flows from the oxygen conduit at least one burner lance having the second penetration depth.

A shaft furnace for firing carbonate-containing material may include, in a flow direction of the material, a preheating zone, a firing zone, a cooling zone, and a material outlet for discharging the material from the shaft furnace. Burner lances project into the firing zone. At least one burner lance has a first penetration depth into the firing zone and at least one further burner lance has a second penetration depth into the firing zone that is greater than the first penetration depth. A primary air conduit may be configured to convey combustion air and may be connected to at least one burner lance. An oxygen conduit for conveying oxygen into the firing zone may be arranged such that oxygen flows from the oxygen conduit at least one burner lance having the second penetration depth.

The disclosed technology includes a device for extending the turndown ratio of a gas-fired burner system. The device can comprise a variable area device configured reduce the amount of fuel and air passed to the burner during low output conditions by adjusting the cross-sectional area of the passage between the blower and the burner. The variable area device can be controlled by an actuator that adjusts the position of the variable area device. The actuator can be manually controlled, mechanically controlled, or electronically controlled.

Various embodiments include a combustion apparatus comprising: a facility for open- and/or closed-loop control of the apparatus; a combustion chamber; an actuator adjusting an air supply; and a combustion sensor in a region of a flame of the chamber. The controller stores a list of support points. A first air supply value is assigned to each support point. A drift test value and an index for ascertainment of a test result are assigned to each support point. The controller: generates a specified air supply; selects a support point as a function of the air supply; and decides on a test result using the index for the support point. To ascertain a test result: receives a signal from the combustion sensor; determines a new test result; ascertains a changed drift test value for the selected support point; and stores the changed drift test value as the drift test value.

A burner tip apparatus which is resistant to plugging, and a staged air method of operation which reduces the peak temperature of the flame of the burner tip to provide low levels of NO.sub.x and other emissions. The burner tip can be used as an auxiliary burner tip for stabilizing a main burner flame, or for other purposes.

A process and plant for preheating a metal charge fed in continuous to an electric melting furnace through a preheating tunnel provided with side walls, a vault and a horizontal conveyor, wherein the metal charge is enveloped in countercurrent by fumes or exhaust gases exiting from the electric melting furnace, includes causing an air intake from the surrounding environment through openings along the preheating tunnel to complete the combustion of the fumes or exhaust gases. The intake is regulated by acting on suction fans and/or on the openings, based on measurements by temperature sensors and/or the composition of the outgoing gases in or downstream of the terminal part of the tunnel. The metal charge is enveloped by jets of gas ejected through a plurality of nozzles arranged non-uniformly longitudinally on the vault of the tunnel, with a greater concentration on the top of the vault of the tunnel.

A gas burner system and corresponding methods include a gas burner through which an air-gas mixture is conducted; a variable-speed forced-air device that forces air through the gas burner; a control valve that controls a supply of gas for mixture with the air to thereby form the air-gas mixture; an electrode configured to ignite the air-gas mixture and produce a flame, wherein the electrode is further configured to measure an actual flame strength of the flame; a controller; and an input device for inputting a calibration command to the controller. Upon receipt of the calibration command, the controller is configured to automatically calibrate and save the target flame strength set point and thereafter automatically regulate a speed of the variable-speed forced-air device to cause the actual flame strength to achieve the target flame strength set point.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.