A method for disposing a bed comprising particles in a burner through which a gas can flow, more particularly in a burner basket of an ammonia oxidation burner, where the particles are disposed such that the bed has a greater flow resistance in an edge region of the burner than in an inner region of the burner. Further, a burner basket for a burner may have a bed comprising particles, wherein the particles are disposed such that the bed has a greater flow resistance in an edge region of the burner basket than in an inner region of the burner basket.

Smooth, heat-treated glass fragments are created by placing a plurality of heat-treated glass fragments into a tumbling or vibrating apparatus. Each heat-treated glass fragment is formed from glass that has been heated to a temperature of at least 1000° Fahrenheit and rapidly cooled to a temperature below 800° Fahrenheit. The plurality of glass fragments is then tumbled or vibrated for a predetermined period of time such that surfaces of the heat-treated glass fragments are smoother than prior to tumbling. The glass fragments are thereafter removed from the tumbling apparatus, resulting in smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments that have a slightly rounded, bead like-shape and are suitable for direct handling without hand protection. The glass fragments as are able to be provide radiant heat in the temperature range of 400° to 800° Fahrenheit. This temperature range and the use of the heat-treated glass fragments provides for a clean burning fire that virtually eliminates any soot and carbon monoxide while burning.

An invention is provided for creating smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments. The invention includes placing a plurality of heat-treated glass fragments into a tumbling or vibrating apparatus. Each heat-treated glass fragment is formed from glass that has been heated to a temperature of at least 1000° Fahrenheit and rapidly cooled to a temperature below 800° Fahrenheit. The plurality of glass fragments is then tumbled or vibrated for a predetermined period of time such that surfaces of the heat-treated glass fragments are smoother than prior to tumbling. The glass fragments are thereafter removed from the tumbling apparatus, resulting in smoothed, heat-treated glass fragments that have a slightly rounded, bead like-shape and are suitable for direct handling without hand protection. The glass fragments as are able to be provide radiant heat in the temperature range of 400° to 800° Fahrenheit. This temperature range and the use of the heat-treated glass fragments provides for a clean burning fire that virtually eliminates any soot and carbon monoxide while burning.

A method for disposing a bed comprising particles in a burner through which a gas can flow, more particularly in a burner basket of an ammonia oxidation burner, where the particles are disposed such that the bed has a greater flow resistance in an edge region of the burner than in an inner region of the burner. Further, a burner basket for a burner may have a bed comprising particles, wherein the particles are disposed such that the bed has a greater flow resistance in an edge region of the burner basket than in an inner region of the burner basket.