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Abstract

A method of burning pulverized coal and other fuels comprises the steps of containing a primary flowing stream of coal/air mixture received adjacent an inlet end of a tubular nozzle for discharge at an outlet end into a combustion zone of a furnace for burning. The stream is accelerated in a convergent venturi section upstream of the outlet to distribute and concentrate the coal particles toward a central portion of the venturi in a minimum area throat, followed by decelerating the flow downstream of the venturi throat in a convergent flow section while forming a shallow, annular, conically shaped flow pattern around a hollow spreader cone mounted in the convergent section. The annular flow is caused to swirl around the axis of the cone by vanes outwardly thereof within the convergent flow section of the venturi, thus forming a stable, annularly-shaped, swirling flow pattern for discharge into the combustion zone, wherein the coal is burned in an elongated flame pattern extending along the stabilized conical flow pattern. A zone of high temperature and reducing atmosphere is formed adjacent the hollow outer end of the cone due to recirculation of combustion products into the rich fuel/air mixture wherein the volatiles in the coal are driven off early in the combustion process and are rapidly burned in a continuing process reducing the formation of oxides of nitrogen.

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First Claim