Partial oxidation burner

Claim 1

A burner for introducing first and second reactant feedstreams into a partial oxidation gas generator comprising: a central conduit having a central longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the burner, closing means attached to the upstream end of said central conduit for closing off same; an unobstructed exit nozzle at the downstream end of the central conduit which discharges through a circular exit orifice located upstream from the face of the burner to provide a central pre-mix chamber that discharges through an unobstructed circular exit orifice at the face of the burner, inlet means connected to the upstream end of the central conduit for introducing a first reactant feedstream; a second conduit coaxial and concentric with said central conduit along its length, an unobstructed exit nozzle at the downstream end of the second conduit which discharges through the circular orifice of said central pre-mix chamber at the face of the burner, spacing means between said central and second conduits for maintaining a spaced relationship and forming therebetween an unobstructed first annular passage with an unobstructed downstream annular exit orifice that discharges into the central pre-mix chamber, closing means attached to said second conduit and first annular passage at their upstream ends for closing off same, said central conduit passing through the upstream closed end of said second conduit and making a gastight seal therewith, and inlet means connected to the upstream end of the second conduit for introducing a second reactant feedstream; a third conduit coaxial and concentric with said second conduit along its length, spacing means for between said second and third conduits for maintaining a spaced relationship and forming therebetween an unobstructed second annular passage with an unobstructed downstream annular exit orifice located upstream from the face of the burner to provide a portion of an annular pre-mix chamber that discharges through an unobstructed annular exit orifice at the face of the burner closing means attached to the second annular passage and third conduit at their upstream ends for closing off same, said second conduit passing through the upstream closed end of the third conduit and making a gastight seal therewith, and inlet means connected to the upstream end of the third conduit for introducing a third reactant feedstream; an outer conduit coaxial and concentric with said third conduit along its length, an unobstructed exit nozzle at the downstream end of the outer conduit which discharges through said annular exit orifice at the face of the burner, spacing means between said third and outer conduits for maintaining a spaced relationship and forming therebetween an unobstructed third annular passage with an unobstructed downstream annular exit orifice located upstream from the face of the burner that discharges into the remaining portion of said annular pre-mix chamber, closing means attached to the third annular passage and outer conduit at their upstream ends for closing off same, said third conduit passing through the upstream closed end of the outer conduit and making a gastight seal therewith, and inlet means connected to the upstream end of the outer conduit for introducing a fourth reactant feedstream; an outer annular water-cooled flat face-plate encircling the downstream end of the burner, said face-plate being cored to provide an annular passage for circulating water and an annular header for distributing a gaseous material, passage means extending longitudinally in the wall of said outer conduit and in communication with said distribution header, inlet means in communication with the upstream end of said longitudinal passage means for introducing said gaseous material, and downstream passage means in communication with said distribution header for discharging said gaseous material at the face of the burner.