BURNER SYSTEMS CONFIGURED TO CONTROL AT LEAST ONE GEOMETRIC CHARACTERISTIC OF A FLAME AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

In an embodiment, a burner system is configured to control a geometry of a flame. The burner system includes electrodes configured to have a polarity selected to interact with a flame that has been charged with a charger to control at least one geometric characteristic of the flame.

Description

BACKGROUND

There are many technologies where heat is needed and the heat is often generated by burning fuel in a burner system. The fuel is delivered to the burner system and combustion occurs in a flame area (e.g., at the nozzle), resulting in a flame. Flames also have a tendency to float upwards regardless of how the burner is oriented. The tendency of the flame to float upwards may be compensated by pressurizing the fuel to give more direction to the flame. This enables a burner system and the burner system's flame to be oriented in different directions and enables many different applications.

While the general direction of a flame may be controlled using the flame's momentum, controlling other aspects of the flame such as the flame height is more challenging. Further, the ability to control other aspects of the flame, while still controlling the flame geometry is further complicated by the need to control pollutants, heat transfer, fuel consumption, or the like.

Therefore, improved burner systems and methods are needed to control a flame and for improving the combustion process.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention relate to burner systems for controlling a geometry (e.g., flame height) of a flame output therefrom electrodynamically and related methods. In an embodiment, a burner system is disclosed. The burner system includes a refractory body; a plurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to the refractory body and configured to output fuel; and a charger configured to inject charge into at least one of a fuel that is in communication with the plurality of nozzles, a flame generated from combustion of the fuel, or a flame area in order to impart a charge to the flame. The burner system further includes at least one electrode disposed proximate to the refractory body (e.g., above the refractory body and the plurality of nozzles), and a control system operably coupled to the at least one electrode. The control system is configured to bias the at least one electrode to control at least one geometric characteristic of the flame, such as height.

In an embodiment, a method of controlling a flame geometry is disclosed. The method includes outputting fuel, respectively, from a plurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to a refractory body. The method also includes charging at least one of the fuel or a flame generated from combustion of the fuel. The method further includes biasing at least one electrode positioned proximate to the refractory body (e.g., above the refractory body and the plurality of nozzles) in order to control the flame geometry, such as height.

Features from any of the disclosed embodiments may be used in combination with one another, without limitation. In addition, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a burner system configured to charge a flame and electrodynamically control a geometry of the flame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a coaxial stage burner system that includes electrodes positioned to control a geometry of a flame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a top view of the coaxial stage burner system of FIG. 2A having the electrodes removed.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a burner system having a plurality of electrodes positioned to control a flame geometry and configured to charge the flame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a coaxial stage burner system that includes electrodes, a corona electrode, and a counter electrode according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to burner systems for controlling flame geometry electrodynamically and related methods. For example, the burner systems and methods for controlling geometric characteristics of a flame disclosed herein may be used for controlling flame height, flame width, flame angle, or combinations thereof

Controlling flame geometries may be accomplished, for example, using electrodes and electric fields. Although flames generally include ionized gases or charged particles (ions), the mix of positive and negative ions is such that a conventional flame as a whole may be neutral electrically. Embodiments disclosed herein may also inject charges (e.g., positive or negative ions) into at least one of a fuel, a flame generated from combustion of the fuel, or a flame area such that the flame as a whole is electrically biased either positively or negatively. The flame area may include the flame and an area around the flame, and may further include areas of uncombusted fuel. By adjusting the electrical bias of the flame, a geometry of the flame may be controlled by applying an appropriate electric field.

The geometry of the flame may be controlled using one or more electrodes that may have the same charge as the biased flame or that may have a different charge from the biased flame. In some embodiments, the one or more electrodes may be positively charged, negatively charged, or combinations thereof. The placement and bias of the one or more electrodes may be placed and configured according to a desired flame shape or to enable control of the flame shape according to desired ranges. For example, the one or more electrodes may be positioned in or near a buoyancy-dominated region of the flame, which may not even be visible as opposed to a momentum-dominated region of the flame that is at or near base of the flame.

The polarities of the one or more electrodes may be controlled such that the flame is controlled, respectively, by repulsion or attraction. For example, if the flame is provided with an overall positive charge by the injection and/or addition of positive ions, then positively biased electrodes may control the flame height and/or other geometry or characteristic of the flame by repelling the biased flame or more specifically by repelling the positive ions in the flame. In this manner, at least the height of the flame may be controlled.

The ability to control the flame geometry or other characteristics of the flame may be influenced by placement of the one or more electrodes, size and shape of the one or more electrodes, directions of electric fields, relative potentials of the one or more electrodes, relative strengths of the corresponding electric fields, or combinations thereof. The one or more electrodes may be placed, for example, above the flame, on the sides of the flame, within the flame, or combinations thereof. The one or more electrodes may be shaped like rods, rings, partial-rings, plates, or combinations thereof. The one or more electrodes may also be oriented in different directions or along one or more axes. The one or more electrodes for a given burner system may have different shapes, orientations, sizes, or combinations thereof. The one or more electrodes in a given burner system may be similarly configured or differently configured.

Embodiments of the invention may also include other electrodes, such as counter electrodes. One or more counter electrodes (e.g., a grounded electrode) may be included in the burner system in order establish a desired electric field relative to other electrodes that are at a different potential. Other electrodes (e.g., corona electrodes) may be used to generate the ions that are added to and/or injected into fuel, the flame, the flame area, or combinations thereof to provide a charge to the flame.

In an embodiment, the burner system may be a coaxial stage burner that includes a tubular refractory body defining an interior passageway. A first set of nozzles may be disposed adjacent to an interior surface of the refractory body and/or within the interior passageway and may be mounted or connected to the refractory body. A second set of nozzles may be disposed circumferentially adjacent to an exterior surface of the refractory body. Some of the nozzles may be Venturi nozzles, while mixing may not be performed in other embodiments of the nozzles.

In order to control the flame height, in an embodiment, one or more electrodes may be arranged above the flame and above the refractory body of the burner. The one or more electrodes may be positively or negatively charged. If the fuel has been charged using positive ions, the one or more electrodes may be used to repel or push the flame down. This enables the height of the flame to be controlled without controlling the pressurization of the fuel, without substantially sacrificing heat, without increasing pollutant generation, or combinations thereof. Varying the potential of the one or more electrodes and/or the rate of ionization may be used to control aspects of the flame height control. In other words, the flame height may be varied over time by changing the potential of the one or more electrodes.

The following description provides a further description of flame control in a burner system with reference to the Figures. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. Other embodiments may be used and/or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a burner system 100 that is configured to electrodynamically control a flame and, more specifically, is configured to control at least one geometric characteristic of a flame, such as height, width, or angle. The burner system 100 includes a burner 108 and a fuel source 110 operably coupled to and in fluid communication with the fuel source 110 to receive fuel therefrom. The fuel source 110 may provide pressurized fuel to the burner 108. Pressurizing the fuel may provide direction to the flame and may be used at least in part to control flame height. The fuel provided by the fuel source 110 combusts in the burner 108 (e.g., as the fuel exits one or more nozzles) and produces a flame 116.

The burner system 100 further includes a control system 102 that is operably coupled to one or more electrodes 104 and a charger 106. The charger 106 is configured to charge the fuel, flame 116 generated from combustion of the fuel, a flame area that may include the flame 116, or combinations thereof. The charger 106 may charge the fuel and/or flame using, for example, DC polarity or synchronized AC polarity. The charger 106 may add positive or negative gaseous ions to the flame 116, the fuel flow, the flame area (which results in a biased flame), or combinations thereof. As previously stated, a flame may include ions of different charges, but the overall charge of the flame 116 may be substantially neutral. The charger 106 is configured to charge to the flame 116 and ensures that the overall charge of the flame is positively biased or negatively biased. In some embodiments, the height of the flame 116 may be controlled using the existing charges in the flame and the charger 106 may not be required. In this embodiment, the charge and potential of the one or more electrodes 104 may be varied and set based on the response of the flame that has not been charged by the charger 106.

The one or more electrodes 104 are arranged with respect to the flame 116 and/or the charger 106 such that the geometry of the flame 116 (e.g., the height) may be controlled. For example, the charger 106 may provide the flame 116 with a positive charge as previously stated. The one or more electrodes 104 may also be positively biased in order to create an electric field that acts on the positively charged flame. By controlling the strength and/or direction of the electric field, the height, width, angle, other geometric characteristic of the flame 116, or combinations thereof may be adjusted by repelling the flame with the one or more electrodes 104 that act on the charges in the flame 106. The one electrodes 104 may also be turned off, or the potential of the one or more electrodes 104 may be lowered in some embodiments, which would increase the height of the flame 116. In an embodiment, the potential or bias of the electrodes may be made opposite to that of the flame 116, which may increase the height of the flame 116. The maximum height 114 of the flame 116 may contemplate and account for situations where the polarity of the electrodes 104 is always positive or neutral, always negative or neutral, or where the polarity may change from positive to negative or from negative to positive.

The control system 102 may be configured to control at least the one or more electrodes 104 and the charger 106. The control system 102 includes a voltage source that controls the potential and polarity of the electrodes 104, the amount of charge emitted or generated by the charger 106, or combinations thereof. The control system 102 may also be configured to control the burner 108 and the fuel source 110 (e.g., rate of fuel flow, pressure, or combinations thereof).

As previously discussed, the geometry of the flame 116 may be controlled in the burner system 100. For example, a height of the flame 116 may be controlled within a range 112 from a maximum height 114 to a minimum height 118. When using repulsion (the electrodes 104 and the flame 116 have the same charge or polarity), the height of the flame 116 may be the maximum height 114 when the one or more electrodes 104 are off or when the electrodes 104 off and pressure is maximized. Changing the polarity of the electrodes 104 may impact the maximum height 114. For example, instead of repelling the flame 116, the flame 116 may be attracted to a greater height. The maximum height 114 may be influenced by fuel flow rates, pressurization, electrode polarization, electrode potential, or combinations thereof. When the one or more electrodes 104 are turned on, the one or more electrodes 104 (when the polarity is positive) may repel the biased (positively in this embodiment) flame 116 to a lower height. The height may vary according to various factors including, but not limited to, potential of the electrodes 104, charge density of the flame 116, fuel pressurization, or combinations thereof.

The following discussion further discloses additional embodiments of electrode/charger configurations, such as size of electrodes, number of electrodes, placement of electrodes, or combinations thereof. It should be noted that other configurations of the burner system and components thereof are within the scope of the present application. FIGS. 2A and 2B are an isometric and a top view, respectively, of a refractory coaxial burner system 200, which is an embodiment of the burner 108. FIGS. 2A and 2B specifically illustrates an embodiment of the refractory coaxial burner 200 that includes similarly configured components 220 (eight in this embodiment) that are arranged generally in a circle. The components 220 are each sized and configured to be connected or abutted together such that each component is connected to or adjacent to similar components on opposing sides of each component.

Each component 220 may include a refractory body 202 with an outside nozzle 204 and an inside nozzle 214. For example, the refractory body 202 may be made from alumina, silicon carbide, another ceramic material, other suitable refractory materials, or combinations thereof. The refractory body 202 may be separate from the nozzles 204 and 214 and may be replaceable. The nozzles 204 and 214 may also be changeable. Fuel enters the refractory coaxial burner 200 through a distal end thereof and combusts in a flame area such that a flame is emitted at or proximate to the nozzles 204 and 214. The nozzles 204 and 214 may be sized the same or differently and the specific configuration of the nozzles 204 and 214 may be selected based on a particular application.

With reference specifically to FIG. 2A, the refractory coaxial burner system 200 further includes electrodes and a charger that may be controlled to manage the shape or geometry of the flame of the burner 200. The refractory body 202, which may be formed by coupling multiple components together, defines an interior 220. Oxygen or air necessary for combustion may be provided through the interior 220. Alternatively or in addition, the oxygen or air may be available in the environment.

In this embodiment, the refractory body 202 includes a concavity and/or groove 208 that extends circumferentially about an exterior of the body 202. Each component 220 may have a similar groove to form the groove 208. A charger 206, which may be a corona electrode in an embodiment, may be disposed in the groove 208. A counter electrode (see FIG. 4) may also be disposed in or near the groove 208 in an embodiment. The charger 206 may be configured to emit charged particles that are added to or directed towards the fuel and/or flame. The charger 206 may be shaped to include corners or edges that are positioned such that charged ions are generated in the surrounding fluid (e.g., air) when the corona electrode is sufficiently energized or at a sufficient potential.

FIG. 2A also illustrates electrodes 210 and 212 that are arranged above the refractory coaxial burner 200 in this embodiment. More generally, the electrodes 210 and 212 are arranged opposite the top surface of the refractory body 202 and opposite the nozzles of the nozzles. The electrodes 210 and 212 may be ring electrodes or partial ring electrodes in this embodiment and are placed such that the flame passes beneath and/or through the openings defined by the electrodes 210 and 212. Although the electrodes 210 and 212 are illustrated as being circular or partially circular, the electrodes 210 and 212 may exhibit other non-circular geometries, such as a generally rectangular ring or partial ring shape or other suitable geometry. The placement and configuration of the ring electrodes 210 and 212 enables the electrodes 210 and 212 to control a height of the flame by repelling the charged flame in one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a burner system 300 including a burner 312 and electrodes 302 and 304 used to control a flame's geometry. The burner 312 is another embodiment of the burner 108. FIG. 3 illustrates electrodes 302 and 304 that are arranged above the body of the burner 312 and opposite the nozzle openings. The electrodes 302 and 304 are ring shaped electrodes in this embodiment and are arranged in a stacked configuration. The electrode 302 is located above the electrode 304 relative to the burner 312. The electrode 302 may also have a smaller diameter 314 than the electrode 304. In this embodiment, the electrodes 302 and 304 are sized to accommodate the flame 306 and generally follow the shape of the flame 306. The interiors of the electrodes 302 and 304 may collectively define a cone or tapered form. Alternatively, similarly shaped electrodes may collectively define a cylinder shaped form.

The burner system 300 further includes a corona electrode 308, which is an embodiment of a charger. The corona electrode 308 is disposed on or next to a body of the burner 312 or in a groove of the burner 312. The configuration and placement of the corona electrode 308 may depend on the location and configuration of the nozzles or the fuel path. The corona electrode 308 may be placed below the flame 306. The corona electrode 308 may be in or near the fuel flow. In an embodiment, the location of the corona electrode 308 may influence the fuel to flow away from an exterior of the body of the burner 312. The concavity or groove in which the corona electrode 308 may be disposed may also have provisions for free gas such as fuel intake and outlet.

The corona electrode 308 may also include sharp edges or tips or other features that allow charge to be concentrated. For example, the corona electrode 308 may be a portion of a metallic saw blade, a row of metallic nails, other suitable electrode, or combinations thereof. When the electric field strength is sufficient (e.g., at the edges or tips), nearby air molecules are ionized and have the same polarity as the corona electrode 308. Because the charge of the ionized air molecules is the same as the corona electrode, the ions are repelled away from the corona electrode 308. The resulting repulsion of ions results in an ionic wind (illustrated as ionic wind 310) that introduces the ions into the flame 306, into the flame area, into the fuel prior to combustion, or combinations thereof. As a result, the flame 306 becomes charged due to the introduction of charged ions or other particles.

FIG. 3 further illustrates that the electrodes 302 and 304 are positively charged electrodes and that positive ions have been introduced into the fuel, the flame area or the flame via the ionic wind 310 generated at the corona electrode 308. As a result, controlling the polarity and/or potential of the electrodes 302 and/or 304 may effectively repel the flame 306 and lower the flame height where desired. Reducing the strength of the electrodes may allow the height of the flame 306 to increase in an embodiment. It is currently believed by the inventors that the ability to control the flame height or other geometry of the flame may result in reduced flame height without increasing or by slowing an increase in undesirable outputs such as NO_x. Additionally, the ionic wind 310 may also at least partially direct fuel away from the burner 312, which the inventors currently believe may also help reduce NO_x.

The electrodes 302 and 304 may be configured in different ways. The electrodes may include be arranged in a stacked configuration as illustrated in FIG. 3. In other embodiments, electrodes may be provided for individual nozzles, pairs of nozzles, or combinations thereof. It should be appreciated that other electrode configurations may be used to control the geometry of the flame 306. The electrode or electrode configuration may vary in configuration at least by one or more of placement (e.g., above/below burner or flame, within flame, outside of flame), size (length, width, thickness), orientation, number, relative size, or combinations thereof

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a refractory body 402 of a burner system 400 according to another more detailed embodiment. The refractory body 402 may include multiple components that collectively form the refractory body 402 or it may be unitary. The refractory body 402 includes a concavity 404 that is located in an exterior surface 405 of the body 402 and an interior passageway 407. The concavity 404 may be located just below a top surface 416 of the refractory body 402 or in another suitable location. The concavity 404 is sized and configured to accommodate a corona electrode 410 and a counter electrode 412. For example, the concavity 404 may be annular along with the corona electrode 410 and the counter electrode 412. However, other geometries for the concavity 404, the corona electrode 410, and the counter electrode 412 may be used, such as multiple concavities each of which includes a corresponding corona electrode and a corresponding counter electrode. A plurality of nozzles 406 may be disposed adjacent to the exterior surface 405 and inside the passageway 407 of the refractory body 402. The counter electrode 412 may provide a ground and enable the electric field to be established that results in the generation of ions to be added to a flow of fuel 408 output respectively from nozzles 406 as an ionic wind. The counter electrode 412 may also establish a ground electrode for the electrodes 414 such that the electric field from the electrode configuration is directed down towards the refractory body 402 such that the height of the flame may be controlled by repelling the flame 418 downwardly.

The corona electrode 410 operates such that ions are generated that have the same polarity as the corona electrode 410. These ions, because they have the same charge, repel one another and generate an ionic wind that pushes the ions into the fuel, the flame and/or flame area as previously described. In an embodiment, the ions generated by the corona electrode 410 are added to the fuel may be attracted to the counter electrode 412. However, the operation of the corona electrode 410 and counter electrode 412 results is a net addition of positive ions (or negative ions) to the fuel (or flame or flame area) such that the resulting flame or flame area is electrically biased as discussed herein.

The burner system 400 further includes the stacked electrodes 414 that are arranged over the flame 418. The stacked electrodes 414 are the same size in this embodiment and are arranged in a stacked column over the refractory body 402 of the burner system 400. Because the flame or flame area is charged by the corona electrode 410, the electrodes 414 may be used to control at least a height of the flame 418. In an embodiment, the individual electrodes in the electrodes 414 may have different potentials and/or different polarities.

As previously stated, the control system 102 (see FIG. 1) may be used to control a potential of the electrodes (or other feature of the burner system such as fuel flow, charge density due to a potential of the corona electrode, or combinations thereof) and enable the height of the flame to be controlled or varied as necessary.

The control systems of the various embodiments disclosed herein may comprise a special purpose or general-purpose computer including various computer hardware or other hardware including duplexers, amplifiers, or the like, as discussed in greater detail below.

Embodiments within the scope of the invention also include computer-readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such computer-readable media may be any available media that may be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures and which may be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

Computer-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions, such as controlling the operation of any of the burner systems disclosed herein. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. A burner system, comprising: a refractory body;a plurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to the refractory body and configured to output fuel;a charger configured to inject charge into at least one of a fuel that is in communication with the plurality of nozzles, a flame generated from combustion of the fuel, or a flame area to impart a charge to the flame;at least one electrode disposed proximate to the refractory body; anda control system operably coupled to the at least one electrode, the control system configured to bias the at least one electrode to control at least one geometric characteristic of the flame.

2. The burner system of claim 1 wherein the refractory body includes a first side surface and a second side surface, and wherein the plurality of nozzles includes first nozzles located adjacent to the first side surface and second nozzles located adjacent to the second side surface.

3. The burner system of claim 2 wherein the first side surface defines an exterior side surface of the refractory body and the second side surface defines an interior side surface of the refractory body.

4. The burner system of claim 1 wherein the charger includes a corona electrode positioned adjacent to the refractory body, the corona electrode configured to generate charge for delivery into at least one of the fuel, the flame, or the flame area.

5. The burner system of claim 4 wherein the refractory body includes a concavity formed in an exterior side surface of the refractory body, and wherein the corona electrode is disposed in the concavity.

6. The burner system of claim 5, further comprising a counter electrode disposed in the concavity, wherein the corona electrode and the counter electrode are collectively configured to generate an ionic wind that flows the charge into at least one of the fuel, the flame, or the flame area.

7. The burner system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode includes a plurality of electrodes.

8. The burner system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a stacked configuration above the plurality of nozzles, and wherein the control system is configured to bias the plurality of electrodes to repel the flame to control a height of the flame when the polarity of the plurality of electrodes is the same as the charge injected by the charger.

9. The burner system of claim 1 wherein the at least one geometric characteristic includes at least one of height, width, or angle.

10. A burner system, comprising: a refractory body having a first exterior side surface and a second interior side surface;a plurality of first nozzles disposed adjacent to the first exterior side surface of the refractory body;a plurality of second nozzles disposed adjacent to the second exterior side surface of the refractory body;wherein the pluralities of first and second nozzles are configured to output fuel;a charger configured to inject charge into at least one of the fuel in communication with the pluralities of first and second nozzles, a flame generated by combustion of the fuel, or a flame area to provide a charge to the flame;at least one electrode disposed above the pluralities of first and second nozzles;a control system operably coupled to the at least one electrode, the control system configured to bias the at least one electrode to control a height of the flame.

11. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the refractory body includes a plurality of components arranged in a generally circular configuration.

12. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the charger includes a corona electrode.

13. The burner system of claim 10, further comprising: wherein the charger includes a corona electrode; anda counter electrode configured to interact with at least the corona electrode to generate the charge that is carried by an ionic wind into the flame.

14. The burner system of claim 13 wherein the corona electrode is disposed in a concavity formed in the first exterior side surface of the refractory body, the corona electrode and the counter electrode configured to generate an ionic wind that flows into at least one of the fuel, the flame, or the flame area.

15. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the charger is located below a top surface of the refractory body.

16. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrode is disposed generally opposite to the pluralities of first and second nozzles.

17. The burner system of claim 11 wherein the control system is configured to bias the at least one electrode so that the at least one electrode has a polarity that is the same as a charge of the flame, thereby repelling the flame from the at least one electrode.

18. The burner system of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrode includes a stacked configuration of electrodes, each of the electrodes of the stacked configuration having at least a partial ring shape.

19. The burner system of claim 18 wherein the stacked configuration of electrodes are positioned to be either inside the flame or outside of the flame during combustion.

20. A method of controlling a flame geometry, comprising: outputting fuel, respectively, from a plurality of nozzles disposed adjacent to a refractory body;charging at least one of the fuel or a flame generated from combustion of the fuel; andbiasing at least one electrode positioned proximate to the plurality of nozzles to control the flame geometry.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein biasing at least one electrode positioned proximate to the plurality of nozzles to control the flame geometry includes biasing the at least one electrode to have the same polarity as the flame so that the flame is repelled from the at least one electrode.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein biasing at least one electrode positioned proximate to the plurality of nozzles to control the flame geometry includes biasing the at least one electrode to have a different polarity as the flame so that the flame is attracted to the at least one electrode.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein charging at least one of the fuel or a flame generated from combustion of the fuel includes generating an ionic wind that flows into at least one of the fuel or the flame.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the refractory body includes a concavity on an exterior side surface thereof from which the ionic wind emanates.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a counter electrode and a corona electrode disposed in the concavity of the refractory body, the corona electrode and the counter electrode configured to generate the ionic wind.