The burner is the device which effectively converts a fuel into heat. It can be as simple as a grate in a firebox or as complicated as the pumps, atomizers, blowers, and combustion chamber of an oil burner. The key to efficient burning of any fuel is the burner. The proper choice of burner is the difference between success and failure in fuel combustion. As the heat content of a given fuel increases, so does the complexity of the burning system: Natural gas will burn, although inefficiently, coming out of the end of a pipe. On the other hand, diesel fuel must be vaporized under pressure, preheated, and mixed with the right amount of air-- all toward the goal of getting efficient heat release from something as simple as oil. Each fuel type requires its own unique burner system. Not only must a burner be understood, but it is necessary to know what it takes to keep each type working. Normal operation requires upkeep and as a burner system becomes more complex, so does its upkeep. As a Consumer, it's always nice to know what needs to be done to keep your heating system working. Ever get a snow-job from a service man? As a potential buyer of a furnace or kiln, you have the ability to make a more intelligent choice. You can't always depend on a salesman for all the facts. He is more likely to promote what he has to sell. Originally written for ceramists who should know what they are doing when they use a kiln, this book may be applied to burners, whatever their application.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Author
If you are looking for a book on burner engineering or how to design burners, this isn't it. It was written for people without a technical background who want to know more about the burners they use. Originally written for the ceramist who deals with burners on a kiln, the book provides them with the information to do a better job of firing. We discovered that this kind of information was applicable to people with furnaces of one kind or another, too.
Some of our books were written 25 years ago and they continue to sell and provide information not otherwise available and that hasn't changed since they were written. We update a book when the information is outdated. The old bibliographic entries were current when the books were written.
All of the books listed under our name are self published. We began printing and binding our own books before 1980 when we became dissatisfied with the quality of work done by the "pros" We graduated from an offset press to electrostatic printing when the quality was proven better for our kind of printing.
We use print on demand to allow us to maintain a minimum inventory. without it we would be stocking no less than 30,000 books. This way we can update and make changes without having to destroy a large inventory.
We do not try to compete with the "big guys" who need to have books that sell rapidly and continuously and who are quite willing to drop a title that isn't selling. --This text refers to the Plastic Comb edition.
About the Author
Ralph Ritchie has degrees from three Universities, a Trade School diploma, Certificates from two U.S. Navy Electronics Schools, served an apprenticeship to a woodcarver, and has approximately 60 years of work experience in a wide variety of fields. He has shared the last 50 years with his wife and business partner, Fern J. Ritchie, MFA.
In the course of his life's experience he has encountered numerous earthquakes, six or seven floods, two wild fires, an evacuation, power outages beyond count, lived where law enforcement was non-existent, lived without fire fighter protection, and survived the wilds of a childhood in downtown Los Angeles. He has lived on both coasts in this country, in South America, the Carribean Islands, but mostly in California. He is presently a resident of Oregon.Ralph has worked as a printer, electrician, electronics techincian, machinist, foundryman, carpenter, cabinet maker, jeweler, photographer, sculptor, potter, farmer, writer, publisher. His professional career includes engineering consultant, university professor, research scientist, engineer, and chief engineer of a plastics company, teacher in his own school, and lecturer. He has held various jobs in industry and with government agencies. His last regular paycheck came in 1965 and he has worked for a living ( You know what I mean) independently ever since. Dr. Ritchie has written over 30 books, published more than twenty, and writes to transfer the experience of a lifetime to generations to come. The existing eight books on Emergency Procedures and Y2K makes Ritchie Unlimited Publications the largest publisher on this topic.And that is the shortest resume of an active man's life you are likely to encounter. --This text refers to the Plastic Comb edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Anything can be published....,
By Ingot Maker "Professional Student" (Northeast, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Understanding, Maintaining, Using BURNERS For Natural Gas, Propane, Oil, Coal, Wood, Exotic Fuels, Second Edition (Plastic Comb)
This is nothing more than a multipage advertisement for his other books. There is no advice on understanding or maintaining burners that he doesn't refer the reader to another of his books, and what's up with the incessant hot-tub analogies? His other books may be of more value for potters, but I won't buy any of them.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Almost totally worthless...,
By "wiredlain" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Understanding, Maintaining, Using BURNERS For Natural Gas, Propane, Oil, Coal, Wood, Exotic Fuels, Second Edition (Plastic Comb)
This book is pretty much completely useless to anyone, unless you are firing a very controled kiln environment. Most of what the author talks about is either pointless or just common sense things that go unsaid which you already know.This book is an extremely bad buy. It lacks any practical value, and is way over priced. This book MIGHT be worthwhile if you can get it for less than $3.00... Even the quality of the book is extremely poor. It is much smaller and shorter than it appears and the actual paper the book is written on appears to have been xeroxed. VERY BAD BUY!! STAY AWAY!!! I am a fairly advanced potter and own my own gas fired kiln which I built myself from scratch. I know about kilns and kiln books and this is of very little value. If you want a good one try "The Kiln Book", it seems to be the best one out there.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Burners Understanding Maintaining and Using Burners,
By
This review is from: Understanding, Maintaining, Using BURNERS For Natural Gas, Propane, Oil, Coal, Wood, Exotic Fuels, Second Edition (Plastic Comb)
From the title I was expecting a more technical book than what I received. Was looking more for designs and engineering rather than general information this book gives.
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