Boiler and burner apparatus

1. A boiler apparatus comprising:

a housing having an interior boiler chamber;

an inlet manifold having an inlet aperture means formed therein, said inlet aperture means permitting flow of a boiler fluid in a first direction from said inlet manifold to said boiler chamber;

a turning vane disposed adjacent said inlet aperture means, said turning vane diverting said boiler fluid in a second direction;

a burner element arranged to be in thermal communication with said boiler chamber;

a burner enclosure for presenting an inlet gas stream to said burner element via a gas inlet aperture; and

a gas restricting means for restricting contact between said burner element and said inlet gas stream such that said inlet gas stream is initially incident upon one edge of said burner element, thereby forcing said inlet gas stream to propagate across said burner element from said one edge.

2. The boiler apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

said turning vane diverts said boiler fluid such that said boiler fluid is caused to initially flow adjacent an interior surface of said boiler chamber.

3. The boiler apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an ignition device for instigating combustion of said inlet gas stream, said ignition device arranged adjacent said one edge of said burner element; and

wherein said gas restricting means comprises a gas flow director arranged about said burner element and having a closed end and an open end, said closed end being oriented adjacent said gas inlet aperture and said open end being oriented adjacent said ignition device.

4. The boiler apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

said burner element is a down-fired burner element arranged adjacent an upper portion of said burner chamber.

5. The boiler apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

said inlet aperture means comprises one of a plurality of discreet inlet holes, and an elongated inlet slot.

6. A boiler apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior boiler chamber;

an inlet manifold having an inlet aperture formed therein, said inlet aperture facilitating entry of a boiler fluid from said inlet manifold to said boiler chamber;

a turning vane disposed adjacent said inlet aperture, said turning vane diverting said boiler fluid;

a burner element arranged to be in thermal communication with said boiler chamber;

an ignition device for instigating combustion of an inlet gas stream, said ignition device arranged adjacent one edge of said burner element; and

a gas restricting means for restricting contact between said burner element and said inlet gas stream such that said inlet gas stream is initially incident upon said one edge of said burner element, thereby forcing said inlet gas stream to propagate across said burner element from said one edge.

7. The boiler apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:

said gas restricting means comprises a gas flow director arranged about said burner element to substantially isolate said burner element from said inlet gas stream, said gas flow director having an open end oriented adjacent said ignition device.

8. The boiler apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:

said burner element is a down-fired burner element arranged adjacent an upper portion of said burner chamber.

9. A method of operating a boiler having a boiler chamber and an inlet flow of boiler fluid into said boiler chamber, said method comprising the steps of:

directing said inlet flow of boiler fluid such that said boiler fluid flows adjacent an interior surface of said boiler; and

arranging a structural support post in said boiler chamber, said support post extending between opposing walls of said boiler chamber.

10. The method of operating a boiler according to claim 9 , said method further comprising the steps of:

arranging a turning vane adjacent said inlet flow of boiler fluid, said turning vane defining a radial turn for directing said inlet flow of said boiler fluid adjacent said interior surface.

11. The method of operating a boiler according to claim 9 , said method further comprising the steps of:

arranging a burner element to be in thermal communication with said boiler chamber;

arranging an ignition device adjacent one edge of said burner element for instigating combustion of an inlet gas stream; and

restricting contact between said burner element and said inlet gas stream via a gas restricting means such that said inlet gas stream is initially incident upon said one edge of said burner element, thereby forcing said inlet gas stream to propagate across said burner element from said one edge.

12. The method of operating a boiler according to claim 11 , wherein:

said gas restricting means comprises a gas flow director arranged about said burner element to substantially isolate said burner element from said inlet gas stream, said gas flow director having an open end oriented adjacent said ignition device.

13. A boiler apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior boiler chamber;

a burner element arranged to be in thermal communication with said boiler chamber;

an ignition device for instigating combustion of an inlet gas stream, said ignition device arranged adjacent one edge of said burner element; and

a gas restricting means for restricting contact between said burner element and said inlet gas stream such that said inlet gas stream is initially incident upon said one edge of said burner element, thereby forcing said inlet gas stream to propagate across said burner element from said one edge.

14. The boiler apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein:

said gas restricting means comprises a gas flow director arranged about said burner element to substantially isolate said burner element from said inlet gas stream, said gas flow director having an open end oriented adjacent said ignition device.

15. The boiler apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein:

an inlet manifold having an inlet aperture formed therein, said inlet aperture facilitating entry of a boiler fluid from said inlet manifold to said boiler chamber; and

a turning vane disposed adjacent said inlet aperture, said turning vane diverting said boiler fluid such that said boiler fluid is caused to initially flow adjacent an interior surface of said boiler chamber.

16. The boiler apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein:

said burner element is a down-fired burner element arranged adjacent an upper portion of said burner chamber.

17. A boiler apparatus comprising:

a housing defining an interior boiler chamber;

a burner element arranged to be in thermal communication with said boiler chamber;

an ignition device for instigating combustion of an inlet gas stream, said ignition device arranged adjacent one edge of said burner element;

a gas restricting means for restricting contact between said burner element and said inlet gas stream such that said inlet gas stream is initially incident upon said one edge of said burner element, thereby forcing said inlet gas stream to propagate across said burner element from said one edge;

an inlet manifold having an inlet aperture formed therein, said inlet aperture facilitating entry of a boiler fluid from said inlet manifold to said boiler chamber; and

a turning vane disposed adjacent said inlet aperture, said turning vane diverting said boiler fluid such that said boiler fluid is caused to initially flow adjacent an interior surface of said boiler chamber.

18. The boiler apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein:

said gas restricting means comprises a gas flow director arranged about said burner element to substantially isolate said burner element from said inlet gas stream, said gas flow director having an open end oriented adjacent said ignition device.

19. A boiler apparatus comprising:

a housing having an interior boiler chamber;

an inlet manifold having an inlet aperture means formed therein, said inlet aperture means permitting flow of a boiler fluid in a first direction from said inlet manifold to said boiler chamber;

a turning vane disposed adjacent said inlet aperture means, said turning vane diverting said boiler fluid in a second direction; and

wherein said inlet aperture means comprises one of a plurality of discreet inlet holes, and an elongated inlet slot.

20. A method of operating a boiler having a boiler chamber and an inlet flow of boiler fluid into said boiler chamber, said method comprising the steps of:

directing said inlet flow of boiler fluid such that said boiler fluid flows adjacent an interior surface of said boiler chamber;

arranging a burner element to be in thermal communication with said boiler chamber;

arranging an ignition device adjacent one edge of said burner element for instigating combustion of an inlet gas stream; and

restricting contact between said burner element and said inlet gas stream via a gas restricting means such that said inlet gas stream is initially incident upon said one edge of said burner element, thereby forcing said inlet gas stream to propagate across said burner element from said one edge.