Propane burner assembly

A high pressure propane burner assembly consists of a burner head, which uses venturi type mixing instead of forced air. The assembly does not require any pilot light or electricity, as it is designed to be It needs no Pilot light, or electricity, as it is meant to be functioned manually with the use of propane tank valve. The burner runs from 1/2 lb up to 45 lbs of Pressure(psi).

For proper functioning of propane burner assembly, you will require a high pressure propane regulator (similar to that on a turnkey fryer), and a hose for it. The high pressure propane burner assembly accepts 1/4" male pipe thread (MNPT) fitting in the gauze "T".

Some of the important uses of a propane burner assembly are -

• Metal melting furnace
• Pottery kiln
• Glass furnace
• Melting wax for candles
• Home Brew Heat source
• Super charge your trash burning barrel

propane burnerThe procedure of designing propane burner assemblies for uses in home foundries is not very scientific and basically depends on the work previously done by others. The burners that hobby metal professionals design are venturi style, or naturally aspirated, burner. The furnaces for propane burners are comparatively small and do not need huge amount of heat to impart the aluminum charge to melting temperature.

The burner is designed using off-the-shelf components and parts, which can be found at local hardware stores.

• The barrel is a 10 inch long part of 1-inch black pipe, which is threaded on one end. The other end of the barrel fits into the furnace tuyere, which is the horizontal hole tangent to the cavity of furnace. The venturi (1½ x 1- inch) pipe reducer, is screwed onto the threaded point of the barrel.
• The jet is made using a light 1/8- inch pipe nipple that has a a #60 hole centered along the length and cross drilled by just one wall. It is climbed in a short 1¾ - inch long piece of 1½ - inch pipe, which has holes cross drilled through with both walls close to the unthreaded open side. The jet is kept in position with collars, which have been joined to the nipple. Ultimately, a threaded cap closes off one end of the jet nipple. A 1/4 x 1/8 - inch reducer is threaded on to the other side of the jet nipple, hence, joining the burner to the hose assembly. The 1½ - inch barrel is then wove into the venturi to make the burner assembly.
• The hose assembly is consisted of a LPG cutoff valve, 8 - ft. of hose, 0-20 psi regulator, 0-30 psi gauze, and several fittings and unions. The cutoff valve is placed at the burner end of the hose. A quarter of a turn of the valve entirely cuts off the gas. The regulator and gauze are attached to a propane tank. The various connections are sealed using a pipe dope.

The burner thus designed has proved to be ideal for the furnace. The burner will burn without any problem inside the furnace. When removed from the tuyere, a barrel flare extension is needed to keep down the velocity of the gas so as to let the burner stay lit. When the regulator is set at 2.5 psi, a complete crucible of aluminum will melt in less than 15 minutes.

Working with a hobby propane burner assembly is similar to a big container of potentially explosive high pressure gas, and lots of potentially leaky joints. In the case you don't have proper knowledge we recommend you to design a charcoal-burning furnace. Although propane is a very hot, clean, and fast gas; it has a vast potential for being dangerous. Do not work with things, which can harm you unless you know what you are doing.