PRODUCTION OF HOT AIR

An installation of the cowper type for the production of hot air comprises an enclosure occupied by a checkerwork of refractory bricks (12), a cold air admission orifice at the base of the enclosure and a hot air outlet (20) at the top of the enclosure. One or more burners (22) in the upper part generate heat during the heating cycle. Each burner is integrated into a refractory wall (16) & has a cavity (30) from which a conical flow of heat is emitted. The burners are orientated to ensure heat flows directly to the upper part of the checkerwork without direct irradiation of the upper walls (14) of the cowper. Combustion fumes are evacuated from the base of the apparatus. In the air period combustion is stopped & cold air entering at the base of the checkerwork recuperates heat from the refractory bricks and hot air is extracted from the orifice (20). In further embodiments the burners are affixed to a circular slab with an upper casing to form an hermetic chamber, the slab and chamber being cooled.