side of the nozzle has been sliced off establishing discontinuities at points 9 turbulence would be expected to form proximate the discontinuities 9 because the non smooth nozzle surface at these points would disrupt the flow of secondary oxidant flowing past these points and cause it to be non laminar at these discontinuities this turbulence would bring free radicals from the combustion zone onto the nozzle surface causing a hot spot and eventual damage to the nozzle at these points this situation is avoided or its effect reduced by providing one or more passages 10 through nozzle 3 connecting conduit 2 with one or more of the discontinuities 9 oxidant flowing through passage 10 at the nozzle surface serves to counteract the hot spot effect caused by the turbulence at the discontinuity by providing additional cooling to said area and works with the boundary layer of secondary oxidant to keep the free radicals from recombining on the nozzle surface passage 10 may conveniently be a main oxidant passage if the discontinuity on the nozzle surface is at a proper location for the counteracting oxidant passing through passage 10 to also serve as combustion oxidant for the combustion within combustion zone 5 as a practical matter it may not be possible to provide counteracting oxidant to every discontinuity on the nozzle surface like the main oxidant and the secondary oxidant the counteracting oxidant is high oxygen oxidant now with the use of this invention one can use high oxygen oxidant to carry out combustion without the need for water cooling to protect important burner.