Fuel Boiler Pressure Reduction Device for Flame Ignition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel-fired boilers face challenges in stable ignition due to excess air in the gaseous premix, leading to phenomena like chattering and pumping, which result in acoustic discomfort, safety shutdowns, and high pollutant concentrations, incompatible with normative requirements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a pressure reduction device upstream of the burner that can be selectively activated to dampen pressure waves during ignition, maintaining a stable mixture ratio and reducing chattering and pumping phenomena without affecting boiler operation when deactivated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If excess air is maintained in the gas premix to minimize polluting gases, then combustion efficiency is improved, but ignition stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolluting gasesVSAvoidignition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure reduction device is activated before ignition occurs to pre-establish favorable combustion conditions. By reducing pressure upstream of the burner in advance, the system prepares the gas premix for stable ignition while maintaining the excess air ratio needed for low emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the pressure parameter of the gas premix by activating the pressure reduction device. This pressure change affects the ignition characteristics of the mixture, allowing stable ignition to occur despite the excess air conditions that would otherwise cause ignition problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If pressure reduction device is activated to dampen pressure waves during ignition, then ignition stability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition stabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure reduction device acts as an intermediary element in the gas supply system. It mediates between the gas source and the burner by introducing a controlled pressure reduction, thereby stabilizing ignition without requiring fundamental changes to the overall boiler system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If pressure waves are allowed to propagate during ignition, then natural combustion process is maintained, but pumping phenomenon occurs disrupting fan and valve operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion processVSAvoidfan and valve operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure reduction device applies a counteracting influence before the harmful pumping phenomenon can develop. By reducing pressure upstream of the burner during ignition, it dampens pressure wave propagation and prevents the disruption of fan and valve operation that would otherwise occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pressure reduction device stabilizes the ignition process, reducing chattering and pumping, ensuring a stable flame and compliance with normative requirements by managing pressure waves effectively during ignition.

Implementation Method 1

The pressure reduction device generates a pressure drop upstream of the burner. In other words, the pressure reduction device is configured so that its activation results in a pressure drop compared to the pressure value when the device is deactivated.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

When this pressure reduction device is activated during flame ignition, this pressure drop dampens the effect of the pressure waves generated by the flame ignition.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4184059A1Fuel boiler with pressure reduction device for flame ignition
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 GUILLOT IND
  • EP4184059A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4184059A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4184059A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a fuel-fired boiler (1) comprising: - a supply circuit (30) for a mixture of oxidant and fuel, said supply circuit for a mixture comprising a device for driving the mixture (20) through the supply circuit for the mixture; - a burner (6) in fluid communication with the supply circuit (30) for a mixture, the burner (6) comprising an ignition device (10) configured to ignite the mixture of oxidant and fuel; - a combustion chamber (2) receiving the burner (6), characterized in that the supply circuit (30) for a mixture comprises a pressure reduction device (38) upstream of the burner, said pressure reduction device being selectively activatable.