Industrial Furnace Burner Actuator for Flow Proportionality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing burners face non-linearity issues between control signals and flow rate changes, leading to complex and large devices that complicate integration into compact installations.

Innovation Solution

A burner design with a fuel and oxidant supply assembly using a single actuator to control both fuel and oxidant flow rates through movable shutters and a drive shaft, allowing proportional adjustment of passage cross-sections via angular position, reducing the number of moving components and size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single actuator with butterfly box type effectors is used to control fuel and oxidant flow rates, then the proportionality of flow rates is maintained, but the device complexity and size increase due to non-linear control requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate proportionalityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single actuator is segmented into two independent effectors: a first effector for controlling the fuel flow rate and a second effector for controlling the oxidant flow rate. Each effector operates independently with its own linear control characteristic, eliminating the need for complex cam profiles while maintaining proportional flow rate control through coordinated operation of both effectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If cam profiles are used to compensate for non-linearity in butterfly box effectors, then control precision is improved, but the device size and integration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol signal linearityVSAvoidburner volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The complex mechanical cam profile system is replaced with a simplified actuator mechanism that directly provides linear control. The first and second effectors are designed with linear control characteristics, substituting the need for mechanical cam profiles and reducing the overall device volume while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate actuators are used for fuel and oxidant control, then control flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of moving components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Two separate actuators are merged into a single actuator that controls both the fuel flow rate and oxidant flow rate. This single actuator incorporates both the first effector for fuel control and the second effector for oxidant control, reducing the number of moving components while maintaining the flexibility to independently adjust both flow rates through its dual-control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4575312A1Burner for industrial furnace
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 FIVES ITAS SPA
  • EP4575312A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP4575312A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4b
  • EP4575312A1 patent drawing

AI summary

One aspect of the invention relates to a burner (1) for an industrial furnace, comprising a fuel distribution device (3) and an oxidant distribution device (6) directly actuated by means of a drive shaft (12).