Burner Control Unit Ignition Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas and oil burners lack efficient control mechanisms to optimize ignition and heating operations, leading to inefficiencies, increased fuel wastage, and reduced operational reliability due to inadequate consideration of ignition characteristics and aging factors.

Innovation Solution

A control unit is integrated into the burner device to monitor and adjust operating parameters, such as fuel/combustion air ratios, using sensors and metering devices to ensure stable and efficient ignition and heating processes, even in the presence of aging or environmental changes, by determining and adapting start values for subsequent ignition operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a control unit is integrated to monitor and adjust operating parameters, then operational reliability and efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors operating parameters such as fuel/combustion air ratios through sensors and adjusts the metering devices based on feedback signals, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal ignition and heating operations while adapting to aging and environmental changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines and adapts start values for subsequent ignition operations based on previous operation results, enabling the burner to self-optimize its performance without user intervention and compensate for aging factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If start values are adapted based on previous operations, then ignition time is optimized and fuel wastage is minimized, but measurement and control precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition timeVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit determines start values for subsequent ignition operations based on results from previous operations, performing preliminary adjustments before each ignition cycle to optimize the ignition process and reduce fuel wastage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters such as fuel quantity and air ratio based on determined start values and previous operation results, optimizing the fuel/combustion air ratio to achieve efficient ignition while minimizing fuel consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution enhances operational reliability, minimizes fuel wastage, optimizes ignition time, and improves safety and efficiency by maintaining consistent heating output and adapting to changing conditions without user intervention, thereby extending the functional life and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

a heating unit which is intended to burn the mixture, in particular of the combustion air and the fuel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

The sensor can be designed as any, in particular electrical, optical and/or chemical, detection and/or measuring unit... and/or preferably as an ionization sensor, in particular an ionization electrode and advantageously a flame ionization electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentEP3163169B1Heater appliance and method for operating a heater appliance
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3163169B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3163169B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3163169B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A heating appliance device, in particular a gas and/or oil burner device, is proposed, comprising a control unit (10a) which is designed to take into account at least one operating characteristic determined during a previous heating operation of the heating unit (14a) during at least one ignition operation of a heating unit (14a).