Woven Wire Mesh Burner Deck Tabs for Thermal Stress Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surface stabilized premix gas burners with woven wire mesh burner decks face early mechanical failure due to thermal expansion and shrinkage stresses, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating tabs at the circumference of the woven wire mesh burner deck that are inserted through openings in a metal plate structure, allowing for movement without mechanical bonding, and using a groove structure to enhance thermal stress management, along with a convex burner deck shape and perforated plate segments for even gas distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the woven wire mesh burner deck is mechanically bonded to the metal plate structure, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion and shrinkage stresses cause early mechanical failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidburner deck lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the constraint mechanism by removing tabs from the burner deck and inserting them into openings in the metal plate structure, separating the burner deck from rigid mechanical bonding while maintaining positional stability through friction and geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transforms the static rigid connection into a dynamic semi-rigid connection where tabs can rotate and move within openings, allowing the burner deck to adapt to thermal expansion and shrinkage while maintaining structural stability during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the woven wire mesh burner deck is rigidly fixed to the metal plate structure, then positioning accuracy is improved, but thermal stress causes mechanical failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmechanical strength under thermal stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different connection characteristics at different locations: tabs at the circumference provide localized positioning and constraint, while the bulk of the burner deck remains free to expand and contract thermally, creating a hybrid connection that balances positioning accuracy with thermal stress resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If mechanical bonding methods (welds or physical bonding) are used to attach the burner deck, then connection strength is improved, but thermal expansion compatibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidthermal expansion compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces tabs as intermediary elements between the burner deck and metal plate structure, which act as flexible mediators that can rotate and move to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining connection strength through friction and geometric constraint rather than rigid bonding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively withstands thermal expansion and shrinkage, leading to a longer lifetime of the burner deck by allowing movement and reducing the risk of mechanical failure and flame flashback.

Implementation Method 1

The woven wire mesh burner deck needs to be able to cope with the stresses induced by the thermal expansion associated with the high temperature when the burner is in use and by the shrinkage when the burner is not in use.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

an amount of movement of the woven wire mesh relative to the metal plate structure is possible when the woven wire mesh expands when warming up or shrinks when cooling down

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP3513123B1Premix gas burner
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 BEKAERT COMBUSTION TECH
  • EP3513123B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3513123B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A premix gas burner comprises a metal plate structure for mounting the premix gas burner in a heating appliance. The premix gas burner comprises a burner deck. The burner deck comprises a woven wire mesh on the outer surface of which premix gas is combusted after the premix gas has flown through the woven wire mesh. One or more than one opening is provided in the metal plate structure. The circumferential edge of the woven wire mesh comprises at least one tab. Each tab is inserted through an opening in the metal plate structure.