Burner and gas water heater having same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas water heaters emit high levels of nitrogen oxides, contributing to environmental pollution due to the combustion process, which current technologies have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A burner design featuring a stable flame structure with lean burning flames in the middle and rich burning flames on both sides, controlled by specific geometric and air-fuel ratios, reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by optimizing flame temperature and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional burning is used in gas water heaters, then heating efficiency is maintained, but nitrogen oxide emissions increase causing environmental pollution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen oxide emissionsVSAvoidheating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The burning process is segmented into three distinct zones: lean burning flame ports in the middle and rich burning flame ports on both sides. This segmentation allows different combustion characteristics to coexist, with the rich burning zones reducing flame temperature and nitrogen oxide formation while the lean burning zones maintain stable combustion and heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the burner are given different combustion qualities - the central lean burning region provides stable, efficient combustion, while the side rich burning regions provide temperature control and emission reduction. The blind passages are strategically positioned to supply air to specific regions, creating local quality differences that resolve the contradiction between efficiency and emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If flame temperature is reduced to control nitrogen oxide emissions, then environmental pollution decreases, but flame stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen oxide emissionsVSAvoidflame stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two seemingly contradictory combustion modes - rich burning and lean burning - into a single burner system. The rich burning flame ports reduce temperature and nitrogen oxide emissions, while the lean burning flame ports provide flame stability. By combining these modes spatially within the same burner structure, both emission control and stability requirements are satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blind passages act as intermediaries that control air supply to the rich burning flame ports. By regulating the amount of air mixed with the fuel gas in these passages, the system can control the rich burning flame temperature and nitrogen oxide formation while the lean burning ports continue to provide stable combustion, mediating between emission control and stability needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If rich burning flame ports are added to reduce emissions, then nitrogen oxide formation decreases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen oxide emissionsVSAvoidburner structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blind passages serve multiple functions: they supply air to the rich burning flame ports, control the air-fuel mixture ratio, and help regulate flame temperature. The rich burning flame ports simultaneously contribute to emission reduction and work with the lean burning ports to maintain overall flame stability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, offsetting the added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rich burning flame ports and blind passages are integrated within the existing burner structure in a nested arrangement. The blind passages are positioned between the lean burning flame ports and the outer structure, with rich burning flame ports strategically located to utilize the space efficiently. This nesting approach minimizes the overall increase in device complexity while achieving the emission reduction goal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 burner design effectively reduces nitrogen oxide emissions and improves flame stability, thereby minimizing environmental pollution from gas water heaters.

Implementation Method 1

burning of the fuel gas will produce harmful gas inevitably and especially the content of nitrogen oxides in fume is high

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3460326B1Burner and gas water heater having same
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 WUHU MIDEA KITCHEN & BATH APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD
  • EP3460326B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3460326B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3460326B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A burner and a gas water heater with the burner are provided. A burner casing (11) is provided with a first rich burning flame port (118) and a second rich burning flame port (119). A flow-adjustment device (14) defines a first blind passage (116) and a second blind passage (117). A height difference between the top surface of the outer side wall of the first blind passage (116) and the top surface of the flow-adjustment device and a height difference between the top surface of the outer side wall of the second blind passage (117) and the top surface of the flow-adjustment device (14) are denoted by H1, and a height difference between the top surface of the outer side wall of the first rich burning flame port (118) and the top surface of the flow-adjustment device and a height difference between the top surface of the outer side wall of the second rich burning flame port (119) and the top surface of the flow-adjustment device (14) are denoted by H2, in which H2≥H1.