Gas Boiler Burner Flange Sealing for Heat and Leakage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas boilers face issues with burner overheating and gas leakage due to short flames during low load combustion, which limits material choices for sealing members and increases the risk of overheating and gas loss.

Innovation Solution

A gas boiler design featuring a burner flange with a shape-matched chamber flange and a sealing member with inclined protrusions to prevent overheating and gas leakage, along with a heat dissipation fin to enhance cooling and material flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the burner operates with short flames during low load combustion, then the combustion efficiency is maintained, but the burner surface (especially flange) becomes overheated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidburner flange temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing member is introduced as an intermediary component between the burner flange and gas supply chamber flange. This sealing member serves dual functions: preventing gas leakage and acting as a thermal barrier to reduce heat transfer to the gas supply chamber, thereby preventing burner flange overheating while maintaining combustion efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is extracted from the direct flame contact zone and placed in a groove on the burner flange. This separates the sealing function from the combustion process, allowing the sealing member to prevent gas leakage without being directly exposed to high temperatures, thus preventing overheating

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If traditional sealing methods are used without a groove structure, then the structure is simple, but the sealing member cannot effectively prevent gas leakage and contributes to overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas leakage preventionVSAvoidburner structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The burner assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: the burner flange with an integrated groove for the sealing member, and the gas supply chamber flange with a matching groove. This segmentation allows the sealing member to be precisely positioned and effectively prevent gas leakage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing member uses a flexible sealing structure that can deform to fill gaps and irregularities between the burner flange and gas supply chamber flange. This flexible sealing approach ensures reliable gas leakage prevention without requiring complex rigid sealing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If high-temperature resistant materials are used for the sealing member, then gas leakage is prevented, but the material selection is limited and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidsealing member material choice
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing member acts as an intermediary that is positioned away from direct flame contact, in a groove structure that provides thermal protection. This allows the use of materials with lower temperature resistance (such as rubber or polymer-based sealants) instead of requiring expensive high-temperature resistant materials, expanding material choices and reducing costs while maintaining effective sealing

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 design effectively prevents burner overheating and gas leakage, allowing for a wider choice of materials for the sealing member and reducing material costs while maintaining high combustion efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the burner flange of the burner and the chamber flange of the gas supply chamber are shape-matched to surface-contact each other to allow heat of the burner itself to be dissipated to the chamber flange of the gas supply chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the burner burning a pre-mixed gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2940397B1Gas boiler in which overheating of burner flange and gas leaking is prevented
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO LTD
  • EP2940397B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2940397B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2940397B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a gas boiler, including: a burner that combusts a pre-mixed gas and has a burner flange formed in the circumferential direction; a gas supply chamber in which the upper portion of the burner is received and coupled so as to supply the pre-mixed gas to said burner, and in which a chamber flange is formed such that same is coincident in shape with the burner flange so as to be in surface contact with said burner flange; and a sealing member disposed between the burner and the gas supply chamber such that the pre-mixed gas, which is supplied from the gas supply chamber to the burner, is prevented from leaking between the gas supply chamber and the burner.