Combustion Burner Nozzle Tip Glow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing optical fiber preforms using the outside vapor-deposition method face challenges in preventing nozzle tip deterioration due to glow, particularly during frequent mode changes between deposition and non-deposition modes, leading to reduced burner lifespan and deposition efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a combustion burner with two adjacent combustion gas ports, where one port includes supporting gas nozzles and the other does not, allowing for a transition from combustion gas to purge gas while maintaining a pilot light and sufficient supporting gas flow rate to prevent nozzle tip glow, and vice versa, ensuring efficient deposition and extended burner lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flow rate of combustion gas and supporting gas is reduced as much as possible in the return period, then the flame size is minimized to avoid interfering with other burners, but the nozzle tip glows and the lifespan of the burner is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A purge gas (inert gas such as nitrogen or argon) is introduced as an intermediary substance into the combustion gas port during the return period. This purge gas acts as a mediator that prevents direct combustion at the nozzle tip while maintaining sufficient gas flow to prevent glow, thereby protecting the burner lifespan without requiring complete flame shutdown
Solution Approach 2:
The gas composition parameter is changed during the return period by switching from combustion gas to purge gas. This parameter change fundamentally alters the chemical reaction state at the nozzle, preventing the harmful glow phenomenon while maintaining operational readiness for the next deposition cycle
2Loss of energy
If the flow rate of combustion gas and supporting gas is reduced as much as possible in the return period, then energy consumption is minimized, but the nozzle tip glows and deposition efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The purge gas serves as an intermediary that allows the system to transition between deposition and return modes without complete flame extinction. This enables energy-efficient operation during the return period while maintaining nozzle temperature control, preventing both glow and deposition efficiency loss
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a sealing layer is provided on the periphery of the oxygen gas nozzle to prevent glow, then the nozzle lifespan is extended, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a sealing layer (structural modification), the invention uses a purge gas (fluid intermediary) to prevent glow. This approach extends nozzle lifespan through chemical means rather than mechanical means, avoiding increased device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements
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 approach effectively prevents nozzle tip deterioration and maintains deposition efficiency by ensuring the nozzle tip does not heat up excessively during mode changes, thereby increasing the burner's lifespan and maintaining consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
A flame hydrolysis reaction or the like occurs in the flame by introducing a glass source material gas, a combustion gas, and a supporting gas into the flame of the burner and, glass particles, such as SiO2 particles, are thereby generated
Implementation Method 2
glass particles generated in the flame of a flaming burner used for generating glass particles are deposited on the periphery of the target member
Implementation Method 3
The glass particle deposited body, which is a complex of the target member and the glass particle deposition layer formed in this way is subsequently heated in a high-temperature furnace, the glass particle deposition layer is sintered and vitrified into transparent glass
Implementation Method 4
the glass particle deposition layer is sintered and vitrified into transparent glass to obtain an optical fiber preform
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for manufacturing an optical fiber preform using a combustion burner. The method includes at least one of: a step α of, when a mode is changed from a deposition mode to a non-deposition mode, changing a gas discharged from a combustion gas port of the burner from a combustion gas to a purge gas, while maintaining a pilot light and a flow rate of a supporting gas from supporting gas discharge nozzles of the burner so that the nozzle tip does not glow; and a step β of, when the mode is changed from the non-deposition mode to the deposition mode, changing a gas discharged from the combustion gas port from a purge gas to a combustion gas, while maintaining a pilot light and the flow rate of the supporting gas so that the nozzle tip does not glow.