Burner Support Panel Cooling via Air Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing burner designs face challenges in safely supporting electric component parts while maintaining a compact size and efficient operation, as they often require additional components and assembly steps, and do not effectively manage the temperature of these components.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly featuring a polymer supporting panel with integrated air intake and fuel mixture outlets, a metal plate, and spacer means with openings to create a gap for air circulation, allowing for efficient cooling of electric components and preheating of combustion air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric component parts are mounted on a metal supporting plate fixed to the spiral duct, then safety is improved by keeping components away from the boiler, but the overall size of the burner increases and additional assembly operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting panel integrates multiple functions: it supports electric components, provides structural spacing from the boiler, and incorporates air intake openings directly into its structure. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate metal supporting plates and reduces overall burner complexity while maintaining safety distances.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting panel serves multiple purposes simultaneously: structural support for electrical components, thermal isolation from the boiler, and air intake conduit integration. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall burner assembly.
2Reliability
If electric component parts are mounted on a metal supporting plate fixed to the spiral duct, then safety is improved by keeping components away from the boiler, but additional fasteners and assembly operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting panel integrates air intake openings directly into its structure, eliminating the need for separate metal plates and fasteners. This integration reduces assembly operations while maintaining the required safety distance from the boiler through the panel's inherent structural design.
3Device complexity
If air intake conduit is used without gap cooling, then structure is simpler, but operating temperature of electric component parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air intake flow path is segmented into two distinct regions: the gap space between the supporting panel and boiler for cooling electrical components, and the main combustion air passage. This segmentation allows simultaneous cooling of sensitive components and maintenance of a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap space acts as an intermediary cooling channel between the supporting panel and boiler. Intake air flows through this intermediate gap, absorbing heat from electrical components before entering the main combustion mixture, thus cooling sensitive parts without requiring complex active cooling systems.
4Temperature
If gap cooling is implemented, then operating temperature of electric component parts is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling gap is integrated directly into the supporting panel structure, merging the cooling function with the structural support function. This eliminates the need for separate cooling systems or complex thermal management devices, reducing overall device complexity while effectively lowering operating temperatures of electrical components.
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 provides a compact, low-cost, and safe method to support electric components, reducing their operating temperature and enhancing burner efficiency by continuous air recirculation and preheating combustion air.
Implementation Method 1
feeding a constant stream of air into the gap, and so lowering the operating temperature of the electric component part supporting panel
Implementation Method 2
part of the air intake by the intake conduit is preheated to enhance the efficiency of the burner as a whole
Data Source
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AI summary
A safe support assembly for the electric component parts of a burner has a supporting panel made of polymer material and to which the electric component parts are fixed, and a metal plate fixed to the supporting panel on the boiler side; in the supporting panel and the metal plate, are formed a first opening facing an inlet of an air intake conduit, and a second opening facing an air/fuel mixture outlet of a duct connected to the intake conduit. The support assembly also has spacer means interposed between the supporting panel and the metal plate, and defining a gap with the supporting panel and the metal plate. And a number of openings are formed in the spacer means to connect the intake conduit to the gap.