Combustion Plant Draft Control via Bypass Heat Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional firing systems for solid fuels in individual fireplaces lack efficient draft control, leading to uneven heat distribution and operational dependence on natural chimney draft, which can be affected by weather conditions and chimney design, resulting in inadequate combustion air management.

Innovation Solution

A combustion system with a bypass line connecting combustion air supply to the exhaust gas duct, featuring a heat exchanger module that throttles the airflow and reduces chimney draft by cooling the flue gas temperature, and a dust protection plate to prevent ash and dust entry, allowing for compact and automatic draft control without operator intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If natural chimney draft is used for combustion air supply, then the system can operate without auxiliary electrical power, but the chimney draft cannot be adequately controlled and is affected by weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation without electrical powerVSAvoidchimney draft control
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A bypass line is introduced as an intermediary element that allows combustion air to be diverted from the main combustion chamber to the exhaust gas duct. This bypass line includes a throttling device that acts as a mediator to control the airflow, enabling draft regulation without requiring electrical power for actuators. The bypass system mediates between the natural chimney draft and the need for controlled air supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow parameters of combustion air by diverting a portion of it through the bypass line. By adjusting the throttling device in the bypass line, the airflow parameters (volume, pressure, temperature) are modified to regulate chimney draft. This parameter change approach allows control without electrical actuators, maintaining the passive operation advantage while improving draft reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If combustion air is diverted through a bypass line, then chimney draft can be regulated, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechimney draft controlVSAvoidbypass line structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass line is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a draft regulator, a flow control mechanism, and an integrated part of the exhaust gas system. The throttling device in the bypass line performs both flow restriction and draft regulation functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving reliable draft control.

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

3Object-generated harmful factors

If staged air supply is used for complete afterburning, then combustion quality is optimized, but the air supply cannot be adjusted based on chimney draft conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant emissionsVSAvoidair supply adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass line with throttling device creates a feedback mechanism where the chimney draft conditions automatically influence the combustion air supply. As chimney draft varies (due to weather, temperature, or combustion phase), the pressure differential across the bypass line changes, automatically adjusting the amount of air diverted through the bypass. This feedback loop allows the staged air supply to adapt to changing chimney draft conditions without external control, maintaining low pollutant emissions while improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 provides stable and efficient combustion conditions by regulating chimney draft, ensuring consistent heat output and operational safety in individual fireplaces, independent of external factors, while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

Heat exchanger module (15) which cools the flue gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

combustion air supply (2) with a bypass line (8) forming a chimney draft regulator, which connects the combustion air supply to the exhaust gas duct (3), bypassing the firebox (100)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the exhaust gas temperature, i.e., the temperature of the gas column in the chimney, can also vary. Such temperature changes, in turn, result in temporal changes in the gas density in the chimney and thus corresponding effects on the chimney draft, which is driven by density differences

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP3376106B1Combustion plant
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 SPARTHERM FEUERUNGSTECHN
  • EP3376106B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376106B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3376106B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a combustion system, in particular a fireplace or tiled stove, fireplace insert or the like, for burning solid fuels such as logs, wood briquettes or pellets, or mineral fuels such as coal or anthracite, with a closable firebox and a combustion air connection with a combustion air supply and with an exhaust gas duct connectable to a chimney, wherein the combustion air supply has a bypass line forming a chimney draft regulator, which connects the combustion air supply to the exhaust gas duct, bypassing the firebox, wherein a heat exchanger module is provided in the exhaust gas duct, which can be connected to the bypass line and to the exhaust gas duct, so that throttling in the exhaust gas duct can be achieved via an air-exhaust gas heat exchange.