Combined Combustion Unit Fan Control for Exhaust Backflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In combined combustion devices, backflow of combustion exhaust gas from operational units into non-operational units through an exhaust collecting pipe leads to corrosion and inefficient operation, including heat loss and potential freezing issues, due to the need to continuously rotate air supply fans even when not all units are in use.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating check valves and backflow detectors into each combustion unit, with a controller that rotates air supply fans only when necessary to prevent backflow, either based on predetermined stoppage times or upon detecting backflow, thereby minimizing unnecessary fan operation and reducing heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air supply fan is continuously rotated in the combustion unit in non-combustion operation state to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but operation cost increases and heat loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply fan operates periodically rather than continuously. It rotates during combustion operation to discharge exhaust gas, stops during non-combustion operation to prevent heat loss, and activates again when backflow is detected or after predetermined stoppage time. This periodic operation pattern resolves the contradiction by providing backflow prevention only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses backflow detectors to monitor the combustion unit and provides feedback to the controller. When backflow is detected, the controller activates the air supply fan to counteract the backflow. This feedback mechanism ensures the fan operates only when needed for backflow prevention, avoiding continuous operation and associated heat loss while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If the air supply fan is continuously rotated in the combustion unit in non-combustion operation state to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but operation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply fan operates periodically rather than continuously. It rotates during combustion operation to discharge exhaust gas, stops during non-combustion operation to reduce energy consumption, and activates again when backflow is detected or after predetermined stoppage time. This periodic operation pattern resolves the contradiction by providing backflow prevention only when necessary, significantly reducing operation cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses backflow detectors to monitor the combustion unit and provides feedback to the controller. When backflow is detected, the controller activates the air supply fan to counteract the backflow. This feedback mechanism ensures the fan operates only when needed for backflow prevention, avoiding continuous operation and associated increased operation cost while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If the air supply fan is continuously rotated in the combustion unit in non-combustion operation state to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but the combustion unit is cooled resulting in freezing issues
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply fan operates periodically rather than continuously. It rotates during combustion operation to discharge exhaust gas, stops during non-combustion operation to prevent cooling and freezing, and activates again when backflow is detected or after predetermined stoppage time. This periodic operation pattern resolves the contradiction by maintaining temperature only when necessary.
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
Effectively prevents combustion exhaust gas backflow into non-operational units, reducing corrosion and heat loss, and preventing freezing, while maintaining efficient operation by only rotating fans when needed.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve provided in each of the combustion units, which opens by rotation of the air supply fan and prevents backflow of combustion exhaust gas from the exhaust collecting pipe into each of the combustion units
Implementation Method 2
the combustion exhaust gas from each of the combustion units is discharged out of the room through the exhaust collecting pipe by rotation of the air supply fan
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of combustion units each having a burner and an air supply fan
Data Source
AI summary
A combined combustion device comprises: a plurality of combustion units (2) each having a burner (4) and an air supply fan (5); an exhaust collecting pipe (10) connecting the plurality of the combustion units (2) to each other; and a check valve (7) which opens by rotation of the air supply fan (5) and prevents backflow of combustion exhaust gas from the exhaust collecting pipe (10) into each of the combustion units (2), wherein when one or more of the combustion units (2) among the plurality of the combustion units (2) are in a combustion operation state and the other one or more of the combustion units (2) are continuously maintained in a non-combustion operation state for a predetermined reference stoppage time or longer, the air supply fans (5) of the other one or more of the combustion units (2) are rotated for a certain time.