Combustor Ejection Tube Design to Reduce Nitrogen Oxide Emissions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combustors suffer from low combustion efficiency and high nitrogen oxide generation.

Innovation Solution

A combustor design featuring multiple flame distributors with specific ejection tube configurations, including ejection and diffusion sections, diverter angles, and gas distribution devices to enhance gas mixing and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional combustor design is used, then structure is simple, but combustion efficiency is low and nitrogen oxide emissions are high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidnitrogen oxide emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The combustor is divided into multiple flame distributors (at least three) arranged side by side, each with separate ejection tubes. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each flame distributor's gas flow and mixing characteristics, improving overall combustion efficiency while distributing and reducing nitrogen oxide generation across multiple smaller combustion zones

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each ejection tube features locally optimized geometry with specific dimensions (throat width D1, ejection section length H1 where 8.5D1≤H1≤9.5D1, diverter angle 45°-85°) to create ideal gas flow patterns. The premixing section (length H11 where 2D1≤H11≤3D1) and diffusion section (length H12 where 3.5D1≤H12≤4.5D1) are designed with different cross-sectional characteristics to optimize mixing at each location, achieving high combustion efficiency with reduced nitrogen oxide emissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If ejection section length H1 is increased to improve mixing, then gas mixing efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas mixing uniformityVSAvoidejection tube structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection tube dimensions are precisely controlled within specific ranges (H1 between 8.5D1 and 9.5D1, H11 between 2D1 and 3D1, H12 between 3.5D1 and 4.5D1) to achieve optimal gas mixing uniformity. By establishing quantitative parameter relationships rather than arbitrary dimensions, the design achieves high mixing efficiency while maintaining manufacturability and avoiding excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple flame distributors are added to improve combustion, then combustion efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidcombustor structural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The combustor employs multiple flame distributors arranged side by side, with each distributor containing at least three ejection tubes. This segmentation into modular units improves combustion efficiency by creating multiple combustion zones with better air-fuel mixing, while the standardized modular design keeps structural complexity manageable through repetition of identical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple flame distributors are combined within a single combustor body, with each distributor handling a portion of the total gas flow. This merging of multiple combustion functions into one integrated device achieves high overall combustion efficiency while maintaining a compact structure that doesn't linearly increase complexity with the number of flame distributors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Improves combustion efficiency and significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by optimizing gas flow and mixing, achieving a reduction from 80ppm to 20ppm.

Implementation Method 1

a diffusion section, gradually deviating from a central axis of each of the at least three ejection tubes along a gas flow direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

a diverter, provided in the gas outlet section, having an apex corner for diverting gas towards two sides, the angle of the apex corner being 45 degrees to 85 degrees

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

A water heater or a wall-mounted furnace is household equipment which takes fuel gas as a main energy source and provides domestic hot water or household heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3795900B1Combustor and water heater using same
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 WUHU MIDEA KITCHEN & BATH APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD
  • EP3795900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3795900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3795900B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A combustor and a water heater using the same. The combustor (10) comprises a plurality of flame distributors (100) which are arranged side by side in the width direction, each flame distributor (100) comprises at least three ejection tubes (110), and each ejection tube (110) is sequentially provided with an ejection section (110A) and an gas outlet section (110B) along the gas flow direction. Each ejection tube (110) comprises a throat (114) and a diverter (112). The throat (114) is provided at the minimum cross-section of the ejection section (110A), the length of the ejection section (110A) is H1, and the maximum width of the throat (114) allowing gas to pass is D1, wherein 8.5D1≤H1≤9.5D1. The diverter (112) is provided in the gas outlet section (110B) and has a top corner (112C) for diverting gas to two sides, and the angle of the top corner (112C) is 45 degrees to 85 degrees.