Cyclonic Combustion Chamber Vibration for Continuous Ash Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cyclonic combustion chambers face challenges in efficiently evacuating ashes with low melting points and high adherence, which accumulate and agglomerate, affecting combustion efficiency and requiring frequent maintenance, and existing solutions like scrapers and blowers increase costs and interfere with the combustion process.

Innovation Solution

A combustion unit with a cyclonic combustion chamber that vibrates cyclically to create an upward thrust with a horizontal component, facilitating the removal of ashes without internal moving parts, maintaining operation efficiency and reducing heat exchange interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cooling pipes are installed inside the furnace to maintain ash solid state, then ash extraction is facilitated, but heat exchange is impaired and ash accumulation occurs between tubes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveash extractionVSAvoidheat exchange
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling pipes are completely removed from the furnace interior. Instead, the invention uses the furnace wall itself as the cooling surface, allowing ashes to be extracted directly through the wall without requiring internal piping structures that interfere with heat exchange and ash flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The furnace wall acts as an intermediary structure that provides both cooling function and ash extraction pathway. By using the wall as the mediator between the hot combustion environment and the external cooling system, the invention eliminates the need for internal pipes while maintaining ash solidification and extraction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If steam blowers are used to remove accumulated ashes, then ash evacuation is improved, but combustion efficiency decreases and emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveash evacuationVSAvoidparticulate and carbon monoxide emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses its own combustion process to facilitate ash removal. The controlled introduction of air through the wall creates natural airflow that carries ashes outward, utilizing the existing combustion dynamics rather than requiring external steam blowers that disrupt combustion and increase emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical steam blower system is replaced with a pneumatic system that uses controlled air flow through the wall. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical intervention while achieving effective ash evacuation without the harmful side effects of steam injection on combustion and emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the furnace is stopped for cleaning and unclogging, then ash accumulation is removed, but operational efficiency and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion processVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The ash extraction system operates continuously during combustion without requiring shutdowns. Air is continuously introduced through the wall, maintaining constant airflow that prevents ash accumulation and ensures uninterrupted combustion and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system prevents ash accumulation in the first place by maintaining continuous airflow through the wall during combustion. This preliminary preventive action eliminates the need for subsequent cleaning operations and maintains both reliability and productivity throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If mechanical scrapers are integrated into the combustion chamber to scrape ashes, then ash removal is improved, but manufacturing and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveash removalVSAvoidmanufacturing and maintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Complex mechanical scrapers are replaced with a simple pneumatic system using air flow through the wall. This substitution dramatically reduces manufacturing complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining effective ash removal capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the natural airflow generated by combustion and controlled air introduction to perform ash removal automatically. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex mechanical scrapers and reduces both manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 removes adherent ashes without stopping the unit, improving heat exchange and reducing maintenance needs, while avoiding the use of costly moving elements or blowers.

Implementation Method 1

it is provided with a vibration mechanism of the chamber that cyclically impresses to the ashes accumulated on the bottom of the internal shell an upward thrust with an horizontal component in the direction of the rear end of the internal shell in which the discharge outlet for the ashes is located

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4296567B1A combustion unit with a cyclonic combustion chamber
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 JULIO BERKES
  • EP4296567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4296567B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4296567B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a combustion unit (1) comprising a cyclonic combustion chamber (10), with an internal shell (11) having a gravity discharge outlet (15) for the ashes generated during combustion, and a vibration mechanism (6) of the chamber (10) that cyclically impresses to the ashes accumulated on the bottom of the internal shell (11) an upward thrust with an horizontal component in the direction of the rear end (13) of the internal shell (11) in which the aforementioned discharge outlet (15) for the ashes is located.