Dual Venturi Combustor Damper for Turn-Down Ratio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas-air mixers for combustors face limitations in achieving high turn-down ratios due to constraints in air flow path expansion, gas differential pressure formation, manufacturing accuracy, and increased product planning and design costs.

Innovation Solution

A dual venturi design with separate air and gas supply paths and a motor-actuated damper system that opens or closes secondary inlets to control airflow and gas flow, allowing for adjustable heat capacity control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the air flow path is expanded to increase gas consumption, then the turn-down ratio improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas consumptionVSAvoidair flow path structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air supply path is divided into a first air supply path and a second air supply path that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to expand air flow capacity without creating a single complex flow path, as each path can be designed and manufactured separately with simpler geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second air supply path is positioned within or alongside the first air supply path structure, allowing the air flow paths to be nested. This nesting approach increases the total air flow capacity while maintaining a compact overall structure and avoiding the need for entirely separate complex flow path systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Quantity of substance

If gas feed pressure is increased to improve turn-down ratio, then gas consumption control improves, but the system becomes less reliable due to pressure constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas consumption controlVSAvoidsystem operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gas supply is divided into a first gas supply path and a second gas supply path, each connected to corresponding air supply paths. This segmentation allows the system to control gas consumption through flow path selection rather than relying solely on pressure increases, improving reliability by operating within normal pressure ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a separate branching mechanism is added to control gas and air flow paths, then heat capacity control improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat capacity controlVSAvoidflow path dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The opening/closing means is integrated into the housing structure, with the damper rotating within the existing flow path geometry. This merging of the control mechanism with the housing structure eliminates the need for separate branching mechanisms, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining heat capacity control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate flow paths are created for high turn-down ratio, then heat capacity control improves, but product planning and design costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat capacity controlVSAvoidproduct design
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the flow paths, integrates the opening/closing means, and provides the structural framework. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies product design, lowering development costs while maintaining the ability to control heat capacity through the first and second flow paths.

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

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 dual venturi design enhances turn-down ratios, reduces fuel costs, simplifies product design and manufacturing, and decreases production and repair times while maintaining economic feasibility.

Implementation Method 1

a dual venturi for increasing the turn-down ratio of the gas burner by dividing the gas and air supply paths into two sections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2927585B1Dual venturi for combustor
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO LTD
  • EP2927585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2927585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2927585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a dual venturi for a combustor and, specifically, to a dual venturi for a combustor, which adjusts the amount of gas and air supplied to a burner of a hot water heater and has a motor combined with a damper in order to increase a turn-down ratio (TDR), such that the damper is rotated by the driving of the motor so as to simultaneously open or close secondary air and gas inlets, thereby enabling efficient heating control. The present invention has a separate opening/closing means which is capable of controlling, in two stages, the amount of air and gas flowing into the combustor such as the hot water heater, wherein the opening/closing means comprises the motor and the damper, and the damper is rotated by the driving of the motor so as to simultaneously open or close the secondary air and gas inlets, thereby enabling the control of the amount of air and gas.