Electronic Ignition Solid Fuel System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wax candles suffer from inefficient heat transfer, leading to slow wax melting and incomplete delivery of volatile active ingredients, limited flame size and heat, and issues with reusable wicks clogging due to hydrocarbon fuels, which restricts the use of larger and more stable flames.
Innovation Solution
A wax burning system with an electronic ignition circuit, a melting grate, and a hollow-core wick design that includes a priming section and stoking section for solid wax, allowing for faster ignition and flame development, reducing clogging, and enabling larger, more stable flames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional wick and wax systems are used, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the flame size is limited and heat delivery is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a reusable wick system with an electronic ignition device and a solid fuel source into an integrated assembly. The electronic ignition device includes a heating element that directly contacts the solid fuel, creating a unified system that overcomes the limitations of traditional separate components while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electronic ignition device as an intermediary component between the power source and the fuel combustion process. This intermediary provides controlled heat transfer to initiate and sustain combustion, enabling larger flame sizes and improved heat delivery without requiring complex manual ignition procedures.
2Volume of moving object
If larger wicks are used to create larger flames, then flame size increases, but the wick becomes difficult to ignite due to increased mass and heat capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ignition process into two distinct stages: a priming section with low mass and heat capacity that ignites easily, and a main fuel section that provides sustained combustion. The electronic ignition device first heats the priming section to initiate combustion, then the combustion propagates to the larger fuel source, enabling large flame sizes without ignition difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary heating action to the priming section of the fuel before the main combustion process begins. The electronic ignition device pre-heats a small portion of the solid fuel to its ignition temperature, creating an initial combustion zone that then propagates to the larger fuel mass, making ignition of large fuel sources practical and reliable.
3Productivity
If traditional candles are used, then the system is simple, but the melt pool development takes four or more hours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the system by introducing an electronic ignition device that provides concentrated, high-intensity heat directly to the solid fuel. This increases the temperature gradient and heat transfer rate, reducing the time required to melt the fuel and create a functional pool from several hours to minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive thermal radiation mechanism of traditional candles with an active electronic heating system. The electronic ignition device uses electrical energy converted to thermal energy through resistive heating, providing much faster and more controllable heat transfer to the fuel, dramatically accelerating melt pool development.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If reusable wicks are used, then the system can be reused multiple times, but the wick becomes clogged due to fouling from hydrocarbon fuels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the combustion function from the wick material itself and relocates it to the solid fuel source. The wick serves only as a structural support and fuel delivery conduit, while the solid fuel contains the combustible material. This separation prevents hydrocarbon residues from accumulating in the wick structure, eliminating clogging while maintaining reusability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of the wick material to allow controlled fuel delivery while preventing residue accumulation. The porosity enables liquid fuel to pass through to the combustion zone without allowing solid hydrocarbon residues to build up and clog the wick, maintaining reliable operation over multiple uses.
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 system achieves faster wax melting, increased heat production, and reduced clogging, enabling efficient delivery of volatile ingredients and maintaining flame stability across multiple uses.
Implementation Method 1
The electronic ignition circuit is configured to direct power to the filament to cause the filament to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
The melting grate is located above at least a portion of the melted wax reservoir so that wax melted on the melting grate can be received into the melted wax reservoir
Implementation Method 3
The wick has a hollow core and an upper exit opening in communication with the hollow core
Implementation Method 4
enabling efficient delivery of volatile ingredients and maintaining flame stability across multiple uses
Data Source
AI summary
A solid fuel burning system and method with an electronic ignition circuit is provided having a filament. The filament is attached to the filament support. The filament is adjacent the wick. The electronic ignition circuit is configured to direct power to the filament to cause the filament to generate heat.