Fire Column Vortex Flame Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire columns using bioethanol fuels experience inconsistent flame height and visibility, with the flame being initially small and barely visible, and reducing as the fuel level depletes, affecting their decorative and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A fire column design featuring a predominantly closed fuel container with wicks extending through its upper end, an air guide element, and a spiral air passage, along with a limiting element to control wick length, ensuring consistent airflow and flame visibility, and a pressure equalization mechanism to maintain stable combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an open fuel container is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flame height is initially small and reduces as fuel depletes
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel container is divided into two main parts: a removable lid and a container body. This segmentation allows the lid to be optimized for sealing and flame consistency while the body maintains fuel storage, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and flame height consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed lid acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the fuel container interior. This intermediary maintains a controlled environment that ensures consistent flame height throughout fuel consumption, while the overall structure remains simple and easy to manufacture.
2Illumination intensity
If a closed fuel container with wicks is used, then flame visibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container lid is designed with localized features (wick passages, sealing surfaces) only where needed, while the rest of the structure remains simple. This local quality approach improves flame visibility through controlled wick positioning without unnecessarily increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid serves multiple functions: it seals the container to maintain flame consistency, provides structured wick passages for controlled fuel delivery, and acts as a mounting surface for limiting elements. This multi-functionality improves flame visibility while avoiding additional separate components that would increase complexity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If wicks extend through a closed container, then consistent flame height is achieved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
Limiting elements are pre-installed on the lid to restrict wick length before the container is assembled and used. This preliminary action ensures that wicks cannot extend beyond safe limits, maintaining flame height consistency while preventing safety risks from excessive wick exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid acts as an intermediary safety barrier between the fuel container and the external environment. It provides controlled wick passages that limit wick exposure and include sealing features that prevent fuel leakage, thereby maintaining flame consistency while mitigating safety risks.
4Duration of action of moving object
If multiple components are added to control airflow and flame, then flame consistency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions (sealing, wick positioning, limiting, and airflow control) are merged into the lid component itself rather than requiring separate parts for each function. This merging approach improves flame consistency through integrated features while simplifying the assembly process by reducing the number of components that need to be assembled.
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 design ensures a consistently visible, swirling flame of at least 10 cm height, preferably up to 40 cm, maintaining aesthetic appeal and functionality throughout the fuel's consumption, suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Implementation Method 1
At least one wick (6) extends through this predominantly closed upper end (5a) of the fuel container (5)
Implementation Method 2
The inner wall of the outer casing (2) surrounds a spiral air guide element (4) flush or with only minimal clearance
Implementation Method 3
The fuel contained in the fuel container can burn, producing a large, tall, and spiral flame
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a fire column for producing a vortex flame (1), which fire column comprises an outer shell (2), a base (3), an air-guiding element (4) and a fuel tank (5) which can be permanently integrated or removable, characterized in that the fuel tank (5) is at least predominantly closed at the upper end (5a), and a wick (6) leads through said upper end of the fuel tank (5a). Moreover, the invention relates to a fuel tank (5) for a fire column for producing a vortex flame (1), characterized in that the fuel tank (5) has a closed body, is at least predominantly closed at the upper end (5a), a wick (6) leads through said upper end of the fuel tank (5a), and a limiting element (7) limits the length of the wick (6) above the fuel tank (5, 5a). The flame pattern is improved by the invention.