Fire construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fire constructions, particularly those burning solid fuels like coal, often fail to achieve satisfactory combustion levels and emit high amounts of pollutants such as carbon monoxide and particulates due to insufficient air supply configurations.
Innovation Solution
A fire construction design featuring a second air supply means with a supply conduit that flares outwardly as it enters the combustion chamber, providing additional air to support combustion, which can be located in the rear or side walls and is engineered to create turbulence and increase air pressure, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing pollutant emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional primary air supply is used from beneath the fuel, then combustion is supported, but combustion efficiency remains insufficient and pollutant emissions are high
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into multiple independent conduits with different functions: primary air supply from beneath the fuel, secondary air supply through flared conduits from rear/side walls, and tertiary air supply for post-combustion. This segmentation allows each air supply to be optimized for its specific combustion stage, improving overall combustion efficiency and reducing pollutants
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary air supply conduits feature a flared cross-section that increases toward the combustion chamber, creating localized turbulence and high-velocity jets at specific locations above the fuel. This local quality enhancement ensures efficient mixing of air with fuel gases and particulates precisely where needed, improving combustion completeness and reducing CO and particulate emissions
2Productivity
If secondary air supply is provided above the fuel, then combustion is further supported, but air mixing with fuel gases may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary air supply conduits are designed with a flared, curved cross-section that expands as they enter the combustion chamber. This curved geometry naturally generates turbulence and rotational flow patterns, enhancing mixing between the secondary air and fuel gases without requiring additional mechanical mixing devices, thus improving combustion support while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The flared conduit design utilizes pneumatic principles to create high-velocity air jets that induce turbulence and entrainment of surrounding gases. The expanding cross-section converts pressure energy into kinetic energy, generating strong mixing currents that effectively blend secondary air with fuel gases and particulates, improving combustion efficiency without complex mechanical systems
3Productivity
If multiple air supplies are provided, then combustion is better supported, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire construction merges multiple air supply functions into a coordinated system where primary, secondary, and tertiary air supplies work together in sequence. The secondary air supply with flared conduits is integrated into the rear and side walls of the firebox, combining structural support with air delivery functions. This merging approach provides comprehensive combustion support while avoiding excessive device complexity through functional integration
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 improves combustion efficiency and reduces pollutant emissions by ensuring effective mixing of air with fuel gases and particulates, leading to lower carbon monoxide levels and reduced particulate exhaust, while also optimizing thermal efficiency with reduced external air intake.
Implementation Method 1
engineered to create turbulence and increase air pressure, enhancing combustion efficiency
Implementation Method 2
engineered to create turbulence and increase air pressure
Implementation Method 3
supplying additional air to further support combustion of fuel within the combustion chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 3
AI summary
A fire construction (10) comprising a firebox (12) defining a combustion chamber (14) in which fuel (not shown) can be burnt, a first air supply means (16) for delivering air into the combustion chamber (14) to support combustion of fuel therein, and a second air supply means (18) for supplying additional air to support combustion of fuel within the combustion chamber (14), the second air supply means (18) comprising a supply conduit (20) connecting the combustion chamber (14) with an air supply (22), the supply conduit (20) having a cross section (24) that increases as the supply conduit (20) opens into the combustion chamber (14).