Gravity-Opening Flue Gas Damper for Biomass Refilling Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biomass heating devices face issues with flue gas escape when the combustion chamber door is opened due to poor chimney draft or unfavorable flue gas paths, leading to inefficient combustion and soot formation in filters/catalysts at lower temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A flue gas damper device with a rotatable shaft and holding device that automatically opens by gravity, coupled with an electromagnet or spring-loaded mechanism, to prevent flue gas escape and ensure safe combustion, including a controller for timed operation and temperature-dependent flue gas management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a smoke gas damper is provided in the combustion chamber to prevent flue gas escape when the door is opened, then flue gas escape is prevented, but the device becomes complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflue gas escape preventionVSAvoidflue gas damper device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flue gas damper is extracted from the combustion chamber and relocated to the flue gas path outside the chamber. This allows the damper to control flue gas flow without being inside the combustion chamber, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the function of preventing flue gas escape when the door is opened.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A holding device is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the damper and the control system. The holding device maintains the damper in a predetermined position (open or closed) and releases it when needed, eliminating the need for complex continuous control mechanisms and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a holding device is used to maintain the flue gas damper in a predetermined position, then reliable position control is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamper position controlVSAvoidholding device mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device is designed to automatically maintain the damper in a predetermined position without requiring continuous external control. The damper itself works together with the holding device to maintain its position, and the system automatically transitions between states based on operational conditions, reducing the need for complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the flue gas damper is opened to allow flue gas bypass during door opening, then flue gas escape is prevented, but combustion efficiency decreases due to lower temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflue gas management safetyVSAvoidcombustion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flue gas damper is designed to dynamically adjust its position based on operational conditions. It can be in the open position during door opening to prevent flue gas escape, and automatically transition to the closed position during normal operation to maintain combustion efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The damper operates periodically, switching between open and closed states based on the operational cycle of the heating device. It opens temporarily when the door is opened and closes during normal combustion, creating a periodic action pattern that maintains both safety and efficiency throughout different operational phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution effectively prevents flue gas escape during fuel refilling, ensures safe combustion by improving flue gas extraction, and maintains efficient operation even in power failures by automatically adjusting the damper positions.

Implementation Method 1

The flue gas damper device (1) has a flue gas damper (2) which can be moved from a closed operating position into an open operating position automatically under the influence of gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

The holding device (8) has an electromagnet which is set up to hold the flue gas damper (2) in the closed operating position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentEP2910854B1Flue gas valve device
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 RIENER KARL STEFAN
  • EP2910854B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2910854B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a flue gas flap device (1) with a flue gas flap (2), a rotatable shaft (3) and a holding device, the flue gas flap (2) being connected to the shaft (3) and the flue gas flap device (1) being designed for this purpose is that the holding device holds the flue gas flap (2) in a closed operating position against the force of gravity and that the holding device can release the flue gas flap (2) so that the flue gas flap (2) is moved to an open operating position by gravity.