Flue Gas Recirculation Burner for Low-Emission Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fuel-air burners achieve low emissions by using high air content, resulting in lower flame temperatures and reduced emissions, but this leads to less than optimal efficiency and incomplete heat energy capture from the combustion process.
Innovation Solution
The fuel-air-flue gas burner design incorporates a recycling mechanism where return flue gas is redirected back into the combustion process, utilizing a helical coil and return cavity to absorb and transfer additional heat energy, enhancing efficiency while maintaining emissions compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If high air content is used to reduce emissions, then emissions are reduced, but combustion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers heat from flue gas that would otherwise be discarded to the atmosphere. A heat exchanger captures thermal energy from the exhaust flue gas and transfers it to the incoming air-fuel mixture, thereby recovering useful heat energy and improving overall combustion efficiency while maintaining the low-emissions benefit of excess air combustion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the incoming air-fuel mixture by preheating it through contact with hot flue gas in the heat exchanger. This parameter change allows the combustion process to operate more efficiently at elevated temperatures while still maintaining the low-emissions characteristics achieved through excess air combustion
2Object-generated harmful factors
If high air content is used to reduce emissions, then emissions are reduced, but heat energy capture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers heat from flue gas that would otherwise be discarded to the atmosphere. A heat exchanger captures thermal energy from the exhaust flue gas and transfers it to the incoming air-fuel mixture, thereby recovering useful heat energy and improving overall combustion efficiency while maintaining the low-emissions benefit of excess air combustion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat in flue gas emissions into a beneficial resource by using it to preheat the incoming air-fuel mixture. The heat that would otherwise be lost to the environment is now utilized to improve combustion efficiency and reduce the energy required for heating applications
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
This design captures more heat energy from the combustion process, improving efficiency compared to previous burners while meeting emissions standards, making it suitable for residential heating applications.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a helical coil and return cavity to absorb and transfer additional heat energy
Implementation Method 2
a return cavity configured to move return flue gas away from the combustion area and into the inlet of the supply chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A gaseous fuel-air-flue gas burner is described herein. One device includes a housing having a combustion chamber containing a combustion area in which a combination of fuel, air, and flue gas mix to form a flame, a flame arrester having an outer surface for the flame to form, a supply chamber configured to receive the fuel, air, and flue gas mixture at an inlet and provide the combustion area with the fuel, air, and flue gas mixture at an outlet to produce a flame and a quantity of return flue gas, and a return cavity configured to move return flue gas away from the combustion area and into the inlet of the supply chamber.