Fluidic Burner Flame Direction Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional burners face operational drawbacks such as overheating and plugging due to combustion byproducts when attempting to change the direction of the flame, which limits their flexibility in applications like melting scrap metal.

Innovation Solution

A burner design featuring a central passageway with increasing diameter, separate ports for fuel and oxidant, and biasing gas passageways that allow for supersonic fluid flow and perpendicular injection of biasing gas to change the flow direction of the oxidant stream, along with a housing for coolant flow to manage heat, enabling efficient and flexible flame direction adjustment without overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the flame direction is changed by conventional means, then the heating flexibility is improved, but the burner nozzle overheats and orifices plug with combustion byproducts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame direction flexibilityVSAvoidburner operation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a fluidic cavity with supersonic gas flow and biasing gas injection to control flame direction. By injecting biasing gas perpendicular to the supersonic flow, the flame direction is changed through fluid dynamic interactions rather than mechanical movement, avoiding contact with hot combustion zones and preventing plugging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces mechanical flame direction control mechanisms with a fluidic system using supersonic gas flow and biasing gas injection. This substitution eliminates mechanical parts that would be exposed to high temperatures and combustion byproducts, thereby preventing overheating and plugging while maintaining flame direction flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a fluidic cavity with supersonic flow is used to change flame direction, then the risk of overheating and plugging is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburner operation stabilityVSAvoidburner structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluidic cavity serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates supersonic flow, directs the flame through biasing gas injection, and protects the burner structure from overheating. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Speed

If the central passageway diameter increases toward the downstream end, then the supersonic flow is maintained, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow velocityVSAvoidpassageway geometry tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a conical central passageway with gradually increasing diameter toward the downstream end. This geometric parameter change allows the passageway to expand to accommodate supersonic flow requirements while distributing manufacturing tolerances over a gradual transition rather than a sharp change, making precision requirements more achievable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 burner achieves efficient combustion with reduced risk of overheating and plugging, allowing for flexible flame direction changes and stable operation across various heating applications.

Implementation Method 1

said fluidic cavity having a diameter D at said point of communication sufficient to enable fluid passing therethrough to have a supersonic velocity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSupersonic flow: Speed of Sound

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of biasing gas passageways through which biasing gas can be fed into the fluidic cavity in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial centerline of the fluidic cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid injection and flow direction control:

Implementation Method 3

wherein the portion of the housing that extends downstream of the downstream end of the burner comprises passageways therein through which coolant can flow to absorb heat generated by combustion occurring at the burner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Heat Sink

Implementation Method 4

combusting fuel and gaseous oxidant in a combustion zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS11313554B2Fluidic burner with heat stability

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 PRAXAIR TECH INC

AI summary

A burner comprises a central passageway and outlets for fuel and for stabilizing oxidant arranged peripherally around the central passageway, and comprises outlets within the burner through which biasing gas, such as gas comprising oxygen, can be injected to enable control of the direction of the flame that is generated by combustion of the fuel and the oxidant at the face of the burner.