Fluidized Bed Biomass Ignition With Self-Cleaning Arc Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combustion furnace systems for biomass in small-scale applications face inefficiencies in ignition processes, requiring high energy consumption and frequent maintenance due to wear and tear of ignition devices, and are not suitable for continuous operation.
Innovation Solution
An ignition unit with vertically positioned electrodes or a spark plug within the combustion chamber generates an electric arc to ignite fuel directly on the fluidized bed, using minimal energy and ensuring soot removal through the moving bed, accompanied by controlled airflow for efficient ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating elements or hot air blowers are used for ignition, then ignition temperature can be reached, but energy consumption increases to 600-1000 W and maintenance requirements increase due to wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical heating elements and hot air blowers with an electric arc ignition system. The electric arc generates plasma that directly ignites the fuel, eliminating the need for high-power thermal heating devices and their associated mechanical wear components.
Solution Approach 2:
The ignition system changes the physical state of the ignition medium from thermal (heating elements) to electrical (electric arc plasma). This parameter change allows ignition at lower overall energy consumption while achieving the necessary ignition temperature through concentrated plasma energy.
2Temperature
If heating elements are used for ignition, then ignition can be achieved, but the devices are subject to considerable wear and tear due to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical heating elements that suffer from thermal wear and degradation with an electric arc system. The electrodes in the electric arc system experience minimal wear compared to continuous-contact heating elements, significantly improving reliability and service life.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ignition electrodes are positioned away from the fluidized bed, then they avoid contamination, but the device complexity increases and ignition efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the ignition electrodes directly within the fluidized bed, allowing the bed material to automatically clean the electrodes during operation. The fluidized bed particles continuously wash the electrode surfaces, removing soot deposits without requiring separate cleaning mechanisms or complex positioning arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the visual indication of electrode cleanliness through the fluidized bed cleaning action, where the continuous particle flow maintains electrode surfaces in a clean state, visibly distinguishable from contaminated electrodes.
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 system achieves energy-efficient ignition with reduced maintenance needs, as soot is cleared by the fluidized bed, and the electrodes remain clean, allowing for efficient and reliable start-ups with minimal energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the ignition unit comprising two ignition electrodes or a spark plug for generating an electric arc
Implementation Method 2
the tips of the ignition electrodes or the spark plug are located within the moving fluidized bed during operation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an incinerator system for burning biomass, in particular wood pellets, comprising a combustion chamber (1) with a nozzle bottom (2) above which a fluidized bed (3) comprising a bulk quantity of solid particles, preferably quartz sand, is arranged, an ignition unit (4), a combustion air supply (5) and a fuel supply (6). The ignition unit (4) comprises two ignition electrodes (7) or a spark plug for generating an arc, the tips of the two ignition electrodes (7) or the tip of the spark plug being arranged in the combustion chamber (1) in the vertical direction above the fluidized bed (3), which is stationary in the switched-off state, and substantially below an inlet opening (8) of the fuel supply (6).