Method for operating a gas burner appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The capacity range of gas burner appliances is limited due to insufficient pressure drop generated by the gas/air mixing device, requiring larger throttles or gas regulation valves, which increase costs and are not necessary for higher capacity applications.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using at least two Venturi nozzles connected in parallel, where during calibration, at least one nozzle is closed and one is opened, allowing the use of smaller throttles and existing gas regulation valves, and adjusting the throttle position offset value based on the ratio of open Venturi nozzles during calibration and regular combustion modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a larger throttle or gas regulation valve is used to increase capacity range, then the gas flow capacity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing device is divided into multiple Venturi nozzles (at least two) connected in parallel, allowing the system to achieve higher gas flow capacity without increasing the size of individual throttles or the gas regulation valve. Each Venturi nozzle handles a portion of the total gas flow, enabling capacity expansion through parallel configuration rather than scaling up single components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-channel flow path to a multi-channel parallel configuration. By arranging Venturi nozzles in parallel, the system adds a spatial dimension to the flow paths, allowing multiple gas streams to mix simultaneously and achieve higher overall capacity without requiring larger individual components.
2Productivity
If the throttle is completely opened to maximize gas flow, then the gas flow capacity is improved, but the pressure drop becomes insufficient for calibration
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the gas flow into multiple parallel Venturi nozzles, the system can achieve sufficient total pressure drop for calibration even when the throttle is fully opened. Closing one or more nozzles during calibration concentrates the gas flow through the remaining open nozzles, maintaining the necessary pressure differential for accurate calibration while still allowing high overall capacity when all nozzles are open during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the configuration of active Venturi nozzles based on operational mode. During calibration, the configuration changes by closing one or more nozzles to create sufficient pressure drop, while during normal operation, all nozzles are open to maximize gas flow capacity. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to optimize for different requirements at different times.
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 approach increases the capacity range of gas burner appliances without the need for larger throttles or gas regulation valves, enabling efficient operation with known components and maintaining consistent gas/air mixing ratios across modulation ranges.
Implementation Method 1
the maximum opening of the throttle positioned within the gas duct does not allow sufficient gas flow if the gas/air mixing device does not generate sufficient pressure drop
Implementation Method 2
The mixing device is provided by a Venturi nozzle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Method for operating a gas burner appliance (10). During burner-on-phases a gas/air mixture having a defined mixing ratio of gas and air is provided to a burner chamber (11). Said gas/air mixture is provided by a mixing device (23) mixing an air flow with a gas flow. Said mixing device (23) has at least two Venturi nozzles being connected in parallel. Said air flow is provided by a fan (14) in such a way that the fan speed of the fan (14) depends on a desired burner load. The fan speed range of the fan (14) defines a modulation range of the gas burner appliance (10). Said defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture is controlled over the modulation range of the gas burner appliance (10) by a gas regulating valve (18). Said gas regulating valve (18) has a pneumatic controller (24) controlling the mixing ratio of gas and air on basis of a pressure difference between the gas pressure of the gas flow in the gas pipe (16) and a reference pressure. During burner-on-phases the combustion quality is monitored on basis of a signal provided by a combustion quality sensor. The defined mixing ratio of gas and air of the gas/air mixture can be calibrated during on basis of the signal provided by the combustion quality sensor, namely by adjusting during calibration a position of a throttle (17). The calibration of the gas/air mixture is performed in such a way that for calibration at least one of the Venturi nozzles (28) of the mixing device (23) is closed while at least one of the Venturi nozzles (28) of the mixing device (23) is opened.