Gas Burner Flame Stability via Segmented Injector Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Gas burners with multiple flame rings are prone to flame extinguishing due to air movements and pressure changes, especially when the simmering flame ring is fed with a minimum gas flow, leading to instability and difficulty in adapting to different gas types.

Innovation Solution

A gas burner design featuring a cup-shaped support with separate injectors for main and simmering flames, where the simmering flame ring is fed with a minimal gas flow through a smaller outflow hole and protected from air movements by a flame divider and cover, ensuring stability and easy adaptation to various gas types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the simmering flame ring is fed with minimum gas flow, then the burner power delivery is reduced for low temperature cooking, but the flame becomes sensitive to air movements and pressure changes causing flame extinguishing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner power deliveryVSAvoidflame stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The burner is divided into two independent flame rings (main flame ring and simmering flame ring) with separate gas supply systems and injectors. This segmentation allows each ring to operate independently with optimized gas flow rates, enabling the simmering ring to receive minimum gas flow for low power operation while the main ring can compensate to maintain overall flame stability and prevent extinguishing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A flame divider element is introduced as an intermediary component between the two flame rings. This element physically separates the flames and creates a protective barrier that shields the sensitive simmering flame from air movements and pressure changes, allowing it to operate stably at minimum gas flow rates without extinguishing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the simmering flame ring is disposed on the circumferential wall, then the structure is compact, but the flame is exposed to air movements and streaming effects from below the cooking hob

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner structureVSAvoidair movement sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The simmering flame ring is repositioned from the circumferential wall to a horizontal position on the top surface of the burner body, changing its spatial orientation from vertical to horizontal. This dimensional change allows the flame to be fed with primary air from above the cooking hob, placing it in a more stable airflow environment that is less susceptible to streaming effects and air movements from below the hob.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the primary air feeding the simmering flame ring originates from below the cooking hob, then the air supply is readily available, but the flame is exposed to streaming effects and pressure reduction when doors are opened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair supply availabilityVSAvoidstreaming effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The primary air supply direction is inverted from below the cooking hob to above the cooking hob. The second inlet for primary air is positioned on the top surface of the burner body, allowing air to be drawn from the stable region above the hob. This inversion eliminates exposure to streaming effects and pressure reductions that occur when doors below the hob are opened, while still providing adequate air supply for combustion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a gas burner is designed with easy part replacement for gas type adaptation, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas type adaptabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The injector components are designed as universal, interchangeable parts that can be easily replaced to adapt the burner to different gas types (natural gas, LPG, etc.). The injector assembly includes standardized elements such as the injector body, needle, and seat that work across multiple gas types, requiring only simple replacement rather than complex adjustment mechanisms. This maintains device simplicity while achieving high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design achieves stable flame operation at low power settings, resistant to air movement-induced extinguishing, and allows for easy replacement of parts for gas type adaptation, while maintaining a compact and economical structure suitable for various cooking hob installations.

Implementation Method 1

a first injector (6), which is positioned in the centre of said base and is intended to feed the main flame ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjector effect: Injector

Implementation Method 2

a flame divider (32) resting on the rim of said cup-shaped support and presenting an axial conduit (34) of frusto-conical shape coaxial to said first injector (6) and having its lower aperture facing said first injector (6)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Implementation Method 3

Gas burners with one or more flame rings are known, in particular gas burners with a ring of main flames positioned at a certain level of the burner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2071235B1Gas burner for cooking appliances.
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 DEFENDI ITAL
  • EP2071235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2071235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2071235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas burner for cooking appliances, with a ring of main flames and a ring of simmering flames, characterised in that: - two superposed separate chambers (42, 50) are provided containing the gas and primary air mixture for feeding the main flame ring (60) and the simmering flame ring (62), - the chamber (42) containing the mixture for feeding the main flame ring (60) is bounded by a circumferential wall (36) with which a plurality of radial apertures (38) are associated for the outflow of said mixture, - the chamber (50) containing the mixture for feeding the simmering flame ring (62) is positioned above the preceding and closed upperly by a cover (48) which defines in its lower surface at least one passage (52, 54) for the outflow of said mixture and the formation of the simmering flame ring (62), - the edge of said cover (48) extends outwards beyond said passage (52, 54).