Gas Mixer Segmented Chamber for Uniform Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fully premixed gas burners face challenges in evenly mixing airflow and gas due to the limited length of the mixing pipe, which hinders combustion efficiency and makes it difficult to control the mixing process.

Innovation Solution

A gas mixer design featuring a base with a flow splitter and partitions that divides the air chamber into sections to evenly distribute airflow, preventing vortices and turbulence, and ensuring complete mixing by guiding airflow and gas through inclined surfaces and outlet pipes, facilitating uniform combustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a mixing pipe is used to premix air and gas, then combustion efficiency is improved, but the mixing effect is difficult to control and mixing uniformity deteriorates due to limited pipe length

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidmixing uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mixing chamber is divided into multiple sections by partitions, creating multiple mixing zones. This segmentation allows the airflow and gas flow to be mixed in stages, improving mixing uniformity while maintaining sufficient mixing length for high combustion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a multi-dimensional mixing approach by using partitions to create vertical and horizontal mixing zones. The inclined surfaces guide flows in multiple directions, transforming a simple linear mixing process into a multi-dimensional mixing structure that enhances both uniformity and control.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If the mixing pipe length is increased to improve mixing uniformity, then device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing uniformityVSAvoidmixing chamber structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using a single long mixing pipe, the patent segments the mixing chamber into multiple shorter zones using partitions. This achieves equivalent or superior mixing uniformity while reducing the overall device complexity and space requirements compared to a single extended pipe structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mixing chamber incorporates inclined surfaces that dynamically guide the airflow and gas flow interaction. This dynamic flow guidance within a compact segmented structure achieves effective mixing without requiring excessive length or complex piping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If partitions are added to divide the air chamber, then mixing uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing uniformityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partitions are integrated with the mixing chamber structure itself, merging the dividing function with the chamber walls. This design approach achieves the mixing uniformity benefits of partitioning while minimizing the number of separate components and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The partitions serve multiple functions: they divide the mixing chamber into zones, guide flow patterns, and provide structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, achieving improved mixing uniformity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

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 more even mixing of air and gas, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing the reaction time for adjusting flame height, thereby improving burner performance.

Implementation Method 1

A gas mixer design featuring a base with a flow splitter and partitions that divides the air chamber into sections to evenly distribute airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 2

When gas is outputted from the nozzle, a low pressure is created around the nozzle, drawing primary air into the burner to be mixed with gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the mixing effect of the mixing pipe is difficult to control. In addition, the length of the mixing pipe is usually short, and airflow and gas flow cannot be evenly mixed within such a limited traveling distance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3361155B1Gas mixer
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 GRAND MATE
  • EP3361155B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3361155B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3361155B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gas mixer (16, 16', 16") includes at least one outlet pipe (46) and a base (18, 18') having an inlet portion (20) and a mixing portion (26). The inlet portion (20) has an air inlet (322, 322'), at least one gas inlet (386), and an air path (24). The air path (24) communicates with the air inlet (322, 322') and the at least one gas inlet (386), and has an exit (244a). The mixing portion (26) has a mixing chamber (28) communicating with the exit (244a). The outlet pipe (46) is engaged with the mixing portion (26) of the base (18, 18'), and extends into the mixing chamber (28). The exit (244a) of the air path (24) corresponds to a body (466) of the outlet pipe (46). Therefore, air and gas can be effectively premixed and outputted to a burner (10), whereby to accurately control the air-fuel ratio.