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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating boilers with electrostatic precipitators for flue gas filtration face issues such as impaired heat transfer due to deposits on heat exchanger tubes, high-voltage flashover risks, thermal stress on discharge electrodes, and maintenance challenges.

Innovation Solution

The discharge electrode is positioned in an exhaust gas return line, while the collector electrode is located downstream, allowing for ionization of flue gas in a recirculated exhaust gas flow, reducing thermal stress and flashover risks, and facilitating maintenance by keeping the spray electrode outside the boiler. This setup ensures effective particle separation without compromising heat transfer or combustion conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the spray electrode is placed inside the hot flue gas flow for electrostatic separation, then particle separation efficiency is improved, but thermal stress on the electrode increases and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle separation efficiencyVSAvoidthermal stress on discharge electrode
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The spray electrode is extracted from the hot flue gas flow path and relocated to the recirculated exhaust gas flow path. This allows the electrostatic separation function to be maintained while the electrode is no longer exposed to high temperatures, reducing thermal stress and facilitating maintenance access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the discharge electrode is positioned in the hot flue gas flow area, then ionization occurs, but the risk of high-voltage flashovers increases and electrode damage during maintenance becomes more likely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveionization functionVSAvoidrisk of high-voltage flashovers and electrode damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge electrode is extracted from the hazardous hot flue gas flow area and repositioned in the cooler recirculated exhaust gas flow. The electrode maintains its ionization function by being exposed to the ionized recirculated gas, while the risk of flashovers and damage during maintenance is significantly reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The recirculated exhaust gas flow acts as an intermediary medium, carrying ionized particles from the spray electrode to the collector electrode. This allows the discharge electrode to perform ionization without being directly exposed to the hot flue gas, reducing electrical hazards while maintaining separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If electrostatic separation is implemented in the heat exchanger tubes, then flue gas purification is achieved, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to deposits on tubes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflue gas purificationVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The electrostatic separation function is segmented from the heat exchanger tube structure. Instead of using the heat exchanger tubes as collector electrodes, a separate collector electrode is installed in the recirculated exhaust gas flow path, allowing the heat exchanger tubes to maintain their original heat transfer function without particle deposits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recirculated exhaust gas flow serves as an intermediary that carries ionized particles away from the heat exchanger tubes to a dedicated collector electrode. This prevents particle deposition on the heat transfer surfaces while maintaining effective flue gas purification through electrostatic separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration minimizes the impact on heat exchanger function, reduces the risk of high-voltage flashovers, and allows for safer and more efficient electrostatic separation, maintaining advantageous heat transfer conditions and reducing pollutant emissions.

Implementation Method 1

the ionized exhaust gas flow is mixed with the flue gas flow from the combustion chamber via the ionization of the recirculated exhaust gas flow caused by the spray electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 2

the ionized solid particles of the flue gases from the combustion chamber are deposited on the tube jacket of the heat exchanger tubes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic deposition: Electrostatic Deposition

Data Source

PatentEP2926909B1Boiler
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 GILLES ENERGIE UND UMWELTTECHN GMBH & CO
  • EP2926909B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2926909B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A heating boiler with a combustion chamber (1), a heat exchanger (6) arranged downstream of the combustion chamber (1), with several exhaust gas flues (9) connected to an induced draft fan (7) and with at least one spray electrode (16) and at least one collector electrode (15 ) Comprehensive electrostatic separator for the flue gas flow from the combustion chamber (1) described. In order to obtain advantageous cleaning conditions, it is proposed that the spray electrode (16) be arranged in an exhaust gas return line (17) leading from the pressure side of the induced draft fan (7) into the smoke gas stream from the combustion chamber (1) for part of the exhaust gas stream and the collector electrode (15 ) the junction of the exhaust gas return line (17) in the flue gas stream from the combustion chamber (1) is downstream in the direction of flow.