Hydrogen Burner Throttling for Flashback and Noise Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hydrogen combustion in heating appliances is prone to flame flashbacks, which can damage the appliance and pose safety risks, and existing solutions like flame arresters are costly and have durability issues, while combustion noise is also a concern.

Innovation Solution

A heating appliance with a burner assembly that includes a throttling device causing a predetermined pressure drop of 25-40% of the burner outlet element's pressure drop, reducing the risk of flame flashbacks and noise by ensuring stable combustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flame arresters are used to prevent flame flashbacks, then safety is improved, but durability and functionality are compromised due to damage from repeated flashbacks and increased flow resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame flashback preventionVSAvoidservice life of flame arrester
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the pressure parameter by introducing a throttling device that creates a pressure drop of 25-40% of the burner outlet element's pressure drop. This pressure modification prevents flame flashbacks by altering the combustion dynamics without requiring a flame arrester, thereby maintaining the durability and service life of the burner components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If flame arresters are used to prevent flame flashbacks, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame flashback preventionVSAvoidburner assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the flame flashback prevention function with the existing throttling device in the burner assembly. By integrating flame prevention into the pressure control mechanism already present in the system, the invention eliminates the need for separate flame arrester components, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Use of energy by moving object

If hydrogen combustion is used for heating, then energy efficiency is improved, but flame instability and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidcombustion noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the pressure parameters in the combustion chamber by introducing a throttling device that creates a controlled pressure drop. This pressure adjustment stabilizes the hydrogen combustion process, reducing flame instability and the associated combustion noise while maintaining high combustion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 throttling device effectively prevents flame flashbacks and minimizes combustion noise, making the appliance durable and suitable for easy retrofitting with minimal modifications.

Implementation Method 1

the throttling device causes a pressure drop ΔpD in a range of 25 percent to 40 percent of the pressure drop ΔpB of the burner outlet element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

the pressure drop ΔpB of the burner outlet element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

designed to combust a mixture of fuel gas and combustion air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP4545852B1Heater
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 VAILLANT GMBH(DE)
  • EP4545852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4545852B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4545852B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A heating device (10) is proposed, designed for the combustion of a combustion mixture of a fuel gas and combustion air, which is supplied to a burner arrangement (1) via a conveying device (14) through a mixture channel (20) and which has a hydrogen content of at least 80 percent. The burner arrangement (1) comprises at least one burner cavity (25), a burner outlet element (4) through which the combustion mixture can exit from the burner cavity (25) into a combustion chamber (22), and a throttling device (5) arranged in the burner cavity (25) which extends over the entire flow cross-section available for the combustion mixture and causes a pressure drop DAD in the range of 25 percent to 40 percent of the pressure drop DAB of the burner outlet element (4).