Infrared Radiant Heater Burner Layout to Prevent Backfire

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional infrared radiation heaters face issues with uneven heating and 'backfire' due to the configuration of the burner, which affects infrared radiation efficiency and causes malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a combustion chamber with a tubular body having voids on its side surface, an ignition device, and a heat insulator, along with an impeller to generate a swirl flow, preventing backfire and ensuring even heating by directing the air-fuel mixture at a predetermined angle to the radiator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the burner is configured to shoot flames at the radiator in front of the burner, then the structure is simple, but the heating is uneven and infrared radiation efficiency is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner structure simplicityVSAvoidinfrared radiation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The burner is divided into a tubular body with multiple voids on its side surface, allowing the air-fuel mixture to be released at multiple locations rather than a single point. This segmentation enables even heating across the entire radiator surface while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air-fuel mixture release is transitioned from a single-directional front-facing configuration to a multi-directional configuration with voids distributed on the side surface of the tubular body. This dimensional change allows flames to contact the radiator from multiple angles, improving heating uniformity and infrared radiation efficiency.

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

2Device complexity

If the burner shoots flames forward at the radiator, then the design is straightforward, but backfire occurs causing malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner design complexityVSAvoidmalfunction prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of directing flames forward from the front of the burner, the design inverts the approach by releasing the air-fuel mixture sideways through voids on the tubular body's side surface. This inversion redirects flames away from the burner inlet, preventing backfire while maintaining straightforward design.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The tubular body acts as an intermediary structure between the fuel injection system and the combustion chamber. It provides a controlled release mechanism through its side surface voids, mediating the combustion process to prevent direct flame contact with the burner inlet and eliminate backfire risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If conventional burners are used, then the structure is simple, but the entire radiator cannot be heated evenly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner structureVSAvoidheating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The single-point flame source is segmented into multiple release points distributed around the tubular body's side surface. This segmentation allows heat to be distributed evenly across the radiator surface, achieving uniform heating while keeping the burner structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the tubular body side surface are equipped with voids to provide localized heating zones corresponding to different areas of the radiator. This local quality approach ensures each portion of the radiator receives appropriate heat distribution for uniform overall heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enhances infrared radiation efficiency while preventing malfunctions by ensuring even heating and redirecting flames away from the burner, thus improving overall performance.

Implementation Method 1

a combustion device provided in the combustion chamber and configured to combust air-fuel mixture made by mixing fuel with air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

a radiator provided in the opening and configured to be heated by heat generated from the combustion device and including a radiation plane configured to emit infrared radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

a heat insulator provided at a second end of the tubular body, and configured to insulate between the tubular body and the radiator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3531797B1Infrared radiant heater
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 SHIZUOKA SEIKI CO LTD
  • EP3531797B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3531797B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3531797B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An infrared radiation heater includes: a combustion chamber having a combustion space that is open on one side; a combustion device provided in the combustion chamber to combust air-fuel mixture made by mixing fuel with air; and a radiator configured to be heated by heat generated from the combustion device and including a radiation plane configured to emit infrared radiation. The combustion device includes: a nozzle provided in a flow path of the air to inject the fuel; a tubular body including a side surface that faces a direction with a predetermined angle with respect to the radiation plane, and a plurality of voids being formed on the side surface; and an ignition device provided outside of the tubular body and configured to ignite the air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture flows into the tubular body, and the tubular body releases the air-fuel mixture from the voids into the combustion chamber.