Modular Solid-Fuel Burner With Multi-Stage Airflow for Clean Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing burners lack efficiency and cleanliness when using solid fuels, and they are not adaptable to diverse heat utilizing appliances, leading to unburned fuel emissions and limited versatility.
Innovation Solution
A burner design with a combustion chamber surrounded by an outer wall and a shroud, providing multiple air flow paths for efficient combustion, along with modular attachments for various appliances, including a pivotally coupled ash pan and food grate, and a cover to prevent accidents and emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple burner design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but combustion efficiency and cleanliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion process is segmented into multiple stages with distinct air supply zones. Primary combustion occurs at the fuel holder with initial air supply, while secondary combustion occurs above the fuel holder with additional air supplied through the outer wall and shroud. This segmentation allows complete combustion of solid fuels, eliminating unburned emissions without requiring complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the burner are designed with different functional qualities. The inner fuel holder provides primary combustion support, the outer wall provides secondary air supply and structural support, and the shroud provides tertiary air supply and external cooling. Each zone is optimized for its specific function, achieving clean combustion through localized design improvements.
2Reliability
If a dedicated burner is designed for each heat utilizing appliance, then appliance performance is optimized, but device complexity and acquisition cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The burner is designed as a universal platform that can support multiple types of heat utilizing appliances including cookers, smokers, steamers, and pyrolyzers. The standardized fuel holder, outer wall, and shroud configuration allow different appliance modules to be attached to the same burner, enabling one burner to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate burners for each appliance type.
Solution Approach 2:
The burner incorporates movable and adjustable components including a pivotally coupled ash pan that can be rotated for access, a food grate that can be positioned at different heights, and a cover that can be opened or closed. These dynamic elements allow the burner to adapt to different appliance configurations and operating conditions while maintaining a single standardized base design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If solid fuel is used, then fuel availability is improved, but combustion efficiency and cleanliness worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Air is supplied to the fuel holder before and during the combustion process through multiple zones. Primary air is introduced at the fuel holder to support initial combustion, while secondary air is supplied through the outer wall and shroud to ensure complete combustion of volatile gases and particulates. This preliminary and continuous air supply prevents unburned fuel emissions while maintaining compatibility with solid fuels like wood and charcoal.
Solution Approach 2:
The burner design promotes intense oxidation by providing充足的 oxygen through multiple air supply paths. The concentric configuration of the fuel holder, outer wall, and shroud creates multiple combustion zones where oxygen-rich air continuously contacts the flame and hot gases, ensuring complete oxidation of carbon and other combustion products, thereby eliminating smoke and unburned emissions.
4Volume of moving object
If the outer wall is positioned close to the flame, then device size is reduced, but user safety deteriorates due to burn risk
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud acts as an intermediary component between the outer wall and the external environment. It provides an additional layer of protection by directing tertiary combustion air through its walls and creating a cooling flow path that prevents the external surface from reaching burn temperatures, while still allowing the overall burner to maintain a compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The shroud is designed with different functional zones: the inner surface receives hot combustion gases and directs cooling air, while the outer surface is maintained at a safe temperature through the cooling air flow path. This localized thermal management allows the burner to be compact while ensuring user safety through differential temperature zones.
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 burner achieves efficient, clean burning with reduced emissions, supporting secondary and tertiary combustion to minimize smoke, and allows for versatile use with different heat utilizing appliances by enabling easy attachment and detachment of modular units.
Implementation Method 1
Air flows both through the fuel holder to support combustion, and also around the fuel holder
Implementation Method 2
providing an external surface cool enough to avoid burns if casually contacted
Implementation Method 3
to be directed to flame and fumes just above the fuel holder to support secondary combustion
Data Source
AI summary
A burner for burning fuels and modular heat utilizing appliances therefor. The burner includes a fuel holder, an outer wall surrounding the fuel holder and defining a combustion chamber, and optionally, a second wall surrounding the outer wall. Air is inducted from an inlet which may be an ash pan pivotally coupled to the outer wall at the bottom to open the combustion chamber. Supplementary combustion air is conducted to just above the fuel holder by the outer wall. Additional supplementary combustion air is conducted to just above the fuel holder by the second wall. The burner may include a pivotally mounted cooking grate and a pivotally mounted solid cover for closing the combustion chamber, and supporting legs. Modules individually yet replaceably attachable to the burner include a closed or open cooker, a smoker, a space heater, and a pyrolyzer.