Multi-flame burner with cranked pipes for pipe preheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-flame burners used for preheating large pipes before welding face issues such as thermal damage and high maintenance costs due to concentrated hot exhaust gases, particularly when improperly operated or adjusted, which can lead to hydrogen embrittlement and cold cracking risks.
Innovation Solution
A multi-flame burner design with cranked connection pipes and burner heads arranged in alternating groups with obliquely aligned flame axes, fed through a curved feed line made of high-grade steel, allowing for controlled heat input and effective exhaust gas discharge, reducing the risk of burner damage and improving heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If concentrated heat input is used for preheating large pipes, then preheating efficiency is improved, but thermal damage to the burner and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The burner system is divided into multiple burner heads (at least four) arranged around the pipe, each delivering heat to a different sector. This segments the concentrated heat load into distributed zones, maintaining preheating efficiency while reducing thermal stress on any single burner component, thereby improving reliability and reducing maintenance needs
Solution Approach 2:
The burner heads are arranged in a circular pattern around the pipe circumference, transitioning from linear heat delivery to three-dimensional radial distribution. This spatial arrangement allows concentrated heat input to be achieved at the workpiece while the burner components are distributed in space, reducing mutual thermal interference and improving burner durability
2Productivity
If multiple burner heads are arranged to heat large pipes, then heat distribution is improved, but burner weight and surface temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The burner system uses multiple lightweight burner head units distributed around the pipe rather than a single heavy heating assembly. Each burner head is a separate, relatively light component that can be independently positioned and adjusted, achieving good heat distribution while keeping individual component weights low
Solution Approach 2:
The burner heads are designed to be adjustable and repositionable along the pipe circumference, allowing the system to adapt to different pipe diameters and heating requirements. This dynamic configuration enables optimal heat distribution without requiring a fixed, heavy structural framework
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 solution enables efficient and safe preheating of large pipes with reduced risk of burner damage, lower maintenance needs, and economic advantages by maximizing heat output while minimizing burner weight and surface temperature, thus reducing downtime and costs.
Implementation Method 1
These torches are typically operated with fuel mixtures containing acetylene and oxygen or acetylene and compressed air
Implementation Method 2
Multi-flame torches are generally preferred for preheating workpieces before welding
Implementation Method 3
the cranked connecting pipes have a crank angle in the range of 30° to 60°, preferably of approximately 45°
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The multi-flame burner has several burner heads (1) and accompanying connection pipes (4) which are set up to generate a burner flame (13) directed along a respective flame axes (14), when supplied with a fuel. The half of the connection pipes are offset such that the flame axes of respectively adjacent burner heads are inclined relative to each other. The connection pipes are pivoted with a respective connection nozzle (16) by screw joint (15). The connection nozzles are secured to a shared feed line and are supplied with the fuel through the shared feed line. An independent claim is included for method for preheating a workpiece.