Multi-flame burner with secondary nozzle flame transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-flame burners face challenges in achieving reliable and safe ignition of all burner nozzles, especially in automated operations, leading to potential unburned fuel gases and explosion risks due to incomplete combustion.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates secondary nozzle openings arranged linearly or at an angle to the main nozzle arrangement, allowing for the generation of secondary flames that can transmit ignition to adjacent burner nozzles, ensuring complete and reliable ignition without the need for direct alignment with a workpiece.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual ignition method is used for multi-flame burners, then ignition can be achieved, but the operation complexity increases and safety decreases due to manual alignment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition reliabilityVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The burner system performs ignition automatically through the flame transmission mechanism between adjacent burners, eliminating the need for manual ignition operations. The system self-ignites by transmitting flame from the first ignited burner to subsequent burners through the specifically designed flame transmission channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If automated ignition is implemented, then operation simplicity improves, but ignition reliability deteriorates due to alignment sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation levelVSAvoidignition success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The burner design incorporates pre-configured flame transmission channels and geometric arrangements that ensure proper flame propagation paths are established before ignition occurs. The spatial arrangement of burners and flame channels is predetermined to guarantee reliable flame transmission from the first burner to subsequent burners without requiring precise manual alignment during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If flame transmission between burners is improved, then ignition reliability increases, but device complexity increases due to additional structural components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition reliabilityVSAvoidburner structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flame transmission function is integrated into the existing burner structure through shared combustion chambers and interconnected flame channels. Instead of adding separate ignition devices for each burner, the design merges the ignition and flame propagation functions into the overall burner assembly, using the combustion products and flame paths of one burner to serve the ignition needs of adjacent burners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If manual alignment with workpiece is required, then flame directionality is maintained, but productivity decreases due to manual intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidmanual alignment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical alignment operation is replaced by an automated flame transmission mechanism that inherently directs flame toward adjacent burners and the workpiece. The geometric design of flame channels and burner arrangement automatically ensures proper flame direction without requiring manual positioning or alignment operations by the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design enhances the ignition characteristics of multi-flame burners, ensuring safe and complete combustion of all flames, reducing the risk of unburned fuel gases and explosions, and allowing for automated operation without manual alignment.

Implementation Method 1

at least one of the burner nozzles has two, three or more secondary nozzle openings arranged linearly to the side of a main nozzle arrangement for generating a working flame... allowing for the generation of secondary flames that can transmit ignition to adjacent burner nozzles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlame transmission: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2564119B1Multi-flame burner with flame transmission
Publication Date: 2014.03.26 LINDE AG
  • EP2564119B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP2564119B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2564119B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a multi-flame burner comprising burner nozzles (10-15) that can be supplied with combustible gas, especially for thermal material treatment methods. According to the invention, at least one of the burner nozzles (10-15) is provided with at least one secondary nozzle opening (40) arranged at the side of a main nozzle arrangement (30) used to produce a working flame (60, 70), said secondary nozzle opening being used to produce a secondary flame (80) in the direction of at least one adjacent burner nozzle (10-15).