Multi-Zone Surface Burner With Independent Flame Matrix Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing burners with surface combustion require significant installation space and have inefficient heat generation due to uniform air supply and complex structural designs, limiting their ability to achieve high heat output and efficient control.

Innovation Solution

A multi-zone burner design where each burner zone is supplied with a separate fuel-air mixture, with flame matrices aligned in the same direction, allowing for flat and compact arrangement, and independent control of each zone, along with a common blower and control flaps for efficient fuel-air mixture distribution, enabling increased combustion efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common blower supplies fuel-air mixture to all burner zones uniformly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the combustion efficiency and heat output are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblower configurationVSAvoidheat output
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The burner system segments the fuel-air mixture supply into separate controllable zones. Each burner zone has its own control flap that can independently regulate the fuel-air mixture flow, allowing differentiated control of combustion in each zone while maintaining a single common blower. This segmentation enables optimized combustion efficiency and higher heat output without requiring multiple blowers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If burner zones are arranged with deep installation depth, then each zone can be structurally simple, but the installation space becomes large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner zone structureVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The burner zones are arranged in a horizontally extended configuration rather than vertically stacked. The flame matrices of adjacent burner zones are aligned in the same direction, allowing the zones to be positioned side-by-side in a planar arrangement. This dimensional change from vertical to horizontal layout reduces the installation depth while maintaining structural simplicity of each individual burner zone.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If flame matrices are inclined in different directions for each burner zone, then each zone can be independently optimized, but the overall combustion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezone independenceVSAvoidcombustion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

While maintaining the ability to independently control each burner zone through separate control flaps, the flame matrices of all burner zones are oriented in the same direction. This uniform orientation ensures that combustion products from adjacent zones mix efficiently and contribute to overall heat generation, maximizing combustion efficiency. The local control capability is preserved through independent fuel-air mixture regulation, while the global orientation optimizes energy utilization.

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

The solution allows for a compact, high-heat-output burner with efficient control and increased combustion efficiency, as each burner zone can be independently controlled, and the flame matrix is aligned to maximize heat generation without inclination, resulting in a homogeneous flame matrix across zones.

Implementation Method 1

a blower (24) is provided for supplying a fuel-air mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a fabric membrane (49) is provided at a downstream outlet side... a flame matrix (52) is formed on an outlet side of the fabric membrane (49) in a combustion zone (51)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

a flame arrestor (48) is arranged upstream of the fabric membrane (49) at a distance therefrom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3117146B1Multistage surface burner
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 DREIZLER ULRICH
  • EP3117146B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3117146B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3117146B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a burner (13) with surface combustion, having a first and at least one additional burner zone (34, 35), each of which has a feed (29, 37) for a fuel/air mixture in a combustion zone (51) and each of which has a woven membrane (49) for each burner zone (34, 35), the combustion zone (51) adjoining said fabric membrane. The burner also comprises a flashback barrier (48) which is arranged upstream of the woven membrane (49) and at a distance to the fabric membrane. Each burner zone (34, 35) has a separate feed (29, 37) for the fuel/air mixture, and each burner zone (34, 35) has a flame matrix (52), which are aligned in the same direction, in the combustion zones (51).