Negative Pressure Combustion Chamber for Flue-Cured Barns

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Solution Overview

Problem

In flue-cured barns used for tobacco curing, there is a risk of smoke contamination from the combustion process, which can degrade the quality of the tobacco and interfere with the curing process.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method are provided to generate negative pressure within the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe of the barn, using a fan to draw combustion gases away from the chamber and prevent smoke from entering the main drying area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a furnace is used to heat air for tobacco curing, then the curing process can be maintained at the required temperature, but smoke contamination may occur in the barn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecuring temperatureVSAvoidsmoke contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful combustion gases are extracted from the combustion chamber through an exhaust pipe and discharged outside the barn, separating the harmful elements from the curing environment while maintaining the beneficial heating function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A fan is introduced as an intermediary device to actively manage gas flow, creating negative pressure that draws combustion gases through the exhaust pipe and prevents their escape into the barn, while still allowing controlled air intake for combustion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If combustion gases are allowed to escape freely from the combustion chamber, then the pressure balance is maintained, but smoke can leak into the barn and contaminate the tobacco

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure balanceVSAvoidsmoke leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses pneumatic pressure differentials created by the fan to control gas flow, generating negative pressure within the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe to prevent smoke leakage while maintaining pressure balance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The fan creates negative pressure proactively to counteract any potential smoke leakage before it can occur, preventing harmful gases from entering the barn rather than reacting after contamination has occurred

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 negative pressure system effectively reduces the risk of smoke leakage into the barn, thereby improving tobacco quality by minimizing contamination and maintaining the efficiency of the curing process.

Implementation Method 1

a fan for drawing the combustion gases along the exhaust pipe away from the combustion chamber and for generating a negative pressure within the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe compared with the pressure outside the apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12245626B2Apparatus and method for use in a flue-cured barn

Publication Date: 2025.03.11 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for use in a flue-cured barn. The apparatus comprises a combustion chamber for burning fuel; an exhaust pipe for allowing combustion gases to leave the combustion chamber; and a fan for drawing the combustion gases along the exhaust pipe away from the combustion chamber and for generating a negative pressure within the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe compared with the pressure outside the apparatus.