Parallel-Cooled Grate Bar Layout for Lower Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grate bars in combustion plants experience significant pressure loss and require high-power cooling water pumps due to long, complex cooling pipe paths with bends and curves, leading to high operational costs and maintenance needs.

Innovation Solution

A grate bar design with integrated cooling pipes arranged in parallel configurations, including inlet and outlet distributors and collectors, reduces pressure loss by optimizing the flow path, allowing for reduced pumping capacity and efficient heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional grate bars with rounded corners and smooth transitions are used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but soot accumulation increases due to insufficient airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidsoot accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The grate bar features localized sharp edges and corners at specific positions (front edge, rear edge, side edges) rather than uniform rounding throughout. This local quality change creates targeted airflow patterns at critical locations where soot accumulation occurs, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through defined geometric features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sharp edges and corners dynamically influence gas flow patterns during combustion, creating turbulent flow that actively prevents soot deposition. The geometric features transform the static grate structure into a dynamic flow control element that adapts to combustion conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-generated harmful factors

If grate bars with sharp edges and corners are implemented, then soot accumulation is reduced through improved airflow, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoot accumulationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sharp edges and corners are applied locally at critical positions (front edge, rear edge, side edges) rather than requiring complex overall geometry. This localized approach minimizes manufacturing complexity while achieving the airflow control needed to prevent soot accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the first gas flow channel is positioned closer to the combustion chamber, then soot prevention is improved, but heat loss to the first gas flow increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoot accumulationVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The first gas flow channel is positioned close to the combustion chamber only in specific regions where soot accumulation is most problematic, rather than uniformly across all surfaces. This partial action approach prevents soot in critical areas while limiting overall heat loss exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The proximity of the first gas flow channel to the combustion chamber is applied locally at strategic positions to maximize soot prevention effectiveness while minimizing the surface area exposed to high temperatures, thereby reducing heat loss.

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 new design minimizes pressure loss and reduces the need for high-power pumps, lowering operational costs and maintenance requirements while maintaining effective cooling of grate bars.

Implementation Method 1

The grate bar (1) has a geometry that generates a first gas flow channel (2) extending from the front to the rear of the combustion chamber (10) along an inner wall (11) of the combustion chamber (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow channel formation:

Implementation Method 2

a combustion system for a steam generator, wherein the combustion system has a combustion chamber (10) in which fuel is combusted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3596390B1Grate bar, grate, and combustion system
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 LEROUX & LOTZ TECH
  • EP3596390B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3596390B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3596390B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a grate bar (100) for combustion systems, comprising a substantially closed surface facing the combustion side, a rear support region which is designed to be supported on a grate support, a front nose region which runs between the surface and the front edge and which comprises a support region formed on the lower face, and a grate cooling tube system (102) which is integrated in the grate bar (100) for conducting a cooling liquid, wherein the grate cooling tube system (102) has an inlet distributor (104) for supplying the cooling liquid, an outlet collector (114) for discharging the cooling liquid, and multiple cooling tubes (108', 108", 112', 112"), each of which is individually connected to the inlet distributor (104) and the outlet collector (114) in a fluid-tight manner.