Pellet Adapter Venting for Uniform Combustion in Portable Stoves

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable wood-burning stoves and fire pits face challenges in burning biomass pellets due to ventilation holes in fuel grates, which allow pellets to fall through and result in uneven combustion, smoke generation, and inefficient airflow.

Innovation Solution

A pellet adapter with a pellet tray, raised outer rim, and central protuberance is designed to fit on top of the fuel grate, featuring ventilation holes that prevent pellet passage and promote even distribution and top-down combustion, ensuring efficient airflow and reduced smoke.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a fuel grate with large ventilation holes is used to provide sufficient airflow for combustion, then airflow is improved, but pellets fall through the holes causing uneven combustion and smoke generation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveairflowVSAvoidsmoke generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel grate is segmented into multiple small holes rather than a few large holes, distributing airflow across many points while preventing pellet passage. This segmentation allows sufficient total airflow area while each individual hole is too small for pellets to fall through, resolving the contradiction between airflow quantity and pellet retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel grate has different hole sizes in different regions, with smaller holes in areas where pellets are likely to be placed and larger holes in areas dedicated to airflow. This local differentiation allows the grate to provide sufficient airflow while preventing pellets from falling through critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If a fuel grate with numerous large ventilation holes is used to support combustion, then airflow is improved, but pellets cannot be retained on the grate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveairflowVSAvoidpellet retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel grate is divided into many small holes instead of fewer large holes. The total area of holes provides sufficient airflow, while the small individual hole size prevents pellets from passing through, thereby retaining pellets on the grate during combustion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hole diameter parameter is changed from large to small dimensions. This parameter change maintains the total open area for airflow while the reduced individual hole size creates a physical barrier that prevents pellet passage, solving the retention problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a flat or dome-shaped fuel grate is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but uniform combustion of pellets is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrate structureVSAvoidcombustion uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel grate incorporates localized raised regions or zones with different hole distributions in specific areas. These local modifications create varied airflow patterns across the grate surface, promoting uniform pellet combustion without requiring a complete redesign of the overall grate structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel grate transitions from a completely flat shape to one with subtle curvatures or raised central regions. This curvature modification helps distribute pellets more evenly across the combustion surface and improves airflow distribution, achieving uniform combustion while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 pellet adapter allows for uniform, smoke-free combustion of biomass pellets, providing long-lasting heat and ambience while maintaining the portability and airflow of traditional wood-burning stoves.

Implementation Method 1

a pellet tray including a plurality of second ventilation holes sized and shaped to prevent passage of a fuel pellet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment through geometric filtering: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

provide for even distribution and combustion of the pellets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

top-down combustion of the fuel pellets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11774089B1Combustible fuel burning stove with pellet adapter

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 SOLO BRANDS LLC

AI summary

A stove includes a combustion chamber, a fuel grate positioned within the combustion chamber, and a pellet adapter removably positionable on the fuel grate. The fuel grate includes a number of first ventilation holes. The pellet adapter includes a number of second ventilation holes sized and shaped to prevent passage of a fuel pellet. The pellet adapter also includes a raised outer rim and a central protuberance with a height greater than the height of the raised outer rim.