Rotating Biomass Brazier with Removable Plate for Clog Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The accumulation of unburnt products in the brazier of heating apparatus, particularly when using difficult-to-ignite biomass fuels like seeds of maize, barley, or soya bean, leads to clogging, reduced heat efficiency, and safety hazards due to air recirculation issues, necessitating frequent manual cleaning and additional maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a rotating brazier with radially arranged arms controlled by an electronic board to manage fuel flow and combustion, ensuring complete removal of unburnt material and maintaining high heat efficiency while minimizing energy expenditure and user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bottom surface with openings is used in the collection container to facilitate combustion, then combustion efficiency is improved, but unburnt products accumulate and clog the openings over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidclogging of openings
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The brazier bottom surface is made movable through a removable plate mechanism that can be lifted during operation. This dynamic structure allows the bottom surface to transition from a closed combustion chamber to an open state for easy access and cleaning, resolving the contradiction between maintaining combustion efficiency and preventing clogging accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The removable plate mechanism extracts the problematic accumulation zone from the combustion chamber. By providing a separate accessible platform that can be removed, the design separates the combustion function from the waste accumulation function, allowing complete removal of unburnt products without disrupting the combustion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a removable bottom is used to facilitate passage of unburnt material, then cleaning access is improved, but heat efficiency decreases and flame may be extinguished

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessVSAvoidheat efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The removable plate is designed to be temporarily removed only when cleaning is required, rather than being permanently removed. This dynamic approach maintains the closed, heat-efficient combustion chamber during operation while providing access when needed, resolving the contradiction between cleaning ease and heat efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The design prepares the removable plate mechanism in advance during manufacturing, positioning it for easy removal and installation. This preliminary preparation ensures that the plate can be quickly removed for cleaning and quickly reinstalled to restore heat efficiency, minimizing the time the system is in a suboptimal state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If manual cleaning of the brazier bottom is performed periodically, then clogging is prevented, but user intervention and maintenance time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of cloggingVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The removable plate mechanism enables the brazier to essentially clean itself. Users can easily remove the plate and wipe away accumulated unburnt products without disassembling any complex components or using special tools. This self-service capability prevents clogging while requiring minimal user intervention and maintenance time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The removable plate extracts the difficult-to-reach bottom surface from the combustion chamber, making it accessible for cleaning. By taking out this previously inaccessible area, the design enables easy manual cleaning without requiring users to disassemble the entire brazier or spend significant time on maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of substance

If biomass fuels like seeds are used instead of wood, then fuel cost decreases, but ignition difficulty and unburnt product production increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel costVSAvoidignition difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The removable plate is prepared in advance as a cleaning component that addresses the specific problems caused by biomass fuels. By having this specialized cleaning mechanism ready, the system can easily handle the increased unburnt product production from biomass fuels like seeds, maintaining ease of operation while using cost-effective fuel sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the physical parameter of the brazier bottom from a fixed structure to a removable plate configuration. This parameter change enables the system to accommodate different fuel types including difficult-to-ignite biomass fuels, while providing easy access to clean accumulated residues that would otherwise clog the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method achieves thorough cleaning of the brazier, maintains high heat efficiency, ensures user safety, reduces maintenance frequency, and allows for the use of cost-effective biomass fuels, while preventing overheating and ensuring reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

the brazier (21) is moved, by means of an electric motor, to rotate on itself, around the horizontal axis (27)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

The brazier (21) is moved, by means of an electric motor, to rotate on itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

the combustion of the solid material takes place

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2144001B1Method for cleaning the brazier of a heating apparatus
Publication Date: 2014.09.17 CS THERMOS
  • EP2144001B1 patent drawingFigure 1~8
  • EP2144001B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2144001B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A device for cleaning the brazier (21) of heating apparatus, suitable to be fed with solid fuels such as wood, wood pellets and/or oily seeds, like seeds of maize, barley, pumpkin, cereal, etc., and/or biomasses in general, which are measured and mixed before being conveyed inside the brazier (21) of the combustion chamber (22) of a boiler body (16) of the heating apparatus; in particular, the brazier (21) is made in the shape of a basket and presents a horizontal axis (27), around which it rotates at a predetermined time intervals. From the horizontal axis (27) of the brazier (21) depart a plurality of arms (28), radially arranged, which, during the rotary motion, move the unburnt part of the solid fuel from the inner walls of the brazier (21), so that the same cannot solidify on the aforesaid inner walls, but is forced to completely burn or fall, in the form of ash, into a collection container (17) placed below the brazier (21).