Segmented Burner Lance Maintenance in Confined Spaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The maintenance of burner lances in boiler houses is limited by the need for sufficient space between the furnace and the boiler house, as lengthy burner lances cannot be withdrawn if the space is too small, restricting the size of the boiler house and its output.

Innovation Solution

The burner lance is designed to be detachable into shorter parts, utilizing an openable fastener to separate and reattach components, allowing for maintenance in confined spaces by detaching a part of the lance from the nozzle and withdrawing it from the furnace.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the burner lance is made lengthy to reach the furnace, then the delivery function is improved, but the maintenance accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburner lance lengthVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The burner lance is divided into multiple separable sections (first section, second section, third section) that can be detached from each other. This allows the lance to be assembled into a long configuration for furnace operation, then disassembled into shorter segments for maintenance, resolving the contradiction between needing length for delivery and needing short segments for accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the boiler house size is reduced to improve space efficiency, then the compactness is improved, but the maintenance space availability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboiler house areaVSAvoidmaintenance space
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the burner lace into detachable sections, the invention enables maintenance in confined spaces. The sections can be detached and removed through smaller openings that would be insufficient for a complete-length lance, thus allowing compact boiler house design while preserving maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of repair

If the burner lance is made detachable into parts, then the maintenance accessibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance easeVSAvoidlance structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment and detachment mechanism merges the functionality of connection and disconnection into a single integrated system. The first openable fastener and second openable fastener combine sealing, mechanical attachment, and detachment functions, simplifying the overall mechanism despite the multi-section structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The openable fasteners serve multiple functions: they provide mechanical attachment between sections, ensure sealing through integrated seals, and enable controlled detachment for maintenance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, offsetting the complexity of having multiple sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3948076B1A burner and a method for maintaining a burner lance
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 VALMET TECH OY
  • EP3948076B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3948076B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1c
  • EP3948076B1 patent drawingFigure 1d~1e

AI summary

A burner (400) comprising a burner lance (200) having a first part (200a) and a second part (200b). The burner lance (200) comprises a first openable fastener (320) for fastening the first part (200a) to the second part (200b) and for detaching the second part (200b) from the first part (200a). The first part (200a) comprises a first part (210a) of an inner pipe (210) and a first part (220a) of an outer pipe (220). The first part (200a) is attachable or attached to a nozzle (310). The second part (200b) comprises a second part (210b) of the inner pipe (210) and a second part (220a) of the outer pipe (220). The burner lance (200) comprises first and second inlets (201, 202) for letting in the first and second fluids into the inner pipe (210) and the outer pipe (220). The burner (400) comprises a protective pipe (410) laterally surrounding the burner lance (200) such that such that the first openable fastener (320) is arranged within the protective pipe (410). A method for maintaining a burner lance (200), the method comprising detaching a second part (200b) of the burner lance (200) from a first part (200a) of the burner lance (200), and thereafter maintaining or replacing at least one of the nozzle (310) and the first part (200a) of the burner lance (200).