Solid Fuel Stove Segmentation for Larger Hopper Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pellet stoves face issues with heat retention and design complexity due to the cladding surrounding the heating body, and the compact size of the storage hopper limits autonomy and heat distribution by radiation.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece configuration for the stove, with separate fuel storage and combustion modules, allows for improved heat diffusion by radiation and easier design, while a protective wall panel with thermal insulation safeguards the fuel and wall from heat emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the storage hopper and heating body are placed close together to form a compact block, then the stove size is reduced, but the design complexity increases and the storage hopper size is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The stove is divided into separate modules: a heating module containing the heating body and a supply module containing the storage hopper. These modules can be positioned at different distances from each other, allowing the storage hopper to be larger without increasing the overall compactness constraint. The modules are connected via a supply conduit, enabling independent sizing of each component.
2Strength
If a common cladding surrounds the heating body to enclose the stove, then the structural integrity is improved, but heat retention inside the cladding increases and design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding is divided into separate cladding pieces for the heating module and supply module. The heating body is surrounded by its own cladding pieces that can be configured to allow better heat diffusion, while the supply module has separate cladding. This segmentation enables optimized thermal management for each module independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply module with its storage hopper is extracted from the immediate vicinity of the heating body and positioned separately, connected via a supply conduit. This extraction allows the heating body to have optimized cladding configuration for heat diffusion without the constraint of enclosing a large storage hopper in the same compact space.
3Volume of moving object
If the storage hopper size is reduced to limit the volume of the block, then the stove size is reduced, but the autonomy of the stove is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The stove system is segmented into a compact heating module and a separately positionable supply module. The supply module can be placed at a distance from the heating module, allowing the storage hopper to be larger without increasing the volume of the heating section. The overall autonomy is improved by enabling a larger storage capacity in the supply module.
4Loss of energy
If air circulation is implemented around the heating body to expel heated air, then heat diffusion by convection is improved, but the design complexity increases and heat diffusion by radiation is not improved
Solution Approach 1:
The heating module is designed with cladding pieces that can be configured to facilitate natural heat diffusion by radiation from the heating body. The segmentation of the stove into separate modules allows the heating body to be exposed in a way that optimizes radiant heat transfer without requiring complex air circulation systems.
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
This configuration enhances heat distribution by radiation, simplifies stove design, and increases autonomy by providing a larger storage capacity while protecting the fuel and wall from heat, making the stove safer and more efficient.
Implementation Method 1
a layer of thermal insulation is provided between the front face of the wall panel and the fuel storage space
Implementation Method 2
the latter has no cladding (or includes a partial cladding) around the heating body and the heating body is (at least partially) directly exposed to the outside. Such a stove configuration promotes the diffusion of heat by radiation around the combustion module
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Feeding module for feeding solid fuel to the grate of a combustion module (200) of a stove (10). The feeding module (100) comprises a storage space (110) for solid fuel, and a protective wall panel (150) designed to be fitted along a wall (50) and to protect this wall. The storage space (110) extends along the wall panel so as to be situated between the wall panel (150) and the wall (50) when the wall panel is fitted.