Split Air Gate Valve for Primary and Secondary Combustion Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid fuel heat generators, such as wooden stoves, lack effective control over the mass proportions of primary and secondary air, which hampers combustion efficiency and increases carbon monoxide emissions.

Innovation Solution

An adjusting device with a rotatable gate valve and a dividing element that separates primary and secondary air paths, allowing independent control of their flow rates through a single valve mechanism, enabling precise adjustment of air distribution within the generator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single automatic rotating shutter is used to control primary air flow rate, then the flow rate of primary air can be precisely adjusted, but it is impossible to control the distribution proportions between primary air and secondary air inside the furnace

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprimary air flow rate control precisionVSAvoidair distribution control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The single shutter is segmented into two independent control elements: a first shutter portion for controlling primary air flow rate and a second shutter portion for controlling secondary air flow rate. Each portion can be independently adjusted to precisely control the respective air flow rates and their distribution proportions within the furnace.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control function for secondary air is extracted from the single shutter system by adding a separate second shutter portion. This allows the secondary air flow rate to be independently controlled without affecting the primary air control mechanism, enabling precise adjustment of air distribution proportions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If preference is given to secondary air flow over primary air flow to reduce carbon monoxide emissions, then emission control is improved, but the ability to adjust optimal mass proportions between primary and secondary air is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarbon monoxide emissionsVSAvoidair mass proportion adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter is divided into two independently controllable portions, allowing operators to precisely adjust the mass proportions of primary and secondary air. This enables optimization of combustion conditions to minimize carbon monoxide emissions while maintaining flexibility in air distribution according to varying operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3108182B1Adjusting device for heat generators
Publication Date: 2018.07.25 GRUPPO PIAZZETTA
  • EP3108182B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3108182B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3108182B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

An adjusting device for heat generators, comprising at least one box-shaped body (12), provided with at least one inlet opening (13) for introducing the comburant air and with at least one outlet opening (14) of the comburant air, and at least one rotatable gate valve (17), interposed between said inlet opening (13) and said outlet opening (14). The device comprises at least one dividing element (18), interposed between the rotatable gate valve (17) and the outlet opening (14), defining a first passageway (19) and a second passageway (20) of the comburant air isolated from one another. The first passageway (19) and the second passageway (20) are suitable for being placed in communication with respective distinct paths of the comburant air (B',C) foreseen in the heat generator (2). The rotatable gate valve (17) comprises a support shaft (28) with which a laminar element (30) is associated; the laminar element (30) comprises a first portion (30a) and a second portion (30b) coplanar with one another and respectively suitable for selectively obstructing the first passageway (19) and the second passageway (20) by rotation of the support shaft (28).