V-Shaped Alcohol Burner Tray for Complete Bioethanol Combustion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bioethanol burners face challenges in achieving complete combustion due to insufficient residence and reaction time, leading to hydrocarbon emissions and discomfort, exacerbated by varying fuel quality and complex systems like carburettors.
Innovation Solution
A V-shaped burner tray design with a sensitive fuel level control mechanism and a ceramic heater ignition system, combined with a microprocessor-regulated pump, ensures precise fuel level maintenance and efficient combustion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple rectangular tray burner is used, then the device complexity is low, but complete combustion cannot be achieved due to insufficient residence and reaction time
Solution Approach 1:
The burner tray is segmented into distinct functional zones: a V-shaped lower region for fuel containment and an upper region for combustion. This segmentation allows the fuel to be held in the V-shaped region where it can be properly aerated and distributed, while the upper region provides sufficient volume and residence time for complete combustion to occur, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and complete combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The burner design transitions from a simple two-dimensional rectangular tray to a three-dimensional V-shaped profile with specific angular geometry. The V-shape creates optimal fuel distribution and aeration channels, while the upper region extends vertically to provide adequate combustion volume and residence time, enabling complete combustion without adding complex mechanical components.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel level is not controlled, then the burner structure remains simple, but hydrocarbon emissions increase due to incomplete combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The V-shaped lower region of the burner tray automatically performs fuel level control through its geometry. The V-shape naturally contains and distributes fuel to the optimal level for combustion, with the fuel surface automatically adjusting to maintain proper contact with the combustion zone. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for external fuel level sensors, pumps, or control systems, reducing device complexity while preventing hydrocarbon emissions from incomplete combustion.
3Productivity
If a carburettor is added to atomise and aerate bioethanol, then combustion efficiency improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the carburettor component from the system entirely. Instead of using a mechanical carburettor to atomise and aerate bioethanol, the design relies on the V-shaped burner tray geometry to naturally distribute and aerate the fuel through its structure. This removal of the carburettor simplifies the system while maintaining combustion efficiency through the optimized tray design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical carburettor system is replaced with a passive geometric structure. The V-shaped tray uses its angular geometry and fuel flow dynamics to achieve fuel aeration and distribution without mechanical moving parts. This substitution eliminates the complexity, cost, and reliability issues associated with carburettors while maintaining effective fuel-air mixing for efficient combustion.
4Reliability
If a V-shaped profile is used, then fuel volume needed is reduced and edges remain clear of flames, but residence time may be insufficient for complete combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The burner is segmented into a V-shaped lower region and an upper combustion region. The V-shaped lower region holds minimal fuel volume with edges clear of flames for safety, while the upper region provides extended volume and residence time for complete combustion. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both the safety advantages of the V-shape and the complete combustion benefits of extended residence time.
Solution Approach 2:
The design extends the combustion process vertically into the third dimension. The V-shaped tray provides a compact horizontal footprint with reduced fuel volume, while the upper combustion region extends upward to provide adequate residence time and volume for complete combustion. This vertical dimensionality change allows simultaneous achievement of safety (reduced fuel volume) and combustion completeness (extended residence time).
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 design promotes complete combustion by controlling fuel residency time and evaporation, reducing hydrocarbon emissions and enhancing combustion efficiency without the need for additional aeration or complex components.
Implementation Method 1
A V-shaped burner tray design with a sensitive fuel level control mechanism and a ceramic heater ignition system
Implementation Method 2
controlling fuel residency time and evaporation
Implementation Method 3
combustion of ethanol for use in such fires
Data Source
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AI summary
An alcohol-burning fire includes a novel design of burner (12) for the combustion of a liquid fuel such as bioethanol. The burner comprises a longitudinally extending burner tray (38) with a lower region (44) and upper region (46). The lower region (44) has a V-shaped cross-section, which shape improves the accuracy with which the rate of fuel consumption can be controlled through regulation of the level of fuel contained within this lower region. The upper region (46) includes upper side walls that extend upwardly and outwardly away from the lower region (44). This shape increases residency time of gaseous alcohol in the burner, allowing more time for a combustion reaction to run to completion.