Variable Flame Burner With Switchable Focused and Distributed Heating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Oxyfuel burners cannot create a disc-shaped flame like air/fuel burners, leading to potential damage from direct flame impingement on materials in furnaces, necessitating reduced heating power to avoid surface damage, while fast heating is desired.

Innovation Solution

A burner design with a fuel lance and oxidant outlets, featuring a movable deflector and radial openings, allowing switching between focused and distributed flame modes to control heat impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If oxyfuel burners are used with direct flame impingement to heat material fast, then heating speed is improved, but material surface damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating speedVSAvoidsurface damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel lance is designed with movable radial openings that can change their orientation dynamically. By rotating the radial openings between different angular positions, the burner can switch between concentrated flame mode (for fast heating) and distributed flame mode (for uniform heating without surface damage), making the heating process adaptive to different stages of material heating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the flow direction parameter of fuel gas by rotating the radial openings. This parameter change allows the fuel jet to be redirected, which in turn changes the flame shape and heat distribution pattern, enabling transition from high-intensity concentrated heating to low-intensity distributed heating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If heating power is reduced to avoid surface damage, then material safety is improved, but heating efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial safetyVSAvoidheating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable radial openings enable dynamic adjustment of flame characteristics. During initial heating stages, the radial openings are positioned to create concentrated flames for rapid temperature rise. As material approaches target temperature, the radial openings rotate to distribute flames, preventing surface damage while maintaining efficient heat transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heating process uses periodic switching between concentrated and distributed flame modes. Concentrated flames are used during phases requiring rapid heating, while distributed flames are used during phases requiring temperature control, creating a periodic heating pattern that optimizes both efficiency and safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If focused flame is used for fast heating, then heating speed is improved, but heat distribution uniformity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating speedVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The radial openings can be rotated to different angular positions, dynamically changing the flame pattern. When positioned for concentrated output, heating speed is maximized; when positioned for distributed output, temperature uniformity is improved. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize for different heating requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If distributed flame is used for uniform heating, then temperature homogeneity is improved, but heating speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature homogeneityVSAvoidheating speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The burner employs periodic switching between concentrated and distributed flame modes. Distributed flame mode is activated during phases where temperature uniformity is critical, while concentrated flame mode is used during phases where heating speed is prioritized, creating a periodic heating cycle that achieves both goals over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables fast material heating with focused heat in one phase and uniform heat distribution in another phase, preventing surface damage and enhancing temperature homogeneity.

Implementation Method 1

a fuel supply line for a fuel gas and at least one oxidant supply line for a gaseous oxidant wherein the fuel supply line is connected to an upstream end of the fuel lance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

a deflector is provided, and that the radial opening and the deflector are movably arranged relative to each other... fuel leaving the fuel lance through the radial opening impinges at the deflector and is caused to change its flow direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow direction change:

Data Source

PatentEP4653764A1Variable flame burner

Publication Date: 2025.11.26 LINDE AG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a burner with a burner head comprising at least one fuel lance and at least one oxidant outlet. The fuel lance is closed at its downstream end and comprises at least one radial opening. A deflector is provided, and the radial opening and the deflector are movably arranged relative to each other.