# US 10,767,900 B2 · Burner with flow distribution member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,900 B2 - Document ID: US10767900B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/712,273 - Filed: 2015-05-14 - Published: 2016-11-17 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-14 - Assignees: Lochinvar, LLC - Applicants: Lochinvar, LLC - Inventors: Jennifer Marie Russell; Jesse Tyler McCaslin; James Travis Adams; Benjamin Paul Putnam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767900B2 ## CPC - F24H 1/145: {using fluid fuel} - F23D 14/02: Premix gas burners, i.e. in which gaseous fuel is mixed with combustion air upstream of the combustion zone - F23D 14/10: with elongated tubular burner head - F23D 14/36: in which the compressor and burner form a single unit - F23D 14/62: Mixing devices; Mixing tubes - F23D 14/70: Baffles or like flow-disturbing devices - F23D 2203/1012: tubular - F23D 2900/00003: Fuel or fuel-air mixtures flow distribution devices upstream of the outlet - F23D 2900/14241: Post-mixing with swirling means - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) - F23D: BURNERS ## Abstract A pre-mix burner apparatus includes a burner having a generally cylindrical burner surface, the burner having a generally circular burner inlet at one end of the burner, the burner inlet having an inlet diameter. A flow distribution member is arranged to distribute flow of fuel and air mixture into the burner. The flow distribution member includes a closed axially central portion configured to block flow of fuel and air mixture axially centrally into the burner. The flow distribution member includes a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the closed axially central portion. The vanes are configured to generate a swirling flow of fuel and air mixture flowing past the vanes into the burner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pre-mix burner apparatus, comprising: a fuel and air mixer for pre-mixing a fuel and air mixture; a blower located downstream of the fuel and air mixer, the blower including a blower outlet having a blower outlet cross-sectional area; a burner having a generally cylindrical burner surface so that generally radially outward extending flames may form on the generally cylindrical burner surface, the burner having a central axis and having a generally circular burner inlet at one end of the burner, the burner inlet having an inlet diameter defining an inlet cross-sectional area greater than the blower outlet cross-sectional area; the blower and the burner being arranged such that the blower outlet spans the central axis of the burner and is oriented to direct an inlet stream of fuel and air mixture along the central axis of the burner; and a flow distribution member arranged to distribute flow of fuel and air mixture from the blower outlet into the burner, the flow distribution member including: a closed axially central portion configured to block flow of the inlet stream of fuel and air mixture axially centrally into the burner; and a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from the closed axially central portion, the vanes being configured to generate a swirling flow of fuel and air mixture about the central axis of the burner and flowing through the vanes into the burner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the closed axially central portion is disc shaped and has a disc diameter in a range of from about 10% to about 20% of the inlet diameter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the burner inlet defines an inlet plane generally perpendicular to the burner central axis; and each of the vanes is oriented at a vane angle to the inlet plane in a range of from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: each of the vanes is planar. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: each of the vanes is generally triangular. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: each of the vanes has a radial length in a range of from about 40% to about 45% of the inlet diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of vanes includes at least twelve and no greater than twenty vanes substantially equally circumferentially spaced about the central axis of the burner. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the flow distribution member comprises a formed integral sheet, the vanes each being generally triangular shaped with two free sides and one attached side, the attached side extending generally radially relative to the central axis of the burner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the flow distribution member has a total open area in a range of from about 50% to about 70% of a cross-sectional area of the burner inlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the flow distribution member includes a plurality of spokes extending outward from the closed axially central portion, each of the vanes being attached to one of the spokes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the flow distribution member includes a radially outer planar flange connected to radially outer ends of the spokes, the flange being configured to mount the flow distribution member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the vanes are configured such that the spiral flow pattern adjacent and downstream of the burner inlet prevents flame flow back into the burner adjacent the burner inlet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with a water heater, the water heater being in heat exchange relationship with the burner. ### Claim 14 A method of operating a burner having a generally cylindrical burner surface so that generally radially outward extending flames may form on the generally cylindrical burner surface, the burner having a central axis and having a generally circular burner inlet at one end of the burner, the burner inlet having an inlet diameter defining an inlet cross-sectional area, the method comprising: (a) premixing a fuel and air mixture upstream of a blower; (b) providing an inlet stream of the fuel and air mixture to the burner inlet from the blower, the blower having a blower outlet with an outlet cross-section with a cross-sectional area less than the inlet cross-sectional area of the burner inlet, wherein the blower outlet cross-section overlies the central axis of the burner and is centered on the central axis so that the inlet stream of fuel and air mixture is directed along the central axis; (c) blocking an axially central portion of the inlet and thereby preventing axially central flow of the inlet stream into the inlet; and (d) swirling the inlet stream and creating a spiral flow pattern as the stream passes through an annular area between the axially central portion and a diameter of the burner inlet, such that negative pressure is avoided in the burner adjacent the burner inlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: the burner has an axial length; and in step (d) the spiral flow pattern extends along the entire axial length of the burner. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: the spiral flow pattern causes the fuel and air mixture to exit the burner surface at substantially uniform velocities along the entire axial length of the burner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: the spiral flow pattern avoids the creation of negative pressures at any location along the entire axial length of the burner. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: the burner is operated at an output in excess of 1.0 MM BTU/HR. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: heating water with a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the burner.