Burner, combustion apparatus, method for combustion, method for controlling combustion, recording medium, and water heater

A water heater that uses a combustion apparatus combusting fuel gas as a heat source, the water heater comprising:

• a burner that includes an air-fuel mixture outlet member and a metal fiber knitting body, the air-fuel mixture outlet member including outlets for an air-fuel mixture to flow out of the outlets and a closed part surrounding the outlets to block an outflow of the air-fuel mixture, the metal fiber knitting body covering the air-fuel mixture outlet member, the burner being configured to combust the air-fuel mixture to make blue flame;
• an air-fuel mixture supply unit that is disposed on the burner, mixes fuel gas and air taken into the air-fuel mixture supply unit to make the air-fuel mixture and supplies the air-fuel mixture to the burner;
• a division wall that is disposed in the air-fuel mixture supply unit to divide the air-fuel mixture supply unit and the burner into a plurality of mixing chambers and a plurality of burner parts, respectively;
• and
• a control unit that includes a processor, that selects, from the plurality of burner parts, a single burner part or some burner parts to combust the air-fuel mixture by supplying the fuel gas and the air to a single mixing chamber or some mixing chambers according to a requested amount of combustion of the air-fuel mixture, and that controls an amount of the combustion of the air-fuel mixture,
• wherein the metal fiber knitting body has a thickness such that a part of the air-fuel mixture flows into a portion of the metal fiber knitting body which is disposed over the closed part of the air-fuel mixture outlet member, and the metal fiber knitting body diffuses the air-fuel mixture, which is made to flow out of the outlets, such that a first flow of the air-fuel mixture passes through a center of each of the outlets and a second flow of the air-fuel mixture passes through a side of each of the outlets such that the second flow of the air-fuel mixture flows into the portion of the metal fiber knitting body which is disposed over the closed part,
• wherein the burner is configured such that combusting the air-fuel mixture heats the metal fiber knitting body, generates a flame of high intensity combustion from the first flow of the air-fuel mixture, and generates a flame of low intensity combustion from the second flow of the air-fuel mixture on a surface of the portion of the metal fiber knitting body which is disposed over the closed part,
• wherein the flame of low intensity combustion holds the flame of high intensity combustion.

A combustion apparatus, comprising:

• a burner that includes an air-fuel mixture outlet member and a metal fiber knitting body, the air-fuel mixture outlet member including an outlet for an air-fuel mixture to flow out of the outlet and a closed part surrounding the outlet to block an outflow of the air-fuel mixture, the metal fiber knitting body covering the air-fuel mixture outlet member,
• wherein the metal fiber knitting body has a thickness such that a part of the air-fuel mixture flows into a portion of the metal fiber knitting body which is disposed over the closed part of the air-fuel mixture outlet member, and the metal fiber knitting body diffuses the air-fuel mixture, which is made to flow out of the outlet, such that a first flow of the air-fuel mixture passes through a center of the outlet and a second flow of the air-fuel mixture passes through a side of the outlet such that the second flow of the air-fuel mixture flows into the portion of the metal fiber knitting body which is disposed over the closed part,
• wherein the burner is configured such that combusting the air-fuel mixture heats the metal fiber knitting body, generates a flame of high intensity combustion from the first flow of the air-fuel mixture, and generates a flame of low intensity combustion from the second flow of the air-fuel mixture on a surface of the portion of the metal fiber knitting body which is disposed over the closed part,
• wherein the flame of low intensity combustion holds the flame of high intensity combustion.