High ratio modulation combustion system and method of operation
AssigneePVI Industries, Inc.
InventorMark A. Ferguson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combustion system is shown having a combustion chamber into which fuel is introduced and ignited in the presence of air to create products of combustion which are routed through an exhaust vent. A forced draft burner intakes air and fuel and ignites these components to supply heat to the combustion chamber. A valve is provided within the exhaust vent for varying the degree of restriction within the exhaust vent. A modulation drive motor is connected to the variable restriction in the exhaust vent and to the air and fuel supply sources for increasing the exhaust vent back pressure as the ratio of air and fuel being supplied to the combustion chamber are decreased.
Claims8
In a combustion system of the type having a combustion chamber into which combustible fuel is introduced and ignited in the presence of air to create products of combustion and having an exhaust vent communicating with the combustion chamber for venting the products of combustion from the combustion chamber to the atmosphere, the improvement comprising:
- a forced draft burner mounted on the combustion chamber having an air inlet for the intake of air and a fuel supply source, the forced draft burner also having an ignition means associated therewith for igniting air and combustible fuel for supplying heat to the combustion chamber;
- a fan for creating a positive pressure within the exhaust vent;
- a variable restriction means located within the exhaust vent for varying the degree of restriction within the exhaust vent, thereby creating a back pressure within the exhaust vent and the combustion chamber;
- modulating means associated witch the variable restriction means, for increasing the exhaust vent back pressure as the ratio of air and fuel being supplied to the combustion chamber is decreased, thereby preloading the combustion chamber to improve flame stability and increase turbulence within the combustion chamber;
- and
- wherein the modulating means further comprises a modulation drive motor, a fuel supply valve for providing combustible fuel from the fuel supply source, an air inlet valve for controlling the supply of air to the burner and a series of mechanical linkages which connect the modulation drive motor to the air inlet valve of the burner, the fuel supply valve and the exhaust vent restriction means.
In a water heating device of the type having contiguous walls which define a closed tank normally containing water under pressure and having a submerged combustion chamber into which combustible fuel is introduced and ignited in the presence of air to create products of combustion and having an exhaust vent communicating with the combustion chamber for venting the products of combustion from the combustion chamber to the atmosphere, the improvement comprising:
- a forced draft burner mounted on the exterior of the closed tank and having a nozzle which extends through an opening in a tank wall to the submerged combustion chamber, the forced draft burner having an air inlet for the intake of air and a fuel supply valve for providing combustible fuel from a fuel supply source, the forced draft burner also having an ignition means associated therewith for igniting air and combustible fuel and supplying heat to the combustion chamber;
- a fan for creating a positive pressure within the exhaust vent;
- a variable restriction means located within the exhaust vent for varying the degree of restriction within the exhaust vent, thereby creating a back pressure within the exhaust vent and the combustion chamber;
- modulating means associated with the variable restriction means for increasing the exhaust vent back pressure as the ratio of air and fuel being supplied to the combustion chamber is decreased, thereby preloading pressure within the combustion chamber to improve flame stability and increase turbulence as air and fuel are mixed within the combustion chamber;
- and
- wherein the modulating means further comprises a modulation drive motor, a fuel supply valve for providing combustible fuel from the fuel supply source, an air inlet valve for controlling the supply of air to the burner and a series of mechanical linkages which connect the modulation drive motor to the air inlet valve of the burner, the fuel supply valve and the exhaust vent restriction means.
A method for improving the combustion characteristics of a combustion system of the type having a combustion chamber into which combustible fuel is introduced and ignited in the presence of air to create products of combustion and having an exhaust vent communicating with the combustion chamber for venting the products of combustion from the combustion chamber to the atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a forced draft burner on the combustion chamber and providing the burner with an air inlet for the intake of air and a fuel supply valve for providing combustible fuel from a fuel supply source;
- providing the forced draft burner with an ignition means for igniting air and combustible fuel and supplying heat to the combustion chamber;
- mounting a fan for creating a positive pressure within the exhaust vent;
- mounting a variable restriction means within the exhaust vent downstream of the exhaust fan for varying the degree of restriction within the exhaust vent, thereby creating a back pressure within the exhaust vent and the combustion chamber;
- providing modulating means for increasing the exhaust vent back pressure as the ratio of air and fuel being supplied to the combustion chamber is decreased, thereby pressurizing the combustion chamber to improve flame stability and increase turbulence within the combustion chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.