U.S. patent application number 10/415860 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-29 for system for feeding multiple burners.
Invention is credited to Berthold, Gunther, Lasagni, Feliciano, Vecchi, Renzo.
Application Number | 20040018463 10/415860 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11450607 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040018463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vecchi, Renzo ; et
al. |
January 29, 2004 |
System for feeding multiple burners
Abstract
A system for feeding a plurality of burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n)
includes a manifold (1) into which a flow of gaseous fuel is
introduced via an inlet duct (5), said manifold (1) including an
hollow body (3) provided with a plurality of outlets (6) each of
which can be connected to a respective burner (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n),
said manifold (1) further comprises distributing means (4) for
selectively distributing said fuel to said burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,
2n), said distributing means (7) being provided with connecting
means (8) with one or more of said outlets (6).
Inventors: |
Vecchi, Renzo; (Formigine,
IT) ; Lasagni, Feliciano; (Vignola, IT) ;
Berthold, Gunther; (Modena, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM COLLARD
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
11450607 |
Appl. No.: |
10/415860 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 3, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP01/12761 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/278 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23K 5/005 20130101;
F23D 2900/14041 20130101; F23D 14/045 20130101; F23D 2900/14042
20130101; F23D 2900/14641 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/278 |
International
Class: |
F23Q 009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 3, 2000 |
IT |
MO2000A000241 |
Claims
1. A system for feeding a plurality of burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n)
conprising a manifold (1) into which a gaseous flow of fuel is
introduced via an inler duct (5), said manifold (1) comprising an
internally hollow body (3) provided with a plurality of outlets (6)
each of which may be connected to a respective burner (2a, 2b, 2c,
2d, 2n), said distributing means (7) being provided with connecting
means (8) with one or more of said outlets (6).
2. System according to claim 1, wherein said distributing means (4)
comprises a distributing body (7) arranged inside said manifold (1)
and rotatingly coupled with it, said connecting means (8) including
a plurality of openings (8) of said distributing body (7) suitable
to be connected with said outlets (6).
3. System according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said outlets (6) are
arranged along a generatrix of the surface of the body (3) of said
manifold (1).
4. System according to claim 2, or 3, wherein said openings (8) are
arranged in groups along generatrices of the outer surface of said
distributing body (7).
5. System according to claim 4, wherein the distance between two
adjacent openings (8) in each of said groups is equal to the
distance between two of said mutually adjacent outlets (6), or to a
multiple of said distance.
6. System according to any of claims 2 to 5 and further comprising
sealing means interposed between the body (3) of the manifold (1)
and said distributing body (7).
7. System according to any of preceding claims, and further
comprising connecting means to connect said openings (6) to said
burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n).
8. System according to claim 7, wherein said connencting means
comprises hose means.
9. System according to any of preceding claims, wherein said
burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n) comprise a first burners (2a), a
plurality of intermediate burners (2b, 2c, 2d) and a last burner
(2n), in any relative position but such that said first burner (2a)
and said last burner (2n) are arranged with one of their ends close
to an end of one of said intermediate burners (2b, 2c, 2d), each of
said intermediate burners (2b, 2c, 2d) being close at both ends to
adjacent burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n).
10. System according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said burners
(2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n) are arranged in such manner that one of them
(2a) is close to an end of each of the other burners. (2b, 2c, 2d,
2n).
11. System according to claim 9, or 10, wherein one of said burners
(2a) is associated with ignition means (9) for igniting said
gaseous fuel and with monitoring means (10) for monitoring the
combustion of said gaseous fuel.
12. System according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein said
distributing body (7) is associated with rotation means suitable to
angularly rotate it with respect to the body (3) of the manifold
(1)
13. System for feeding a plurality of burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n)
comprising a manifold (1) into which a flow of gaseous fuel is
introduced via an inlet duct (5), said manifold (1) comprising an
internally hollow body (3) provided with a plurality of outlets (6)
each of which may be connected to a respective burner (2a, 2b, 2c,
2d, 2n), characterised in that said outlets (6) are arranged along
a circumference of the outer surface of the body (3) of said
manifold (1).
14. System according to claim 13, wherein said burners (2a, 2b, 2c,
2d, 2n) are radially arranged with respect to said manifold
(1).
15. System according to claim 13, or 14, wherein one of said
burners (2a) is associated with ignition means (9) for igniting
said gaseous fuel and monitoring means (10) for monitoring the
combustion of said gaseous fuel.
16. System according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein said
manifold (1) is associated with inter-ignition means (11) suitable
to assure the inter-ignition of said burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,
2n).
17. System according to claim 16, wherein said inter-ignition means
comprises an annular protrusion (11) of the body (3) of the
manifold (1), which is positioned above said outlets (6) and
partially covers the diffuser of each burner (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,
2n).
18. A system for feeding a plurality of burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,
2n) comprising a manifold (1) into which a gaseous flow of fuel is
introduced via an inlet duct (5), said manifold (1) comprising an
internally hollow body (3) provided with a plurality of outlets (6)
each of which may be connected to a respective burner (2a, 2b, 2c,
2d, 2n), characterised in that said manifold (1) comprises
distributing means (4) for selectively distributing said fuel to
said burners (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n), said distributing means (7)
being provided with connecting means (8) with one or more of said
outlets (6).
19. System according to claim 18, wherein said distributing means
(4) comprises a distributing body (7) arranged inside said manifold
(1) and rotatingly coupled with it, said connecting means (8)
including a plurality of openings (8) of said distributing body (7)
suitable to be connected with said outlets (6).
20. System according to claim 18, wherein said outlets (6) are
arranged along a generatrix of the surface of the body (3) of said
manifold (1).
21. System according to claim 19, wherein said openings (8) are
arranged in groups along generatrices of the outer surface of said
distributing body (7).
22. System according to claim 21, wherein the distance between two
adjacent openings (8) in each of said groups is equal to the
distance between two of said mutually adjacent outlets (6), or to a
multiple of said distance.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for feeding
multiple burners, i.e. a system for feeding simultaneously a
plurality of burners.
[0002] From the prior art it is known to feed simultaneously a
plurality of burners through a gaseous fuel supplied to the burners
via a manifold communicating with each one of the burners to be
fed. The burners are normally arranged mutually parallel and the
manifold is provided with mutually parallel outlets for the gaseous
fuel, through which parallel flows of fuel pass that are directed
to the single burners. The above-mentioned flows of fuel are mixed
with air in each burner and the mixture so obtained passes through
suitable openings made in the diffuser of the burner in order to be
subsequently ignited by means of an ignition system, such as a
pilot flame or an electric or incandescence ignition system. The
burners may be equipped with a safety system which monitors the
presence of the flame and interrupts the supply of fuel in the
event of anomalous extinguishing of said flame, in order to prevent
that the fuel flow can continue in absence of combustion, with a
risk of fire or explosions in the environment surrounding the
burners.
[0003] The above mentioned feeding systems of the prior art show
the disadvantage that all the burners are substantially fed in the
same way and therefore do not allow a differentiated feeding of the
burners, that may be possibly required. Furthermore, the parallel
arrangement of the burners is not suitable when a distributed
heating is required, or when an aesthetic affect of the flames
generated by the burners is required, said aesthetic effect
requiring distributed arrangement of the burners.
[0004] The present invention intends to provide a system for
feeding a plurality of burners, that allows a differentiated
feeding of each burner and makes possible to arrange the burners in
any space arrangement.
[0005] According to the present invention a feeding system for
burners is provided comprising a manifold into which a flow of
gaseous fuel is introduced, said manifold being provided with a
plurality of outlets each of which may be connected to a respective
burner, characterised in that said manifold comprises distributing
means for selectively distributing said fuel to said burners, said
distributing means being provided with connecting means for
connecting said distributing means with one or more of said
outlets. Due to the invention, it is possible to vary the feeding
of said plurality of burners by feeding, from time to time, the
number of burners necessary for providing the thermal power
required by the needs of the plant in which the burners are
used.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the
outlets of the manifold are connected with each burner by
connecting means that allows the burners to be freely arranged with
respect to the manifold.
[0007] In such a manner, the position of the burners does not
depend on the geometry of the manifold and may be freely selected,
so as to satisfy also aesthetic requirements in the distribution of
the flames generated by the burners.
[0008] Some embodiments of the invention will be now described more
in detail here below, for mere exemplifying and not restrictive
purpose, with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is al perspective view, partially interrupted, of a
manifold feeding a group of burners, according to the
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a diagram that illustrates possible feeding
sequences of the burners;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sketched view of an arrangement of burners, fed
by the feeding system according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, showing another arrangement of
burners;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a view like FIGS. 3 and 4, showing a further
arrangement of burners;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sketched view showing some inter-ignition means
for the burners of FIG. 5.
[0015] With reference to FIG. 1, 1 denotes a manifold according to
the invention for feeding a plurality of burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n
(FIG. 3) with a gaseous fuel. The manifold 1, having a cylindrical
shape, is provided with a body 3, inside which distributing means 4
is provided for distributing to the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n the
fuel introduced into the manifold 1 through an inlet duct 5
connected to fuel supply means.
[0016] The body 3 of the manifold 1 is provided with a plurality of
outlets 6 that may be connected to the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n.
For example, each outlet 6 may be connected to the fuel inlet
nozzle of a burner 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n. The outlets 6 are preferably
arranged along a generatrix of the cylindrical surface of the body
3.
[0017] The distributing means 4 includes a distributing body 7 of
cylindrical shape that can rotate inside the body 3 of the
manifold. The distributing body 7 is provided on its lateral
surface with groups of openings 8 aligned along generatrices of the
cylindrical surface of the distributing body 7. The distance
between two consecutive openings 8 in each group is equal to the
distance between two consecutive outlets of the body 3 of the
manifold 1, or to a multiple of said distance, so that, by rotating
the distributing body 7 in pre-established, angular positions, it
is possible to cause the openings 8 of a group of openings to
overlap with a group of outlets 6 of the body 3 of the manifold
1.
[0018] In addition, the distributing body 7 is associated with
rotation means (not shown) that allows said distributing body 7 to
be rotated inside the body 3 of the manifold I and positioned in
pre-established positions. This rotation means may be of manual
type, or it may comprise a stepper motor that controls the rotation
of the distributing body 7, or other equivalent means.
[0019] When the distributing body 7 is positioned: in one of said
pre-established angular positions, the openings 8 of a group of
openings face group of corresponding outlets 6 of the body 3 of the
manifold 1 and connect the interior of the distributing body 7 with
said group of outlets 6. Thus, the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n
connected to said group of outlets are supplied with the gas
introduced in the manifold and in the distributing body 7 through
the inlet duct 5.
[0020] The outlets 6 that do not face openings 8 of the
distributing body 7 are occluded by the distributing body itself,
so that the burners connected to them are not supplied.
[0021] In such a way, by properly arranging the openings 8 along
generatrices of the outer surface of the distributing body 7, it is
possible to carry out any supply sequence of the burners 2a, 2b,
2c, 2d, 2n and to vary the supply sequence, by varying the position
of the distributing body 7 inside the body 3 of the manifold 1.
[0022] In FIG. 2 a diagram is illustrated that shows two possible
supply sequences of the burners 2 as a function of the rotation
angle of the distributing body 7 with respect to a reference
position, that, for example, may correspond to a situation where
all the outlets 6 of the body 3 of the manifold 1 are occluded by
the distributing body 7 and, then, no one of the burners 2a, 2b,
2c, 2d, 2n is supplied.
[0023] The ignition sequences illustrated in the diagram of FIG. 2
are obtained by positioning the two groups of openings 8 of the
distributing body 7, visible in FIG. 1, aligned with the outlets
6.
[0024] The outlets 6 of the body 3 of the manifold 1 may be
connected to the respective burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n by means of
hoses, so that the position of the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n is
completely independent from the position and the geometry of the
manifold 1.
[0025] It is therefore possible to arrange the burners 2a, 2b, 2c,
2d, 2n so as to satisfy any requirement, for example aesthetic
requirements in the space distribution of the flames generated by
the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n.
[0026] In FIG. 3, the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n are arranged in
sequence, so that an end of the first burner 2a is close to a first
end of the second burner 2b, a second end of the second burner 2b
is close to a first end of the third burner 2c and so on. The first
burner 2a is associated to ignition means 9 of known type, such as
a pilot flame or an electric or incandescence ignition system,
suitable to produce the ignition of the fuel supplied to the burner
2a. Due to the sequence arrangement of the burners, the ignition of
the first burner 2a produces the ignition of the second burner 2b,
and so on up to the ignition of all the burners 2a-2n.
[0027] In addition, the first burner 2a may be associated with
monitoring means 10 of known type, suitable to detect the presence
of the combustion of the fuel supplied to the burners and to cause
the interruption of the supply of fuel in the event of anomalous
combustion, for example extinction or development of CO.
[0028] In FIG. 4 another possible arrangement of the burners 2a,
2b, 2c, 2d, 2n is illustrated, in which the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d,
2n are close, with one of their ends, to the burner 2a.
[0029] As in the example of FIG. 3, the burner 2a is associated to
ignition means 9, in order to produce the ignition of the fuel
supplied to the burner 2a.
[0030] The ignition of the fuel is transmitted to the other burners
2b, 2c, 2d, 2n through the respective end close to the burner 2a.
Furthermore, monitoring means 10 is provided in order to detect the
presence of the combustion of the fuel supplied to the burners and
to cause the interruption of the supply of fuel in the event of
anomalous combustion, for example extinction or development of
CO.
[0031] In FIG. 5 there is illustrated a variation of the system
according to the invention, in which the burners 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n
are radially arranged around the manifold 1. In this case, the
outlets 6 of the body 3 of the manifold 1 are radially arranged and
the manifold is not provided with the distributing body 7.
[0032] In order to allow the inter-ignition of the burners 2a, 2b,
2c, 2d, 2n, the manifold 1 is provided with inter-ignition means,
that may be constituted by an annular protrusion 11 of the body 3
of the manifold 1, that is positioned above the outlets 6 and
partially overlaps the diffuser of each burner 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n.
When the burners are supplied and the burner 2a is ignited by the
ignition means 9, a portion of the fuel outflowing from the
diffuser of each burner 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2n is deflected in the
interspaces between adjacent burners so that, when the burner 2a is
ignited, the ignition automatically propagates also to the other
burners.
[0033] In practice, the materials, the dimensions and the execution
details may be different from those indicated, but technically
equivalent to them, without departing, from the legal domain of the
present invention.
* * * * *