Systems and methods for extending the turndown ratio of gas-fired burner systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12092328-B2
Application number	US-202318203201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2023
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

The disclosed technology includes a device for extending the turndown ratio of a gas-fired burner system. The device can comprise a variable area device configured reduce the amount of fuel and air passed to the burner during low output conditions by adjusting the cross-sectional area of the passage between the blower and the burner. The variable area device can be controlled by an actuator that adjusts the position of the variable area device. The actuator can be manually controlled, mechanically controlled, or electronically controlled.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A gas-fired burner system, the system comprising:
a blower;
a burner;
a variable area device configured to adjust a cross-sectional area of a passage fluidly connecting the blower to the burner;
an actuator; and
a controller comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, direct the controller to:
receive output data of the gas-fired burner system; and
output a control signal to adjust a cross-sectional area of the variable area device in response to determining that the output data indicates that the gas-fired burner system has reduced its output,
wherein the variable area device comprises a mechanical iris and the mechanical iris comprises:
a first ring;
a second ring; and
a tubular flexible material between and connected to the first and second rings, wherein the flexible material is configured to twist open or closed based on a rotation of the second ring,

wherein the actuator is configured to receive the control signal from the controller and adjust the rotation of the second ring.

2. The gas-fired burner system of claim 1 , wherein the output data comprises data indicative of a speed of a blower.

3. The gas-fired burner system of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is configured to mechanically adjust the configuration of the variable area device in response to a change in the speed of the blower.

4. The gas-fired burner system of claim 1 , wherein the output data comprises data from a flue sensor.

5. A gas-fired burner system, the system comprising:
a blower;
a burner;
a variable area device configured to adjust a cross-sectional area of a passage fluidly connecting the blower to the burner;
an actuator; and
a controller comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, direct the controller to:
receive output data of the gas-fired burner system; and
output a control signal to adjust a cross-sectional area of the variable area device in response to the output data,

wherein the variable area device comprises:
a first ring;
a second ring; and
a tubular flexible material between and connected to the first and second rings, wherein the flexible material is configured to twist open or closed based on a rotation of the second ring, and

wherein the actuator is configured to receive the control signal from the controller and adjust the rotation of the second ring.

6. The gas-fired burner system of claim 5 , wherein the flexible material comprises a flexible fabric or rubber diaphragm.

7. The gas-fired burner system of claim 6 , wherein the output data comprises data indicative of a speed of a blower and/or data from a flue sensor.

8. The gas-fired burner system of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to mechanically adjust the configuration of the variable area device in response to a change in the speed of the blower.

9. A method for extending a turndown ratio of a gas-fired burner system, the method comprising:
providing the gas-fired burner system of claim 5 ;
receiving, at the controller, system data indicative of the gas-fired burner's performance;
determining, by the controller and based on the system data, to adjust the variable area device from a first configuration to a second configuration; and
transmitting, by the controller, instructions to the actuator to adjust the variable area device from the first configuration to the second configuration.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the actuator mechanically adjusts the variable area device from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a change in the speed of the blower.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Monfared Amin
• Aguilar Danilo
• Gamboa Revilla Jorge Miguel
• Chambers Lee
• Besse Shaun

Classifications

• F23L1/00

  Passages or apertures for delivering primary air for combustion  (baffles or deflectors in air inlets F23M9/02) · CPC title

• F23L13/04 Primary

  with axis perpendicular to face · CPC title

• F23N2235/06

  at the air intake · CPC title

• F23L3/00

  Arrangements of valves or dampers before the fire · CPC title

• F23N3/005 Primary

  using electrical or electromechanical means (F23N3/02 - F23N3/08 take precedence) · CPC title