Baffle assembly for modifying transitional flow effects between different cavities

The present disclosure generally relates to baffle assemblies, more specifically baffle assemblies for modifying the effect on fluid flow during transitions between different cavities, which have been used in various industries including gas burners. obtain.

Various tools, systems, and assemblies require a supply of fluid or gas mixture. For example, gas burners are used to generate flames for heating products using gaseous fuels such as acetylene, natural gas, and / or propane, among other fuel sources, eg, air-gas mixtures. Is used as a fuel for gas burners. In gas burners and other applications, fluids transition between different cavities, such as between different sized conduits or pipes, between storage tanks or areas and between conduits or pipes, such as through constrictions or inlets. According to the principles of hydrodynamics, it is generally known that transitioning between different cavities, eg, cavities of different sizes, can affect the pressure, velocity, and other characteristics of the fluid flow. This is referred to herein as the entrance effect or transition effect. In addition, the flow is stable at some distance away from the transition and is subject to the inlet effect along the "entrance length" close to the transition. For gas burners again (especially ribbon burners arranged to generate flames along the length of the burner), the inlet effect introduced by the transition from the fuel inlet into the burner cavity is closer to the fuel inlet. The problem may arise that the characteristics of the resulting flame differ from the characteristics of the flame further away from the fuel inlet.

<p> Therefore, in the art, there is a need for assemblies that improve the operation of, for example, gas burners and other systems to correct fluid flow inlets and / or transition effects at reduced distances.</p>

<p> The present disclosure is directed to baffle assemblies for modifying fluid flow inlets and / or transition effects, eg, improving the operation of gas burners and other systems. An advantage of the baffle assembly embodiments described herein is that they are compact in length and easily replaceable. Another advantage is that it is easy to assemble. A further advantage is that when used with a burner such as a ribbon burner, it enhances flame uniformity.</p><p> Generally, in one aspect, a baffle assembly is provided. A baffle assembly is a collar having a central axis and an inner peripheral surface, and a plurality of blades fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the collar, and each blade extends from the collar at a first angle with respect to the central axis. A leg that is configured so that the first angle of the leg gives rotation to the flow of fluid through the baffle assembly, and a collision plate that extends from the leg at a second angle with respect to the central axis. Includes multiple blades, including a collision plate with a second angle greater than the first angle.</p><p> In one embodiment, the second angle is defined as the third angle measured between the leg and the collision plate minus the first angle. In one embodiment, the first angle is 5 ° -30 °. In one embodiment, the second angle is 60 ° to 120 °. In one embodiment, the impact plate has a width and length sufficient to block at least 80% of the flow area through the collar.</p><p> In one embodiment, the leg length is approximately equal to the collar diameter. In one embodiment, the first length of each collision plate is equal to about 25% to 50% of the second length of the leg. In one embodiment, the baffle assembly includes four blades that are evenly spaced around the inner surface of the collar. In one embodiment, the collar has a circular cross-sectional shape.</p><p> Generally, in one aspect, the burner assembly comprises the inlet and the baffle assembly according to claim 1, which is installed at the inlet, at or near the inlet. In one embodiment, the burner assembly is a ribbon burner. In one embodiment, the entrance includes a first entrance and a second entrance located on both sides of the burner body.</p><p> All combinations of the above concepts and the additional concepts discussed in more detail below (as long as such concepts do not contradict each other) are part of the subject matter of the invention disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claims at the end of this disclosure are part of the subject matter of the invention disclosed herein.</p><p> These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below. The above will be apparent from the following more specific description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout different figures. The drawings are not necessarily on scale and instead the emphasis is on explaining embodiments of the present disclosure.</p>

<figref num="1">It is a perspective view of the baffle assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.</figref><figref num="2A">It is a front view of the assembly of the baffle assembly of FIG. 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.</figref><figref num="2B">It is a side view of the assembly of the baffle assembly of FIG. 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.</figref><figref num="3">It is a schematic side view of the baffle assembly of FIG. 1 arranged at each end of the ribbon burner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.</figref>

The following is a description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. A perspective view of the baffle assembly according to one embodiment is shown in FIG. 2A and 2B are front and side views of the assembly of the baffle assembly of FIG. 1, respectively. The following description is based on Figures 1-2B.

The baffle assembly 100 generally includes a hub or collar 102 to which a plurality of blades 104 are fixed. As described in more detail below, the blades 104 of the baffle assembly 100 have different sized, molded, constructed, and / or directed flow cavities for fluid flow. Arranged to reduce the inlet effect to the fluid flow and / or the transition effect when transitioning at. For example, the baffle assembly 100 is a transition of a pipe or cavity with a relatively large flow cross-sectional area into a pipe or cavity with a relatively small flow cross-sectional area, or at or near the transition. Positioned. That is, the baffle assembly 100 is used to create a more uniform cross-sectional distribution of the fluid flow. In addition, the baffle assembly 100 is useful for responding to relative increases in fluid pressure by reducing the velocity of the fluid flow, which is advantageous in a number of applications. By embodiments disclosed herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the baffle assembly 100 can mitigate the unwanted inlet and / or transition effects produced by transitions between other fluid flow cavities. ..

Collar 102 is threaded 105 (dashed to indicate approximate thread size) to be threaded with or between them, for example in one or more pipes, conduits, bushings, cavities, etc. It may be a short pipe nipple with (shown only schematically) or may include a short pipe nipple. Thus, as discussed herein, the baffle assembly 100 is positioned at or near the interface or transition between two different fluid flow cavities. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the thread 105 follows any desired specification or standard, such as the National Pipe Thread Taper (NPT) standard.

In the illustrated embodiment, the collar 102 is shown to have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, but other shapes may be used depending on the particular system in which the baffle assembly 100 is installed. For example, if a press fit, adhesive, fastener, or some other fastening means or mechanism is used in place of the thread 105, other shapes such as rectangles, triangles, polygons, etc. May be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, each blade 104 includes a collision plate 106 and legs 108. As shown, the baffle assembly 100 includes four of the blades 104 anchored to the inner surface 112 of the collar 102 in the region 110, while being evenly spaced around the region 110, but others. The number of blades is also used. The connection between the blade 104 and the collar 102 in region 110 includes or is determined by welding, eg, tack welding, or any other method. For example, a groove slightly smaller than the thickness t of the leg 108 can be cut into the inner surface 112, and the leg 108 is press-fitted into the groove. Those skilled in the art will recognize other methods of fixation, such as adhesives, clips, fasteners, etc.

The leg 108 extends from the collar 102 at an angle α with respect to the central axis A, while the collision plate 106 is bent at an angle β with respect to the leg 108. Therefore, the collision plate 106 is arranged with respect to the central axis A at an angle equal to (β-α). By using multiple circumferentially spaced blades 104, each having one of the legs 108 at an angle α, the legs 108 allow the fluid flow to pass through the baffle assembly 100. It can induce or promote spiral motion, rotation, or spinning of fluid flow. That is, the fluid flow reaching the baffle assembly 100 (eg, flowing substantially parallel to axis A through a pipe or other cavity) first passes through the collar 102 and then hits the leg 108. The angled orientation of the legs 108 urges the fluid flow to be out of alignment with the central axis A. That is, each portion of the fluid flowing through the baffle assembly 100 is oriented away from the central axis A at an angle α.

Each of the legs 108 is arranged to urge the fluid flow in different directions with respect to the central axis A (although each direction is at least partially directed outward in the radial direction). This promotes the spiral motion or rotation of the fluid flow described above. In one embodiment, the angle α is about 5 ° to 30 °, more specifically about 10 ° to 20 °. Advantageously, these angular ranges facilitate rotational or spiral motion in the flow, while the rest is substantially axially aligned with the central axis A.

As the fluid flow continues, it then hits the collision plate 106, which is substantially perpendicular and / or orthogonal to the central axis A. For example, the angle β may be approximately equal to 90 °, and / or the value of β-α (ie, the angle of the collision plate 106 with respect to the central axis A) may be approximately 90 degrees, eg, about 120 ° to 60 °. May be equal. In this way, the fluid flow that hits the collision plate 106 is urged much sharper substantially radially (ie, perpendicular to the central axis A). Moreover, because the collision plate 106 is substantially perpendicular and / or orthogonal to the central axis A, the velocity of the flow hitting the collision plate 106 is significant when the flow is redirected from the axial direction to the radial direction. descend.

Advantageously, in many applications, the decrease in velocity is achieved by an increase in pressure and a shorter inlet length (along this inlet length, the flow undergoes an inlet or transition effect before stabilization). Along with the spiral motion or rotation given by the leg 108 described above, the uniformity of the flow distribution (eg, flow mixing) slows down, increases pressure, and / or decreases inlet length. On the other hand, it is maintained.

The blade 104 is made from any suitable material, such as mild steel or resilient plastic. The dimensions of the wings 104 are set to facilitate the above or other functionality. For example, leg 108 has a length L1 suitable for imparting a sufficient amount of spiral motion to the flow of fluid. The length L1 is affected by the size of the collar 102, changes in the dimensions or structure of the flow cavities on either side of the baffle assembly 100, the viscosity, velocity, pressure, or other properties of the fluid flow. In one embodiment, the length L1 of the leg 108 is approximately equal to the diameter of the collar 102, such as 50.8 mm (2 ) in one embodiment.

The collision plate 106 also has a length L2, which directs the flow from substantially axial (ie, parallel to axis A) to substantially vertical (ie, perpendicular to axis A). Set to make it easy to change. In one embodiment, length L2 is approximately 25-50% of the diameter of length L1 and / or collar 102. For example, in one embodiment, the length L2 may be 19.05 mm (3/4 ") and the length L1 and / or collar 102 may be 50.8 mm (2") in diameter.

In addition, the collision plate 106 may have a width W to support the aforementioned functionality. The width W is set to help block or block the flow of fluid to the desired degree. For example, a smaller value width W is used to impede the flow of fluid to a lower degree, thereby reducing the velocity to a lower degree than if a larger value was used for the width W, and / Or increase the pressure. In one embodiment, the length L2 and width W are set to block at least most of the flow area through the collar 102. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the collision plate 106 has substantially all of the flow area through the collar 102, except for a small portion near the central axis A and a small portion between adjacent pairs of collision plates 106. To block. In one embodiment, the collision plate 106 is sized to block at least about 75% of the flow area of the collar 102.

Figure 3 shows one use of the baffle assembly 100. More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a ribbon burner 10 with a baffle assembly 100. The Ribbon Burner 10 can take the form of an ERB Quad Cool Ribbon Burner commercially available from the Selas Heat Technology Company. The ribbon burner 10 includes a burner body 12, for example, the burner body 12 is a fluid stream (eg, gas) at one or more inlets 14 located at one or both of the axial ends on either side of the burner body 12. Define a cavity to receive (air mixture or other gaseous fuel). A ribbon pack 15 may be included to produce a flame (eg, "sheet flame") substantially along its entire length by the use of the fuel mixture injected into the burner body 12 through the inlet 14. ..

The baffle assembly 100 is secured in or along a fuel supply conduit such as a pipe between the gas / air mixture source and the interior of the inlet 14 and / or the burner body 12. For example, the bushing 16 of the fuel supply line is shown in FIG. 3, into which the baffle assembly 100 is inserted. For example, the bushing 16 can include a thread corresponding to a thread 105 (eg, a female thread) and / or is otherwise arranged to accept the collar 102 of the baffle assembly 100 therein.

As mentioned above, the flow cavities on either side of the inlet 14 (eg, inside the burner body 12 relative to the fuel supply line) are subject to the inlet and / or transition effect as the fluid flow transitions through the inlet 14. It may be different. For example, the inlet 14 may have a flow area that is relatively limited to the flow area through the supply line, such as the bushing 16, or may include such a flow area. In this way, without the baffle assembly 100, the velocity of the fluid tends to increase and the pressure decreases as the fluid enters the burner body 12. As a result of reduced pressure and / or other inlet effects, the flame produced by the ribbon burner 10 near the inlet 14 is greater than the flame produced by the burner 10 at a position farther from the inlet, eg, towards the center of the burner 10. It may not spread very much. Advantageously, as mentioned above, positioning the baffle assembly 100 near or at inlet 14 reduces the inlet length and / or transition effect of the inlet and reduces the velocity as the fluid enters the burner body. And / or the pressure of the fluid can be increased, thereby producing a more even and uniform flame from the burner 10 over its entire length. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the ribbon burner 10 is just one example, and that the baffle assembly 100 can also be used in other embodiments.

Although some embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, one of ordinary skill in the art and / or results and / or one of the advantages described herein. Alternatively, various other means and / or structures for obtaining the plurality can be easily imagined, and each of such modified and / or modified forms is an embodiment of the invention described herein. Is considered to be in the range of. More generally, one of ordinary skill in the art intends that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are exemplary, as well as actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and. It is readily understood that the / or configuration depends on one or more specific uses in which the teachings of the present invention are used. One of ordinary skill in the art can recognize or elucidate many equivalents to the particular embodiments of the invention described herein using only conventional experiments. Therefore, the embodiments described above are presented only as an example, and within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the embodiments of the present invention are other than those specifically described and claimed. It should be understood that the method can also be implemented. The embodiments of the present invention of the present disclosure are directed to each independent feature, system, article, material, and / or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and / or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and / or methods are consistent with each other, the book. It is included in the scope of the present invention of the disclosure.