Modified burner module

Abstract

The invention provides a burner module for use in combusting an air/fluid fuel flow wherein the burner module comprises a burner face comprising catalytic material for combusting the air/fluid fuel flow and a perforated screen having a plurality of micro-perforations wherein the perforated screen is positioned upline to the burner face to increase combustion; an integrated gas burner for connection to a pressurised fluid fuel flow wherein the integrated gas burner comprises a burner module and a gas train wherein the burner module comprises a burner face comprising catalytic material for combusting the air/fluid fuel flow and a perforated screen having a plurality of micro-perforations wherein the perforated screen is positioned upline to the burner face to increase combustion; and the gas train comprises: (a) an ejector for entraining air with the fluid fuel flow; and (b) a diffusor for converting the air/fluid fuel flow kinetic energy into pressure and for performing flow expansion; and an appliance comprising the integrated burner.

1 . A burner module for use in combusting an air/fluid fuel flow wherein the burner module comprises a burner face comprising catalytic material for combusting the air/fluid fuel flow and a perforated screen having a plurality of micro-perforations wherein the perforated screen is positioned upline to the burner face to increase combustion. 
     
     
         2 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  which comprises at least two perforated screens upline of the burner face wherein the perforated screens comprise a throttling perforated screen and a homogenisation perforated screen wherein the perforations on the throttling perforated screen are selected to provide a predetermined degree of aeration of the air/fuel mixture. 
     
     
         3 . The burner module as defined in  claim 2  wherein the perforations on the throttling perforated screen are arranged to provide a flattened velocity profile of the air/fluid fuel flow perpendicular to the throttling perforated screen to provide uniform combustion. 
     
     
         4 . The burner module as defined in  claim 2  which comprises two perforated screens wherein the homogenisation perforated screen is positioned upline and adjacent to the burner face and the throttling perforated screen is positioned upline of the homogenisation perforated screen. 
     
     
         5 . The burner module as defined in  claim 2  which is a radiant burner module comprising two perforated screens wherein the throttling perforated screen provides a fully-aerated air/fuel mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The burner module as defined in  claim 2  wherein the degree of aeration of the air/fuel mixture provided by the throttling perforated screen is 12-24 parts of air entrained with each part of fuel gas by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of perforations of the perforated screen are shaped to increase spill resistance and noise attenuation. 
     
     
         8 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the perforations have a cusp. 
     
     
         9 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the perforated screen is formed from a thin foil having a low thermal conductivity to reduce thermal bridging from the burner face. 
     
     
         10 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the perforated screen is polished to reduce heat transfer to the gas train. 
     
     
         11 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the perforated screen is shaped to provide one or more supports for the burner face. 
     
     
         12 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  wherein the perforated screen has one or more ribs to provide axial stiffness. 
     
     
         13 . The burner module as defined in  claim 1  which comprises a crimp ring for attaching the burner module to the gas train. 
     
     
         14 . The burner module as defined in  claim 11  wherein the crimp ring comprises an axial spacer for providing axial separation between the burner face and perforated screen wherein the axial spacer has an axial length which is dimensioned to reduce risk of light back. 
     
     
         15 . An integrated gas burner for connection to a pressurised fluid fuel flow wherein the integrated gas burner comprises a burner module and a gas train wherein the burner module comprises a burner face comprising catalytic material for combusting the air/fluid fuel flow and a perforated screen having a plurality of micro-perforations wherein the perforated screen is positioned upline to the burner face to increase combustion; and the gas train comprises:
 an ejector for entraining air with the fluid fuel flow; and   a diffusor for converting the air/fluid fuel flow kinetic energy into pressure and for performing flow expansion.   
     
     
         16 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the integrated burner is a compact integrated burner having a folded gas train. 
     
     
         17 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 16  wherein the folded gas train has a reduced axial length. 
     
     
         18 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  which comprises an additional perforated screen having a plurality of micro-perforations. 
     
     
         19 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the burner module comprises at least two perforated screens upline of the burner face wherein the perforated screens comprise a throttling perforated screen and a homogenisation perforated screen wherein the perforations on the throttling perforated screen are selected to provide a predetermined degree of aeration of the air/fuel mixture. 
     
     
         20 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 19  wherein the burner module comprises two perforated screens wherein the homogenisation perforated screen is positioned upline and adjacent to the burner face and the throttling perforated screen is positioned upline of the homogenisation perforated screen. 
     
     
         21 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 19  which is a radiant integrated burner comprising two perforated screens wherein the throttling perforated screen provides a fully-aerated air/fuel mixture. 
     
     
         22 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 19  wherein the degree of aeration of the air/fuel mixture provided by the throttling perforated screen is 12-24 parts of air entrained with each part of fuel gas by weight. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the plurality of perforations of the perforated screen are shaped to increase spill resistance and noise attenuation. 
     
     
         24 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the perforations have a cusp. 
     
     
         25 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the perforated screen is formed from a thin foil having a low thermal conductivity to reduce thermal bridging from the burner face. 
     
     
         26 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the perforated screen is polished to reduce heat transfer to the gas train. 
     
     
         27 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the perforated screen is shaped to provide one or more supports for the burner face. 
     
     
         28 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the perforated screen has one or more ribs to provide axial stiffness. 
     
     
         29 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 15  wherein the burner module comprises a crimp ring for attaching the burner module to the gas train. 
     
     
         30 . The integrated burner as defined in  claim 29  wherein the crimp ring comprises an axial spacer for providing axial separation between the burner face and perforated screen wherein the axial spacer has an axial length which is dimensioned to reduce risk of light back. 
     
     
         31 . An appliance comprising an integrated burner for connection to a pressurised fluid fuel flow wherein the integrated gas burner comprises a burner module and a gas train wherein the burner module comprises a burner face comprising catalytic material for combusting the air/fluid fuel flow and a perforated screen having a plurality of micro-perforations wherein the perforated screen is positioned upline to the burner face to increase combustion; and the gas train comprises:
 (a) an ejector for entraining air with the fluid fuel flow; and   (b) a diffusor for converting the air/fluid fuel flow kinetic energy into pressure and for performing flow expansion.   
     
     
         32 . The appliance as defined in  claim 29  which is:
 (a) a chafing dish heater comprising two nesting metal vessels and one or more integrated burner; 
 (b) a space heater comprising a reflective surface, one or more integrated burners and a pressurised fuel source; preferably the space heater additionally comprises a support, an electrical igniter and/or a handle for positioning of the reflective surface; and/or 
 (c) a stove comprising an integrated burner, a pressurised fuel supply, a pot support, a pot and a burner shield; preferably the pot is shaped such that the other components can fit inside it for storage.