US 11,703,224 B2
Systems and methods for extending the turndown ratio of gas-fired burner systems
Amin Monfared, Oxnard, CA (US); Danilo Aguilar, Oxnard, CA (US); Jorge Miguel Gamboa Revilla, Oxnard, CA (US); Lee Chambers, Oxnard, CA (US); and Shaun Besse, Oxnard, CA (US)
Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/851,368.
Prior Publication US 2021/0325042 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F23N 3/00 (2006.01); F23L 3/00 (2006.01); F23L 13/04 (2006.01); F23L 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC F23N 3/005 (2013.01) [F23L 1/00 (2013.01); F23L 3/00 (2013.01); F23L 13/04 (2013.01); F23N 2235/06 (2020.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for extending a turndown ratio of a gas-fired burner system, the device comprising:
a variable area device configured to adjust a cross-sectional area of a passage between a blower outlet of the gas-fired burner system and a burner inlet of the gas-fired burner system, wherein the variable area device is located outside of the passage, wherein the variable area device is a mechanical iris, which comprises a first ring and a second ring, and a flexible material that is configured to twist open or closed based on a rotation of the second ring; and
an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the second ring to adjust a configuration of the variable area device, thereby adjusting the cross-sectional area of the passage.