Helical Swirl Vanes in the burner tubes of a Trane gas Pak, circa 2005

[CWillC]

I've tried contracting the Trane Co. directly as the mfr of my unit because I had engineering questions, but they insisted upon my contacting a local vendor-contractor, which I have done, and they can't/won't help, so here is my initial inquiry.  I am a retired HVAC consulting engineer, btw. These are first some engineering questions, and then parts questions.

The unit is a 2005 Trane YCX042G1 MOAC gas-pak.  In the process of removing and cleaning the flame sensor (FS), I noticed that the burner tube at the FS was missing the Helical Swirl Vane (that is the best I can do at naming it as I find no reference in the IOMs). 

The swirl vane (see attached) appears to be of a fragile, fibrous ceramic material, white, about 4.1cm (1.625")Wide x 0.5cm(0.185")Thick x perhaps 40cm(16")Long, and would be secured to the outside wall of the HX with a metal clip and sht mtl screw.  I found the missing swirl vane at the end of the low burner tube, in pieces, and then inspected the other 3 burner tubes and determined that one was broken in half, and the other two appear to be intact. These swirl vanes appear to twist about 2.5 times over their length.

I have attempted to find this part at 2 different parts houses in my area that carry Trane products, but they didn't carry it, nor recognize it, so, I have these questions:

the ENGINEERING:
a. what kind of performance do the swirl vanes provide, or inversely, does their absence reduce the performance by (X%)?_____
b. is the function of either tube with corresponding FS or igniter affected by the absence of the swirl vane? _____

for PARTS:
c. can anyone refer me to a parts house that you know stocks these? ______
d. if no one stocks these ( because? ____ Due to obsolescence?_____), and then subject to the answers to a. and b. above, could anyone refer me to the original part mfr that made these?_____

-CWillC

[scarey8]

That is Trane for you, they have extremely poor customer service and technical support is non existent.  You are in for a treat/experience trying to get support or to obtain the part.

My best guess would be that this is some sort of over engineering by Trade to reinvent a burner baffle. They are to turbulate the flame/products of combustion to improve heat transfer to the outside internal walls of the burner tubes.  They are not present on a lot of equipment, but I would say they are likely important to your appliance, lack of efficiency or possible heat exchanger / burner tube failure will be in your future running the appliance without them.  Unable to calculate an efficiency percentage, other than if your appliance has them, 100% chance of you needing them to operate within the design parameters and safety limits.