Method for testing exhaust of a heater, computer program, storage medium, controller, heater and use

Abstract

The method for testing the exhaust of a heater (1) according to the present application comprises at least the following steps: a) starting the gas delivery device (13) of the heater (1) and increasing the power of the gas delivery device (13); b) detecting a supply parameter that characterizes the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply of the heater (1); c) detecting a power parameter that characterizes the conversion power of the gas delivery device (13); d) when the supply parameter detected in step b) reaches a supply reference value (5), releasing the heater (1) for commissioning if the power parameter that characterizes the power of the gas delivery device (13) is lower than a power reference value (4) of the gas delivery device. The solution presented herein describes, among other things, a particularly simple and safer solution for detecting an excessive flow resistance of the exhaust of a heater (1) combined with a viable solution that prevents the commissioning of the heater (1) in the presence of an increased flow resistance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method, computer program, storage medium, controller, heater, and application of an exhaust device for testing a heater. Background Technology

[0002] For safety reasons, combustion monitoring is required for gas-driven heaters in accordance with EN15502-2-1.

[0003] In cases of increased flow resistance in the exhaust system, such as excessive pollution, the heater must be stopped from operation to prevent carbon monoxide escape. Within the specified range for monitoring combustion products, the heater should cease operation from the point where a certain percentage of carbon monoxide in the exhaust reaches its limit, and restarting should be prevented.

[0004] Therefore, DE102008006120A1 proposes that, during the operation of the heater at its rated thermal power, the rated power consumption and its permissible deviation range for the combustion air supply device be predetermined. If the (detected) comparative power consumption is outside the permissible deviation range of the rated power consumption, an obstruction in the combustion air flow path and / or exhaust flow path of the heater can be assumed. However, if necessary, if this procedure is performed, the increase in flow resistance can only be determined after the heater has been put into operation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for testing the exhaust device of a heater, which enables more reliable detection of an increase in the flow resistance of the exhaust device.

[0006] Furthermore, the method should be able to be implemented in a simple manner without significantly increasing the complexity of the heater.

[0007] This objective is achieved through the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous designs of the solution presented herein are given in the independent claim. It should be noted that the features listed in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in any technically meaningful manner and define further designs of the invention. Furthermore, the features given in the claims are described and explained in more detail in the specification, wherein further preferred designs of the invention are shown.

[0008] The method presented here is particularly suitable for use with heaters equipped with pneumatic gas-air mixing devices. Unlike electronic gas-air mixing devices, in pneumatic gas-air mixing devices, the tolerances of the gas valves cannot be compensated for by adjustment devices.

[0009] The method for testing an exhaust device for a heater according to the present invention includes at least the following steps:

[0010] a) Start the gas delivery equipment for the heater and increase its power.

[0011] b) Detect the supply parameters that characterize the flow rate of the gas gas in the gas supply to the heater.

[0012] c) Detect power parameters that characterize the power of gas transmission equipment.

[0013] d) When the supply parameters detected in step b) reach the supply reference value, if the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment is lower than the power reference value of the gas transmission equipment, the heater is released to start operation.

[0014] Steps a), b), and c) are performed at least partially in parallel in the normal operating sequence, followed by step d). Execution of step a) can be terminated after the supply reference value in step c) is reached.

[0015] The solution presented here specifically describes a particularly simple and more reliable method for detecting excessive flow resistance in the heater's exhaust system, combined with a feasible solution to prevent heater operation in the event of increased flow resistance. Advantageously, this method can be automatically executed in a simple manner each time the heater is started, requiring only minor structural modifications to the heater.

[0016] In addition, this method can test the flow resistance of the exhaust device of a heater in operation.

[0017] In step a), the gas delivery equipment of the heater is started and its power is increased. The gas delivery equipment is capable of delivering a gas flow in this case. Heaters, especially those with pneumatic gas-air mixing devices, typically have gas delivery equipment for delivering the gas mixture to be burned. This always-present gas delivery equipment can be advantageously used to perform the method presented herein.

[0018] According to another advantageous design, the gas delivery equipment is controlled in such a way that the power increase corresponds to a ramp function. The ramp can in this case have an initial ramp value for the power of the gas delivery equipment, for example, an initial ramp speed that then increases continuously.

[0019] In step b), a supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater is detected. In other words, the supply parameter is a measure of the volumetric gas flow delivered by the gas delivery equipment.

[0020] The supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas gas in the heater's gas supply can be, in particular, the pressure in the heater's gas supply, determined by a pressure sensor. Advantageously, this pressure can be easily determined.

[0021] According to an advantageous design, the pressure, which is a supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater, can be determined by a pressure sensor in the silencer at the heater's inlet. Advantageously, this is particularly easy to implement.

[0022] In alternative designs, the volumetric gas flow determined by a flow meter can also be used as a characterizing flow rate of the gas supply to the heater. In this case, for example, the flow meter can be placed in the heater's inlet.

[0023] In step c), power parameters characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment are detected.

[0024] In step d), when the supply parameters detected in step b) reach the supply reference value, if the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment is lower than the reference value of the power parameter of the gas transmission equipment, the heater is released to start operation.

[0025] The supply reference value can be a value predetermined for a specific heater. If the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment is lower than the power reference value, this value indicates that the flow resistance of the exhaust device is sufficiently low.

[0026] An alternative design scheme for this method includes at least the following method steps:

[0027] a1) Start the gas delivery equipment for the heater and increase the power of the gas delivery equipment until the power reference value is reached.

[0028] b1) Detect the supply parameters that characterize the flow rate of the gas gas in the gas supply to the heater.

[0029] c1) When the supply parameters detected in step b1) reach the supply reference value, release the heater to put it into operation.

[0030] According to step a1) of the alternative design scheme of this method, the power of the gas transmission equipment is increased until the power reference value is reached.

[0031] In step b1), the supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas supply to the heater is detected.

[0032] According to step c1), when the supply parameters detected in step b) reach the supply reference value, the heater is released to start operation.

[0033] In an alternative design of this method, steps a1), b1), and c1) are performed at least partially in parallel or simultaneously.

[0034] In a preferred design of this method, the supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas gas in the gas supply to the heater can be a pressure determined in the gas supply, wherein this pressure is determined by a pressure switch, the threshold of which corresponds to a supply reference value, and the pressure switch switches the gas valve of the heater. This design is particularly suitable for alternative designs of the method to perform step c1). One advantage of this design is that the method can be performed in a particularly simple and therefore more reliable manner.

[0035] According to the advantageous design of this method, the supply of combustion gases can be stopped during method execution, for example, by closing the gas valve. Advantageously, the escape of combustion gases or exhaust gases and the associated hazards during method execution can be eliminated.

[0036] According to an advantageous design of this method, the gas delivery equipment can be a blower. According to this design, increasing the blower's power can be achieved by increasing the blower's rotational speed. The power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment can be the blower's rotational speed, and according to steps a1) and d) of the alternative design, the reference power can be the blower's reference rotational speed.

[0037] According to another advantageous design of the method, if the execution does not result in the heater being released for operation, the method can be executed again.

[0038] According to another advantageous design of the method, the heater is prevented from operating without being released after a limited number of method processes. This effectively eliminates the possibility of operating the heater when the flow resistance of the exhaust device increases. For example, the limited number of method processes before operation is prevented can be three. By executing the proposed method multiple times, false detections of high flow resistance in the exhaust device can be advantageously largely eliminated.

[0039] According to a preferred design of the method, within the range where the heater is released, the gas valve for supplying combustion gas is opened and the ignition process is initiated.

[0040] According to another advantageous design of this method, for a heater in operation, in step f), the heater is stopped if the following occurs:

[0041] - A function of the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment is greater than the power reference value, or

[0042] - A function that characterizes the power of gas transmission equipment by a power parameter greater than a power reference value.

[0043] This additional methodological step allows for testing the flow resistance of the heater's exhaust system during heater operation. In a preferred design, the function of the power parameters characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment and / or the power reference value is a linear function or a factor. For example, this factor can be determined as the quotient between the determined power value and the power reference value. In this case, the determined power value is the power (especially the blower speed) measured each time the heater is started when there is a heat demand during operation, at which the power reaches the supply reference value.

[0044] After stopping the heater in step f), the proposed method can be repeated. If the flow resistance of the exhaust device increases, operation can be prevented after a limited number of method steps without releasing the heater for operation.

[0045] According to another aspect, a computer program is also proposed, which is configured to (at least partially) perform the methods proposed herein. In other words, this particularly relates to a computer program (product) comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the methods described herein.

[0046] According to another aspect, a machine-readable storage medium is also proposed on which a computer program is stored.

[0047] Machine-readable storage media are typically computer-readable data carriers.

[0048] According to another aspect, a controller for a heater is also proposed, configured to execute the method proposed herein. For this purpose, the controller may, for example, have a processor or may be configured as a processor. In this regard, the processor may, for example, execute the method stored in the controller's memory.

[0049] According to another aspect, a heater having the controller proposed herein is also proposed. The heater is particularly a gas heater having a pneumatic gas-air mixing device. The heater may have a device for detecting supply parameters characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater, such as a pressure sensor or a flow measurement sensor. In a preferred design, the heater has a pressure sensor in the silencer of the gas supply device.

[0050] According to another aspect, an application for testing the flow resistance of the exhaust device of a heater is also proposed. In this case, the application particularly relates to the application of supply parameters (e.g., pressure or volumetric flow rate preferably detected in the gas supply of the heater) characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply of the heater, and the application also relates to the application of power parameters (in particular, the speed of the blower of the gas delivery equipment) characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment.

[0051] Therefore, a method, computer program, storage medium, controller, and heater, as well as the application of the heater, are provided herein for testing the venting device of a heater, which enables safer and simpler testing of the venting device with respect to increased flow resistance. If the venting device is blocked, the heater can be prevented from being put into operation in a particularly advantageous manner using the method presented herein. It is also advantageous that only very minor modifications are required to the construction of the heater according to the prior art to enable the execution of the method according to the invention. Last but not least, the execution of the method can be performed fully automatically, for example, by a controller before each operation of the heater, thereby eliminating human error. Attached Figure Description

[0052] The present invention and related technologies will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate embodiments, but the invention should not be limited thereto. Wherein:

[0053] Figure 1 The process of the method proposed in this paper is illustrated schematically.

[0054] Figure 2 The process of an alternative design scheme to the method proposed in this paper is illustrated schematically.

[0055] Figure 3 The heater proposed in this paper is illustrated schematically, and

[0056] Figure 4 A diagram illustrating the parameters used in the method proposed herein is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0057] Figure 1 An exemplary and illustrative process of the method proposed herein is shown. This method is used to test the exhaust system of heater 1, and in particular, to test whether the exhaust system of heater 1 has increased flow resistance, i.e., whether the exhaust system of heater 1 is at least partially blocked. Heater 1 can be a gas-driven heater 1 with a pneumatic gas-air mixing device.

[0058] The order of steps a), b), c), d), e), and f), represented by boxes 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160, can be set according to the usual operating procedure. For example, this method can be performed very efficiently when heater 1 is turned on, so as to test the function of the exhaust device before commissioning. The gas valve of heater 1 can preferably be closed during the execution of the method to increase safety.

[0059] In box 110, according to step a), the gas delivery device 13 of heater 1 is started and the power of the gas delivery device 13 is increased. The gas delivery device 13 can be configured as a blower, the controller 14 of heater 1 is started, and can be configured to increase the power of the gas delivery device 13 (i.e., increase the speed of the blower). The increase in the power of the gas delivery device 13 is carried out in this case within the power spectrum of the gas delivery device 13, and therefore is interrupted when the maximum power of the gas delivery device 13 is reached.

[0060] While increasing the power of the gas delivery equipment 13, a supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater is detected according to block 120 of step b). The supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater can be, for example, the pressure detected in the silencer 11 by means of the pressure sensor 12.

[0061] Similarly, in parallel, in block 130 according to step c), when the supply parameter detected in step b) reaches a supply reference value (which may be a value predetermined for the heater), a power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment is detected. In this case, the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment may be the rotational speed of the blower of the gas delivery equipment.

[0062] When the supply reference value is reached, the execution of steps a) and b) can be interrupted.

[0063] In box 140), now according to step d), when the supply reference value is reached, the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment detected in step c) can be compared with the reference value of the power parameter of the gas delivery equipment. If the power parameter of the gas delivery equipment 13 is higher than the reference value of the power parameter, the method is restarted via controller 14 according to path 141. This also applies if the maximum power of the gas delivery equipment 13 has been reached without reaching the supply reference value.

[0064] For example, if the supply reference value is not reached after three steps, or if the power parameter detected in step d) is higher than the reference value, then step e) is executed in box 150 according to path 143, after which heater 1 is stopped. The stopping of heater 1 in this case can be designed so that heater 1 can only be stopped by technical service personnel rather than by the user himself.

[0065] If the power parameter detected in step d) is lower than the reference value of the power parameter, then heater 1 is released to start operation. Controller 14 now preferably executes the start-up process of heater 1 automatically.

[0066] For heater 1 in operation, step f) can be performed in block 160. Step f) is used to test the flow resistance of the exhaust device during heating operation. For this purpose, a power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment and a termination power can be considered. These two values ​​are linked and compared through arithmetic operations. Therefore, in step f), it is compared whether a function of the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment is greater than the termination power, or whether a function of the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment is greater than the termination power. If it exceeds the termination power or a function of the termination power, heater 1 is stopped. According to path 161, after heater 1 stops operating, controller 14 can cause steps a)-d) to be executed again.

[0067] The power parameter characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment, or the function of the termination power, can be a factor in this case. For example, this factor can be determined by the quotient of the power parameter when the heater is started during operation (when there is heat demand) and a reference power.

[0068] Figure 2 The process of an alternative design scheme for the method proposed herein is also illustrated exemplaryly and schematically. This alternative design scheme is also used to test the exhaust device of heater 1, particularly to test whether the exhaust device of heater 1 has increased flow resistance, i.e., whether the exhaust device of heater 1 is at least partially blocked. Heater 1 may be a gas-driven heater 1 with a pneumatic gas-air mixing device.

[0069] In box 210, according to step a1), the gas delivery device 13 of heater 1 is started, and the power of the gas delivery device 13 is increased until the power is terminated. For this purpose, the controller 14 of heater 1 can start the gas delivery device 13. The gas delivery device 13 can also be designed as a blower, and increasing the power is increasing the rotational speed. The power of the gas delivery device 13 is increased until the power is terminated, i.e., increased until the final rotational speed.

[0070] Meanwhile, in block 220, which is executed in parallel with step b1), the supply parameters characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to heater 1 are detected.

[0071] Once the supply parameter detected in step b1) reaches the supply reference value, heater 1 can be released to start operation according to path 231 in box 130 according to step c1).

[0072] If the supply reference value is not reached before the termination power is reached within the framework of step a1), the method can be executed again according to path 232. If the method has been run several times, for example three times, without releasing heater 1 to put it into operation, step e) can be executed according to path 233, in which heater 1 is prevented from being put into operation.

[0073] After heater 1 is released to start operation in step c1), the following can be referenced after starting operation: Figure 1 The method is designed to execute step f).

[0074] Figure 3 The heater 1 proposed herein is illustrated exemplary and schematically. The heater 1 may have a gas delivery device 13, preferably designed as a blower. A silencer 11 may be arranged downstream of the air delivery device, viewed from the airflow direction. A pressure sensor 12 may be arranged inside the silencer 11, which measures the pressure in the air inlet as a supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater 1.

[0075] The heater 1 may have a controller 14, which is configured to perform the method proposed herein and may be electrically connected to the pressure sensor 12.

[0076] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the parameters used in the method proposed herein is shown. The x-axis of the schematic diagram corresponds to a power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery device 13. For example, the power parameter is the rotational speed of the blower of the gas delivery device, which is given here in revolutions per minute. The y-axis of the schematic diagram corresponds to a supply parameter characterizing the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater 1, which is, for example, pressure measured by the pressure sensor 12 in the silencer 11 of the heater 1 and given in Pa (Pascals).

[0077] exist Figure 4 Reference curve 31 can be seen, which shows the pressure in the muffler 11 when the power (speed) of the gas delivery device 13 increases in an undisturbed exhaust system.

[0078] The horizontal line indicates the supply reference value 5. In this example, the supply reference value is 59 Pa. The vertical line indicates the termination power 4 of the gas delivery device 13, which is, for example, 1600 revolutions per minute in the current case. Reference curve 31 reaches the supply reference value 5 at point 51. The power (speed) of the gas delivery device 13 is lower than the termination power 4 at point 51, and therefore the heater 1 can be turned on because it is determined that there will be no increase in flow resistance in the exhaust system.

[0079] The first measurement curve 32 shows the same relationship under the condition of a slight increase in flow resistance of the exhaust device, where the gas delivery device 13 requires greater power (speed) to overcome the increased flow resistance. The first measurement curve 32 reaches the supply reference value 5 at point 52, where the relevant power (speed) of the gas delivery device 13 is lower than the termination power 4. Therefore, for the first measurement curve 32, the heater 1 can also be released for operation because, despite the slight increase in flow resistance, safer operation of the heater 1 is ensured.

[0080] The second measurement curve 33 shows the same relationship under the condition of a significant increase in flow resistance in the exhaust device. The second measurement curve 33 reaches the supply reference value 5 when the power (speed) of the gas delivery equipment 13 is higher than the termination power 4. Therefore, the detected flow resistance of the exhaust device is too high and the heater 1 is not released to start operation.

[0081] The basis presented herein Figure 1 The method will identify in step d) that when the supply reference value 5 is reached, the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas delivery equipment 13 is greater than the power reference value 4 of the gas delivery equipment 13 and indicates that the heater 1 is not released to start operation.

[0082] The basis presented herein Figure 2 The method will increase the power of the gas delivery equipment 13 up to the power reference value 4 when performing step a), while the supply reference value 5 is not reached, and therefore also does not indicate the release of heater 1 to put it into operation.

[0083] List of reference numerals

[0084] 1 heater

[0085] 11. Muffler

[0086] 12 Pressure Sensors

[0087] 13 Gas transmission equipment

[0088] 14 Controller

[0089] 31 Reference Curve

[0090] 32 First Measurement Curve

[0091] 33 Second Measurement Curve

[0092] 4 Power Reference Value

[0093] 5. Supply Reference Value

Claims

1. A method for testing an exhaust device for a heater (1), characterized in that, The method includes at least the following steps: a) Start the gas delivery device (13) of the heater (1) and increase the power of the gas delivery device (13), which is a blower. b) Detect the supply parameters that characterize the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater (1). c) Detect power parameters characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment (13), d) When the supply parameter detected in step b) reaches the supply reference value (5), if the power parameter characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment (13) is lower than the power reference value (4) of the power parameter of the gas transmission equipment (13), then the heater (1) is released to start operation; The supply parameters are determined by a pressure sensor (12) or a flow meter installed in the gas supply, the power parameter is the speed of the blower, and the power reference value (4) is the reference speed.

2. A method for testing an exhaust device for a heater (1), characterized in that, The method includes at least the following steps: a1) Start the gas delivery device (13) of the heater (1) and increase the power parameter of the gas delivery device (13) until the power reference value (4) is reached, wherein the gas delivery device (13) is a blower. b1) Detect the supply parameters that characterize the flow rate of the gas flow in the gas supply to the heater (1). c1) When the supply parameter detected in step b1) reaches the supply reference value (5), the heater (1) is released to start operation; The supply parameters are determined by a pressure sensor (12) or a flow meter installed in the gas supply, the power parameter is the speed of the blower, and the power reference value (4) is the reference speed.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: If the heater (1) is not released, the method is performed again.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that: If the heater (1) is not released after a limited number of method processes are executed, the heater (1) is prevented from being put into operation.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: When the heater (1) is released, the gas valve of the heater (1) is opened and the ignition process is initiated.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method further includes step e), after the heater (1) is put into operation, the heater (1) is stopped from operating under the following conditions: The power parameter, which characterizes the power of the gas transmission equipment (13), is a function greater than the power reference value (4) of the power parameter, or The power parameter characterizing the power of the gas transmission equipment (13) is a function of the power reference value (4) of the power parameter.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supply parameter detected in step b) is the pressure in the gas supply of the heater (1) determined by the pressure sensor (12).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The pressure sensor (12) is arranged in the silencer (11) of the air inlet of the heater (1).

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that: The pressure sensor (12) is a pressure switch that switches the gas valve of the heater (1).

10. A heater (1), characterized in that: It includes a gas delivery device (13), an exhaust device, a device for detecting supply parameters in the gas supply to the heater, and a controller for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A controller (14) suitable for the heater (1) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that: The controller is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. A computer program product, characterized in that: This includes instructions to cause the heater as claimed in claim 10 or the controller as claimed in claim 11 to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

13. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, characterized in that: When the instructions are executed by the controller as described in claim 11, they implement the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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