Method for operating a heating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a heating device, wherein a heating circuit medium is conveyed through a total flow path (1.1) of a heating circuit (1), wherein the heating circuit medium is conveyed at least through one of at least two partial flow paths (1.2, 1.3) of the heating circuit (1) belonging to the total flow path (1.1), wherein it is regulated how much heating circuit medium is conveyed respectively via the partial flow paths (1.2, 1.3), wherein, in order to remove dirt from the heating circuit medium, the heating circuit medium is guided through a filter (2) arranged on the total flow path (1.1) of the heating circuit (1). According to the invention, provision is made that, at the initialization of the heating device, the heating circuit medium is guided completely via a partial flow path (1.2), which optionally has at least a variable flow resistance or a known and / or invariable flow resistance, referred to as reference flow path (1.2), and the delivery power reference value is ascertained and stored, and, in order to check the contamination state of the filter (2) during the operation of the heating device, the heating circuit medium is again guided completely via the reference flow path (1.2) used at the initialization, the delivery power value is ascertained, this delivery power value is compared with the delivery power reference value, and a signal indicating the contamination of the filter (2) is generated from a predetermined deviation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a heating device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Methods of the type mentioned in the introduction for operating a heating device are generally known.

[0003] A method for operating a heating device is known, for example, from patent document DE 10 2011 001 223 A1, in which a heating circuit medium is conveyed through a total flow path of a heating circuit, wherein the heating circuit medium is conveyed at least through one of at least two partial flow paths of the heating circuit which belong to the total flow path, wherein it is regulated how much heating circuit medium is conveyed through the partial flow paths, respectively. In this solution, the partial flow path with a variable flow resistance, in particular a tempering valve, is the partial flow path with a heating body (shown by a circle with a double line). A further heating circuit with only one unique variable flow resistance in this case is the heating circuit with an adjustable bypass valve (see there reference 4).

[0004] It is not disclosed in the aforementioned document that, in order to clear the heating circuit medium of dirt, the heating circuit medium is guided through a filter arranged on the total flow path of the heating circuit; however, the applicant starts from the fact that these features are already known from the prior art. SUMMARY

[0005] It is the task of the invention to improve a method for operating a heating device. In particular, a method for detecting possible contamination of a filter should be provided.

[0006] That is to say, according to the invention, at the initialization of the heating device, the heating circuit medium is guided completely through a partial flow path, which optionally has at least a variable flow resistance or a known and / or invariable flow resistance (also referred to as reference flow path), and a delivery power reference value is ascertained and stored, and, in order to check the contamination state of the filter during the operation of the heating device, the heating circuit medium is again guided completely through the reference flow path used at the initialization, a delivery power value is ascertained, this delivery power value is compared with the delivery power reference value, and from a predetermined deviation, a signal indicating the contamination of the filter is generated.

[0007] In other words, the method according to the application is thus characterized in that, for checking the contamination state of the filter, the heating circuit medium is guided via the portion flow path which can be assessed as the best with respect to its flow resistance. The checking method is here more reliable than when the respective diagnosis is made at the further portion flow path, since the measured volume flow (or heating circuit mass) is strongly influenced by further heating circuit components, for example the heating body with its thermostat valve or the heat sink, or cannot ensure that the check is actually made at the same setting of the thermostat valve of the heating body, for example.

[0008] The condition "completely" used in this application is understood here to mean "substantially completely" (i.e. at least 90%, preferably 95%, particularly preferably 100%), more precisely in this respect, a small, unnoticeable leakage flow through the further portion flow path is acceptable which does not affect the production of a reference value or the comparison of reference values.

[0009] For the sake of completeness, the documents EP 0 808 205 B1, EP 1 897 439 A1 and US 9,366,448 B2 are also mentioned. From all three documents, apparatuses for detecting contamination of a filter are already known. However, it is provided in the absence of this solution that the flow is guided via the portion flow path which can be assessed as the best with respect to its flow resistance when detecting the measured value.

[0010] Furthermore, the documents DE 10 2016 218 227 A1 and DE 20 2010 004 292 U1 are also mentioned.

[0011] The method according to the application and its advantageous further developments are explained below in particular with the aid of a view of a preferred embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] In the drawing:

[0013] Figure 1 A heating circuit of a heating device with two portion flow paths is shown schematically. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] In the only drawing, a heating circuit for carrying out the method according to the application is shown, in which a heating circuit medium is conveyed through a total flow path 1.1 of the heating circuit 1, in which the heating circuit medium is conveyed through at least one of two portion flow paths 1.2, 1.3 belonging to the total flow path of the heating circuit 1, in which the regulation is made: how much heating circuit medium is conveyed via the portion flow paths 1.2, 1.3, respectively, in which, for the purpose of removing dirt from the heating circuit medium, the heating circuit medium is guided through a filter 2 arranged on the total flow path 1.1 of the heating circuit 1.

[0015] It is now essential for the method according to the application that, at the initialization of the heating device, which can be, for example, at the first start of operation, but not necessarily, the heating circuit medium is guided substantially completely (see above) via a partial flow path 1.2, optionally with at least a variable flow resistance or a known and / or invariable flow resistance, referred to as the reference flow path 1.2, and a delivery power reference value is determined and stored, and, in order to check the contamination state of the filter 2 during operation of the heating device, the heating circuit medium is again guided substantially completely (see above) via the reference flow path used at the initialization, a delivery power value is determined, this delivery power value is compared with the delivery power reference value, and a signal indicating the contamination of the filter 2 is generated from a predetermined deviation.

[0016] It is preferred here that the heating circuit medium is fed to the heating circuit 1 via an inflow branch 1.1.1 belonging to the total flow path 1.1 and is discharged from the heating circuit 1 via a return flow branch 1.1.2 belonging to the total flow path 1.1. It is likewise preferred to provide that the heating circuit medium is guided through a heat exchanger 8 which connects the return flow branch 1.1.2 with the inflow branch 1.1.1. It is furthermore preferred that the heat exchanger 8 is designed as a condenser of a heat pump and is designed for outputting heat to the heating circuit 1. Furthermore, the heating circuit medium is preferably guided through a filter 2 arranged on the return flow branch 1.1.2 of the heating circuit 1.

[0017] It is furthermore preferred that the heating circuit medium from the total flow path 1.1, preferably the inflow branch 1.1.1, is optionally guided to the reference flow path 1.2 and / or to a further partial flow path 1.3 by means of a main valve 7. It is preferred here to use a 4-3-way valve as the main valve 7. It is furthermore preferred that the heating circuit medium flowing through the further partial flow path 1.3, which does not form the reference flow path 1.2, is guided through at least one heat sink 9, for example a heating body.

[0018] It is likewise preferred that, at the initialization of the heating device and / or at the checking of the contamination state of the filter 2, the heating circuit medium is guided through the reference flow path 1.2, which is preferably configured as a valveless reference flow path 1.2 in addition to the main valve 7. Here, it is preferred that, at the initialization of the heating device and / or at the checking of the contamination state of the filter 2, the heating circuit medium is guided through the reference flow path 1.2, which is configured as a heat exchangerless reference flow path 1.2 in addition to the unavoidable heat loss of the lines, for example natural heat dissipation. It is furthermore preferred that, at the initialization of the heating device and / or at the checking of the contamination state of the filter 2, the heating circuit medium is guided through a buffer reservoir 6 arranged on the reference flow path 1.2. The buffer reservoir is in particular for providing hot heating circuit medium if the evaporator of the heat pump has to be deiced, which can occur in cold seasons.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the heating circuit medium is conveyed through the heating circuit 1 by means of the heating circuit pump 3 and that the quantity of heating circuit medium conveyed through the heating circuit 1 is ascertained by means of the quantity measuring device 4. Additionally, it is preferably provided that, alternatively, the delivery power reference value and / or the delivery power value are ascertained on the basis of the rotational speed of the heating circuit pump 3 and on the basis of the quantity of heating circuit medium detected by means of the quantity measuring device 4, if necessary in reference to further operating parameters. Finally, it is also preferably provided that the delivery power reference value ascertained at the initialization of the heating device is stored in the electronic regulating device 5 of the heating device.

[0020] The method for operating a heating device according to the application is executed according to one preferred embodiment as follows:

[0021] At the first start of operation of the heating device, the main valve 7 of the heating circuit 1 is set in such a way that the entire heating circuit medium flows from the inflow branch 1.1.1 into the reference flow path 1.2. In the reference flow path 1.2, the heating circuit medium then first flows through the preferably provided buffer reservoir 6 and then again out of the reference flow path 1.2 and into the return flow branch 1.1.2. In the return flow branch 1.1.2, the heating circuit medium first flows through the heating circuit pump 3, then through the filter 2 and thereafter through the quantity measuring device 4 before it reaches the heat exchanger 8. The rotational speed of the heating circuit pump 3 and the flow rate of the heating circuit medium flowing through the quantity measuring device 4 are now measured and, from this, the delivery power reference value is ascertained in the electronic regulating device 5 of the heating device and is stored. The main valve 7 can now again be reset into its initial position.

[0022] During normal operation of the device, the main valve 7 is now again set in such a way that the heating circuit medium is only conveyed through the reference flow path 1.2. Here again, the rotational speed of the heating circuit pump 3 and the flow rate of the heating circuit medium flowing through the quantity measuring device 4 are measured as already described above. From these parameters, the delivery power value is now ascertained in the electronic regulating device 5 of the heating device and is stored.

[0023] Finally, the delivery power reference value is now compared with the delivery power value and a signal indicating contamination in the filter 2 is output when a predetermined deviation of the two values from one another is reached.

[0024] The method according to the application thus achieves a method for detecting contamination in the filter 2 in the heating circuit which is very simple in design, however, is also highly efficient and, in particular, provides values which are well reproducible.

[0025] List of reference signs

[0026] 1 heating circuit

[0027] 1.1 total flow path

[0028] 1.1.1 Inflow branch

[0029] 1.1.2 Return flow branch

[0030] 1.2 Partial flow path, i.e. reference flow path

[0031] 1.3 Partial flow path

[0032] 2 Filter

[0033] 3 Heating circuit pump

[0034] 4 Measuring device

[0035] 5 Regulating device

[0036] 6 Buffer reservoir

[0037] 7 Main valve

[0038] 8 Heat exchanger

[0039] 9 Heat sink

Claims

1. A method for operating a heating device, in, The heating circuit medium is transported through the total flow path (1.1) of the heating circuit (1). The heating circuit medium is conveyed through at least one of at least two partial flow paths belonging to the total flow path (1.1) of the heating circuit (1). Specifically, the amount of heating circuit medium transported via partial flow paths (1.2, 1.3) is adjusted. In order to remove contaminants from the heating circuit medium, the heating circuit medium is guided through a filter (2) located in the main flow path (1.1) of the heating circuit (1). Its features are, During the initialization of the heating device, the heating circuit medium is guided entirely through a partial flow path called the reference flow path (1.2), which has at least variable flow resistance or has known and / or invariable flow resistance, and a reference value for the delivery power is obtained and stored. In order to check the contamination status of the filter (2) during the operation of the heating equipment, the heating circuit medium is guided completely through the reference flow path used during initialization to obtain the delivery power value, the delivery power value is compared with the delivery power reference value, and a signal indicating the contamination of the filter (2) is generated from a predetermined deviation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The heating circuit medium is conveyed through the heating circuit (1) by means of a heating circuit pump (3), and the amount of heating circuit medium conveyed through the heating circuit (1) is determined by means of a quantity measuring device (4). The characteristic is that the conveying power reference value and / or the conveying power value are determined based on the rotational speed of the heating circuit pump (3) and based on the amount of heating circuit medium detected by means of the quantity measuring device (4).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, During the initialization of the heating equipment and / or the inspection of the contamination status of the filter (2), the heating circuit medium is guided through a reference flow path (1.2) configured as a valveless circuit.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, During the initialization of the heating equipment and / or inspection of the contamination status of the filter (2), the heating circuit medium is guided through a reference flow path (1.2) configured as a heat exchanger-free device.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The reference value of the transmission power obtained during the initialization of the heating device is stored in the electronic regulating device (5) of the heating device.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, During the initialization of the heating equipment and / or the inspection of the contamination status of the filter (2), the heating circuit medium is guided through the buffer reservoir (6) arranged on the reference flow path (1.2).

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The heating circuit medium from the main flow path (1.1) is guided by the main valve (7) to the reference flow path (1.2) and / or another partial flow path (1.3).

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The heating circuit medium is supplied to the heating circuit (1) via the inflow branch (1.1.1) belonging to the total flow path (1.1) and discharged from the heating circuit (1) via the return branch (1.1.2) belonging to the total flow path (1.1).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heating circuit medium is guided through a filter (2) arranged on the return branch (1.1.2) of the heating circuit (1).

10. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heating circuit medium is guided through the heat exchanger (8) that connects the return branch (1.1.2) to the inflow branch (1.1.1).

Images