Heating system

Abstract

A heating system 2 is provided, comprising a combustion region 4 for burning fuel, a flue 8 extending from the combustion region, temperature sensors 14, 16 configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue, and a processing device 18. The processing device is configured to receive temperature measurements from the temperature sensors, generate a temperature-time profile, determine information about a plurality of different combustion phases using the temperature-time profile, and determine output data for the heating system using the information about the plurality of different combustion phases.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating system such as a heating system including a wood burning stove, and a method for operating such a system.

Background Art

[0002] Many buildings, particularly residential buildings such as houses and apartments, are heated by burning fuels such as wood. Wood is typically contained in a combustion area such as a fireplace or the firebox of a stove. Combustion emissions are discharged outside the building through a flue (e.g., provided by a chimney). The flue also promotes the flow of air into the combustion area to facilitate combustion.

[0003] Over time, pollutants generated by combustion (e.g., soot, creosote) can accumulate inside the flue. This undesirable accumulation can impede the airflow through the flue and pose a fire hazard. In addition, particulate emissions from combustion can degrade the air quality in the vicinity of the flue outlet. For example, emissions from wood burning in a house are estimated to account for up to 70% of the organic particulate matter in the atmosphere in rural areas of Europe in winter.

[0004] Fuels typically pass through different combustion phases when burning. For example, the combustion of wood generally includes (1) evaporation of moisture, (2) pyrolysis of the wood to form charcoal, and (3) oxidation of the remaining charcoal. Different combustion phases have different efficiencies and can produce various types and levels of emissions. These variations can make it difficult to accurately estimate the actual performance of a given combustion-based heating system.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An improved approach may be desirable.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a combustion region for burning fuel, A flue extending from the aforementioned combustion region, A temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue, and Receiving temperature measurement values ​​from the aforementioned temperature sensor, To generate a temperature-time profile, Determining information about multiple different combustion phases using the aforementioned temperature-time profile, and To determine output data for a heating device using the information relating to the plurality of different combustion phases, A processing device configured to perform the following: A heating system is provided that includes the following features.

[0007] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating a heating system comprising a combustion region and a flue extending from the combustion region, Combusting fuel in the aforementioned combustion region, To measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue and generate a temperature-time profile, Determining information about multiple different combustion phases using the aforementioned temperature-time profile, and To determine output data for a heating device using the information relating to the plurality of different combustion phases, A method is provided that includes this.

[0008] Therefore, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the quality of data obtainable regarding heating systems can be improved by using information on different combustion phases. The inventors have recognized that the operating characteristics of heating systems (e.g., with respect to heating efficiency and emissions) can vary considerably between different combustion phases. Therefore, by taking this information into account, it may be possible to generate improved insights into heating system operation compared to conventional methods based on static factors such as fuel and / or equipment type, or basic temperature and / or usage duration monitoring.

[0009] The combustion area can be provided by any suitable structure for containing a combustion fuel, which is itself known in the art. The combustion area may be a sealed chamber or may be permanently open on one or more sides. In one embodiment, the heating system comprises a wood-burning stove with a firebox defining the combustion area.

[0010] The heating system may include one or more intake paths to the combustion region. The heating system may also include one or more input dampers for controlling the airflow through the one or more intake paths. Similarly, the heating system may include one or more dampers for controlling the airflow through the flue. Proper control of the intake and / or output dampers can facilitate more optimal heating system operation (e.g., improved efficiency and / or reduced emissions).

[0011] Different fuels burn in different ways, and the fuel burned in the combustion region may include any suitable fuel or mixture of fuels known in the art. In one set of embodiments, the fuel includes a solid fuel. The combustion of a solid fuel generally includes an initial heating phase in which the fuel is brought to a temperature at which combustion can continue on its own. The solid fuel is thermally decomposed to produce solid char and flammable gases, which ignite and provide heat to sustain combustion in the flame phase. Finally, the solid char oxidizes in a smoldering phase without producing flames.

[0012] For example, the fuel may include wood fuels such as kindling, logs, split logs, wood sheets, wood chips, wood pellets, or wood waste. The combustion of such fuel may include a heating combustion phase, a flame combustion phase, and a smoldering combustion phase. The heating phase of wood combustion typically involves the evaporation of water from the wood. The flame phase involves the partial or complete decomposition of biopolymers in the wood by pyrolysis. The smoldering phase involves the gradual oxidation of char formed in the flame phase. In some embodiments, other fuels such as coal, natural gas, or petroleum may be used.

[0013] The complex and semi-random nature of combustion means that the combustion process may not proceed smoothly from one phase to another (i.e., with clearly defined start and end times for each phase). There may be overlaps between phases, and different parts of the burning fuel (e.g., different parts of the burning log) may be in different combustion phases simultaneously. However, it will be recognized that, at any given time, the combustion of fuel mainly consists of one or two main combustion phases, and useful insights can be gained using information about these main combustion phases.

[0014] Information regarding a combustion phase may include one or more of the following: the start time of the combustion phase, the end time of the combustion phase, the duration of the combustion phase, the number of instances of the combustion phase, the total duration of the combustion phase (e.g., across multiple instances), and the amount or proportion of fuel in the combustion phase. Information regarding multiple different combustion phases may include the same information about different phases or different information about different phases. In some embodiments, information regarding multiple different combustion phases may include a combination of information about each phase (e.g., the ratio of the durations of different combustion phases).

[0015] A temperature-time profile may cover only a single ignition of a heating system (i.e., from fuel ignition in the combustion region until the fuel is exhausted, and potentially including one or more additions of new fuel during operation) or only a portion of a single ignition. Alternatively, a temperature-time profile may cover a longer operating period that covers several ignition cycles. Temperature-time profiles can span periods of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. Temperature-time profiles may be discontinuous; for example, there may be interruptions during fuel ignition in the combustion region when the heating system is not being used to generate heat. A temperature-time profile may include the concatenation of separate temperature-time profiles from different operating periods (e.g., corresponding to multiple ignitions of fuel in the combustion region). Using temperature-time profiles that cover longer periods can allow output data to provide useful long-term insights into the performance of the heating system.

[0016] Information about the combustion phase can be determined using temperature-time profiles in various different ways. Determining information about the combustion phase may include comparing the temperature-time profile with known temperature characteristics of the combustion phase. In one set of embodiments, determining information about the combustion phase includes comparing one or more features of the temperature-time profile with one or more features associated with the combustion phase. Features of the temperature-time profile may include absolute or relative temperature values, temperature patterns, positive or negative peaks (i.e., minimums / maximums), or slopes.

[0017] For example, the end of the flame combustion phase and the start of the smoldering phase may correspond to a positive peak in the combustion temperature where the temperature changes from rising to falling. The duration of such a peak can be identified in the temperature-time profile and determined to correspond to the end of the flame combustion phase. Conversely, a negative temperature peak where the temperature changes from falling to rising may be associated with the end of the smoldering phase and the start of a new flame combustion phase. Additionally or alternatively, a steep positive temperature-time gradient may be associated with the flame phase, and / or a less steep negative temperature-time gradient may be associated with the smoldering phase.

[0018] Some features of a temperature-time profile (e.g., the time the temperature exceeds a threshold) may be relatively easy to identify. However, some embodiments involve applying one or more statistical methods to the temperature-time profile to determine information about the combustion phase. For example, in some embodiments, a peak-finding algorithm may be applied to find positive or negative peaks in the temperature-time profile (e.g., corresponding to the start / end of the combustion phase). In some embodiments, a gradient-finding algorithm may be used to find characteristic gradients in the temperature-time profile (e.g., steep gradients corresponding to the flame phase) (e.g., by filtering out high-frequency noise).

[0019] In one embodiment, a machine learning algorithm is applied to a temperature-time profile to determine information about the combustion phase. The machine learning algorithm may be particularly well-suited to discovering characteristic features and patterns in the temperature-time profile that indicate a particular combustion phase. The machine learning algorithm may receive a temperature-time profile as input and generate information about one or more combustion phases as output. Some embodiments include training the machine learning algorithm using training data that includes a set of training temperature-time profiles and a corresponding set of combustion phase information (e.g., start and end times for various combustion phases). The training data can be obtained from simulations or empirical combustion tests. Some embodiments include training the machine learning algorithm using measured values ​​of particulate and / or gaseous emissions in the flue.

[0020] Once information about different combustion phases is determined, there are various ways in which this can be used to determine useful output data. In some embodiments, the output data may include the information itself (e.g., the total duration of different combustion phases). In some embodiments, the output data may be determined by using one or more mathematical calculations based on the information about different combustion phases. For example, the output data may include, or be determined from, the result of a weighted function having one or more elements or weights based on information about different combustion phases (e.g., the cumulative duration of the flame phase and the smoldering phase).

[0021] The output data may be determined using information about different combustion phases, combined with other information related to the heating system. This other information may include other information determined from the temperature-time profile data (e.g., raw temperature data, total combustion time). In some embodiments, this other information may include fixed parameters of the heating system, such as the size, shape, configuration, or type of the combustion area or flue, or variable parameters of the heating system, such as the total number of combustions performed, the type of fuel used, or current environmental conditions (e.g., internal building temperature or humidity, and / or external weather conditions or forecast). Information not related to the temperature-time profile used to determine the output data may be entered by the user (e.g., on a user device of the heating system) or automatically obtained (e.g., from an internet weather service).

[0022] In one embodiment, the output data is determined using an output data machine learning algorithm. Some embodiments include training the output data machine learning algorithm using training data that includes a set of training combustion phase information and a corresponding set of output data (e.g., values ​​for particulate or gaseous emissions). The training data can be obtained from simulations or empirical tests. Some embodiments include training the output data machine learning algorithm using measured values ​​of particulate and / or gaseous emissions in the flue. In one set of embodiments, the output data includes data regarding one or more deposits in the flue. The output data may include an estimate of the type and / or amount of one or more materials deposited in the flue. The materials may include soot and / or other materials such as creosote.

[0023] The data may relate to materials deposited during the operating period covered by the temperature-time profile (i.e., during the operating period analyzed by the processing device). However, in some embodiments, information on previous deposits may be combined with estimates of materials deposited during the operating period covered by the temperature-time profile (i.e., the most recent material deposits) to generate up-to-date data regarding material deposits in the flue. Information on previous deposits may include previous estimates of materials deposited in the flue and / or information regarding the flue cleaning schedule (e.g., when the flue was last cleaned).

[0024] The output data may include a quantitative estimate of the material deposited in the flue (e.g., estimated mass, volume or thickness), or a quantitative indication of the level of deposits in the flue (e.g., a "soot index"). The output data may include a fire risk level indicating the likelihood of a fire occurring in the flue.

[0025] Determining an estimate or indication of the material deposited in the flue may include combining known material deposit data for different combustion phases (e.g., simulated deposition rates, test deposition rates or reference deposition rates for different phases) with information regarding the different combustion phases in the temperature-time profile. For example, the duration of different combustion phases determined from the temperature-time profile may be combined with the known deposition rates for those combustion phases to determine an estimate of the material deposited in the flue.

[0026] In one embodiment, the output data includes data relating to one or more particulate emissions from the heating system, such as black carbon emissions, PM1 emissions, and PM2.5 emissions. Additionally or alternatively, the output data may include data relating to gaseous emissions from the heating system, such as CO, CO2, NH3, and O2. The output data may include estimates of the quantities of one or more particulate matter and / or gases emitted from the heating system. The output data may include estimates of the rates at which one or more particulate matter or gas types were emitted from the heating system. The output data may include multiple estimates for different types and / or size ranges of particulate matter, and / or different gases.

[0027] A heating system may produce different types and amounts of emissions in different combustion phases. For example, it has been found that PM1 emissions from burning wood fuel may be highest during the flame phase and lowest during the smoldering phase. Determining estimates of one or more emissions from a heating system may involve using known emission data for different combustion phases (e.g., simulated emission data, test emission data, or reference emission data for different combustion phases) and combining this with information about the different combustion phases determined from temperature-time profiles. For example, the duration of different combustion phases determined from temperature-time profiles can be combined with known emission rates for those phases to determine estimates of emissions from a heating system.

[0028] Emission estimates may cover an entire operating period (e.g., the operating period covered by the temperature profile), including, for example, multiple different combustion phases and possibly multiple different ignitions. In other words, output data may include estimates of the total emissions of one or more heating systems over the period covered by the temperature-time profile. Furthermore, information determined from the temperature-time profile may be combined with previously or separately collected data to generate emission estimates covering longer periods than those covered by the temperature-time profile alone (e.g., covering multiple years). For example, output data may include one or more total emission estimates (e.g., for the most recent operating period and one or more previous operating periods), such as an annual total.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, the output data may include, for example, multiple estimates of heating system emissions over shorter periods corresponding to different primary combustion phases. The output data may also include time series of emission estimates (i.e., emission time profiles).

[0030] In one embodiment, the output data includes data relating to the efficiency of the heating system (i.e., what percentage of the energy contained in the fuel is released as heat). The data may include a quantitative estimate of the heating system's efficiency or a qualitative representation of the efficiency.

[0031] In one embodiment, the output data includes user guidance for improving the operation of the heating system, for example, suggestions on how a user of the heating system can modify how they use the heating system in order to improve the operation of the heating system.

[0032] In one embodiment, the output data includes guidance for improving the efficiency of the heating system (i.e., how to get more energy from the fuel). The guidance may include guidance for using drier fuel, smaller logs, and / or a top-down ignition approach (e.g., when the temperature-time profile shows a longer ignition phase). The guidance may also include guidance for paying more attention to the fire in operation and / or adding more fuel sooner (e.g., when the temperature-time profile shows a longer-than-optimal smoldering phase).

[0033] In one embodiment, the output data includes guidance for reducing one or more emissions from the heating system. For example, the guidance may include suggested settings for the input and / or output dampers of the heating system (e.g., to open the damper(s) further to promote faster combustion if a long smoldering phase is identified). Additional or alternative guidance for reducing emissions may include similar or identical guidance for improving efficiency (e.g., to use drier fuel, smaller logs, or a top-down ignition approach, and / or to pay more attention to the fire while it is running, and / or to add more fuel faster).

[0034] In one embodiment, the output data includes guidance for reducing deposit buildup in the flue. The guidance for reducing deposit buildup may include similar or identical guidance for improving efficiency and / or reducing emissions (for example, to use drier fuel, smaller logs, or a top-down ignition approach, and / or to pay more attention to the fire while it is running, and / or to add more fuel sooner).

[0035] The guidance may be provided to the user in many different formats, such as text, audio, images, video, or a combination thereof.

[0036] In one embodiment, the heating system includes a user device such as a smartphone, or is configured to communicate with the user device. The heating system (e.g., a processing device) may be configured to transmit some or all of the output data to the user device, and to cause the user device to output some or all of the data to the user.

[0037] As an addition or alternative, output data (e.g., user guidance) may be provided to the user by other less direct means. For example, the heating system may communicate user guidance (and possibly other output data) to a separate system, which may send the user guidance to the user. For example, the heating system may send an SMS message or letter containing the user guidance to the user. In some embodiments, the user guidance may be communicated to a third party (e.g., a chimney sweep or environmental advisor), who may send the guidance to the user of the heating system (e.g., verbally).

[0038] A useful temperature-time profile can be generated from temperature measurements taken only in the combustion region or only in the flue. In one embodiment, the heating system comprises a single temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region or in the flue.

[0039] Because there is generally a strong correlation between the temperature in the flue and the temperature in the combustion region, it has been found that measuring only the flue temperature can still provide useful insights into the actual combustion temperature. In one embodiment, the heating system comprises a single temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the flue. Installing a flue temperature sensor may be easier than installing a combustion region temperature sensor. Furthermore, since the flue temperature may generally be lower than the combustion region temperature, using only a flue temperature sensor may allow for the use of less expensive sensors with lower heat resistance requirements.

[0040] However, measuring the temperature within the combustion region itself can provide a more direct insight into the combustion process, which can facilitate a more accurate identification of different combustion phases. Therefore, in some embodiments, the heating system includes a single temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature within the combustion region.

[0041] In one embodiment, the heating system comprises a flue temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the flue and a combustion region temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region. Measuring the temperatures of both parts of the system may allow for a more complete picture of the combustion. In embodiments where flue temperature and combustion region temperature are measured, separate temperature-time profiles may be generated and used to determine information about multiple different combustion phase sensors. Alternatively, a combined temperature-time profile may be generated using both sets of measurements and used to determine information about multiple different combustion phase sensors. For example, flue temperature measurements and combustion region temperature measurements may be averaged.

[0042] The processing device may receive temperature measurements from temperature sensors(s) using wired and / or wireless communication. For example, the processing device and temperature sensors(s) may be configured to communicate using radio frequency signals. The processing device and temperature sensors(s) may communicate via a wireless network (e.g., coordinated by separate base stations), such as a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network. In some embodiments, the processing device and temperature sensors(s) may be configured to communicate via a direct RF communication link, such as a Bluetooth® link.

[0043] In some embodiments, the temperature sensor(s) and / or processing device may be configured to communicate using a smart home protocol such as Matter. The temperature sensor(s) and / or processing device may be configured to participate in a smart home ecosystem (e.g., Google Home or Apple HomeKit).

[0044] The processing device may be located physically near the combustion area, for example, within the same building heated by a heating system. However, the processing device may be located partially or entirely remotely. For example, the processing device may include a server located physically remote from the combustion area. The server may be part of a cloud processing system.

[0045] As described above, the heating systems disclosed herein may enable more accurate determination of emissions data. This can be very useful for assessing air quality levels at the local or regional level. Many current estimates of air quality may depend on rough estimates of heating demand and typical or intended heating system operation. However, if the heating system is used more optimally than expected, or less optimally than expected, actual emissions may be higher or lower than estimated. Embodiments of the present invention determine emissions data based on which combustion phases are actually occurring as detected in the heating system, so that more accurate local and regional air quality estimates can be obtained.

[0046] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for estimating air quality in a region, Using the method disclosed herein, operate multiple heating systems in the region to determine output data including data relating to one or more emissions from the heating devices. To estimate the air quality in the region using the output data, A method is provided that includes this.

[0047] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a heating system comprising a combustion region for burning fuel and a flue extending from the combustion region, A temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue, and Receiving temperature measurement values ​​from the aforementioned temperature sensor, To generate a temperature-time profile, Determining information about multiple different combustion phases using the aforementioned temperature-time profile, and To determine output data for a heating device using the information relating to the plurality of different combustion phases, A processing device configured to perform the following: A monitoring system is provided that includes the following features.

[0048] Features of any aspect or embodiment described herein may, at any time, be applied to any other aspect or embodiment described herein, where appropriate. Where different embodiments are referenced, it should be understood that they are not necessarily separate and may overlap. Where appropriate, it will be understood that a processing device of a heating system according to the first aspect may be configured to perform features introduced as part of the method of the second aspect.

[0049] Next, one or more non-limiting examples will be described, merely as examples and with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0050] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heating system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a graph showing the time profile of the temperature in the flue of an operating heating system. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a graph showing the emissions profile produced by the heating system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0051] Figure 1 shows a heating system 2 installed in a residential building, for example. The heating system 2 comprises a combustion area 4 and a combined chimney 6 with a flue 8 rising vertically. In this embodiment, the combustion area 4 is the firebox of a wood-burning stove.

[0052] The heating system 2 includes a combustion area temperature sensor 14, a flue temperature sensor 16, a processing device 18, and a user device 20 (e.g., a smartphone).

[0053] When in use, wood fuel 10 (for example, wooden logs) is burned in the combustion area 4. This generates (useful) heat along with gaseous and particulate emissions discharged through the flue 8.

[0054] Over time, soot and creosote deposits 12 accumulate on the inner walls of the flue 8. These deposits 12 can obstruct the airflow through the flue 8. The deposits 12 are also flammable and therefore pose a risk of chimney fire.

[0055] Temperature sensors 14 and 16 continuously measure the temperature in the combustion area 4 and flue 8, respectively (i.e., the temperature of the gas in the firebox and flue). These temperature measurements are transmitted wirelessly (for example, via Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi connection) to the processing device 18.

[0056] The processing device 18 records temperature measurements as the wood fuel 10 burns in the combustion area 4 and generates two temperature-time profiles. An exemplary temperature-time profile 100 for the flue 8 is shown in Figure 2.

[0057] When wood fuel 10 is burned in the combustion area 4, the wood fuel 10 passes through several combustion phases. Each phase of combustion yields different types and / or levels of gaseous and particulate emissions.

[0058] (For example, if new wood is added to the combustion area 4 while previous wood is still smoldering), not all of the wood fuel 10 present in the combustion area 4 at a given time will necessarily be experiencing the exact same combustion phase. However, the approximate onset of different major combustion phases can be identified in the temperature-time profile 100.

[0059] First, starting at t=0, the wood goes through an initial dry phase in which moisture evaporates from the fuel as it is heated.

[0060] After the evaporation of moisture, the temperature in combustion region 4 rises rapidly, reaching relatively high values ​​(e.g., 350-750°C), and combustion enters the flame phase around t1. During this period, a visible flame may be present in combustion region 4, accompanied by fluctuations in flame intensity and temperature fluctuations associated with the combustion of gaseous compounds resulting from the devolatilization of wood. In the flame phase, biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are partially or completely decomposed by pyrolysis. This produces a residual black carbon material called char. Char is continuously formed until the combustible volatile material is consumed.

[0061] Around t2, combustion enters a smoldering phase, which is a slower, non-flame oxidation phase of char.

[0062] At time t3, 10 new wood fuels are added to the fire, and combustion rapidly returns to the flame phase. This cycle of flame and smolder repeats until at t4 the last log finishes igniting, after which the temperature gradually decreases in the final smolder phase until the end of time profile 100.

[0063] The processing device 18 uses a temperature-time profile to identify when and for how long different combustion phases are dominant in the combustion region 4. For example, the processing device 18 may use a statistical analysis method to identify negative peaks in the time profile corresponding to the onset of the flame combustion phase and positive peaks corresponding to the onset of the smoldering phase.

[0064] The processing device 18 calculates the total duration of the flame and the total duration of the smoldering. The processing device 18 also obtains other relevant information about the heating system 2, including the type of chimney 6, the type of combustion area 4, and the current weather conditions in the vicinity of the heating system 2.

[0065] The processing device 18 uses all of this information (for example, in a weighted function) to determine various output data related to the heating system.

[0066] The output data includes a display of the expected level (e.g., thickness) of the sediment 12 in the flue 8 ("soot index").

[0067] The output data also includes an emissions time profile for heating system 2 (i.e., how the emissions from heating system 2 change over its operation).

[0068] Figure 3 shows an example of an emission profile for section 300 of the temperature-time profile 100, which includes part of the flame phase and part of the smoldering phase. The concentration of particulate matter (PM) emissions 302 may be observed to peak during the flame phase. A little later, gaseous CO2 emissions 304 peak.

[0069] The output data also includes the estimated efficiency of the heating system (i.e., how much energy in the fuel is effectively extracted as thermal energy).

[0070] Finally, the output data includes guidance for the user on how to operate heating system 2 in the future to reduce soot buildup, reduce emissions, and improve efficiency.

[0071] All of the output data is transmitted from the processing device 18 to the user device 20. Some or all of the output data can be viewed by the user on the display of the user device 20.

[0072] Although the present invention has been described in detail in relation to only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the present invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, changes, substitutions, or equivalent configurations that are not described herein but are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that aspects of the present invention may include only a subset of the embodiments described. Therefore, the present invention should not be considered limited by the foregoing description, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. The combustion region for burning fuel, A flue extending from the aforementioned combustion region, A temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue, and Receiving temperature measurement values ​​from the aforementioned temperature sensor, To generate a temperature-time profile, Determining information about multiple different combustion phases using the aforementioned temperature-time profile, and To determine output data for a heating device using the information relating to the plurality of different combustion phases, A processing device configured to perform the following: A heating system equipped with [the following features].

2. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel includes wood fuel, and the combustion of the fuel includes a heating combustion phase, a flame combustion phase, and a smoldering combustion phase.

3. The heating system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the information relating to the combustion phase includes one or more of the following: the start time of the combustion phase, the end time of the combustion phase, the duration of the combustion phase, the number of instances of the combustion phase, the total duration of the combustion phase, and the amount or proportion of fuel in the combustion phase.

4. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing device is configured to determine information about the combustion phase by comparing one or more features of the temperature-time profile with one or more features related to the combustion phase.

5. The heating system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more features of the temperature-time profile include one or more of absolute or relative temperature values, temperature patterns, positive or negative peaks, and slopes.

6. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processing device is configured to determine information regarding the combustion phase by applying one or more statistical methods to the temperature-time profile.

7. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the processing device is configured to determine information regarding the combustion phase by applying a machine learning algorithm to the temperature-time profile.

8. The heating system according to claim 7, wherein the machine learning algorithm is trained using training data including a set of training temperature-time profiles and a corresponding set of combustion phase information.

9. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the output data includes, or is determined from, the results of a weighting function having one or more elements or weights based on the information relating to different combustion phases.

10. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the processing device is configured to determine output data using the information relating to different combustion phases in combination with other information relating to the heating system.

11. The heating system according to claim 10, wherein the other information relating to the heating system includes fixed parameters or variable parameters of the heating system.

12. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the processing device is configured to determine the output data using an output data machine learning algorithm, and the output data machine learning algorithm is trained using training data which includes a set of training combustion phase information and a corresponding set of particulate emissions or gaseous emissions values.

13. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the output data includes data relating to one or more deposits in the flue.

14. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the output data includes an estimated amount of one or more particulate matter and / or gas discharged from the heating device.

15. The heating system according to claim 14, wherein the output data includes a time series of estimated emissions.

16. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the output data includes data relating to the efficiency of the heating device.

17. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the output data includes user guidance for improving the operation of the heating device.

18. A heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, configured to transmit part or all of the output data to a user device.

19. A heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising a single temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region, or a single temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the flue.

20. A heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising a flue temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the flue, and a combustion region temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region.

21. The heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the processing device and at least one of the temperature sensors are configured to communicate using radio frequency signals.

22. A heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 21, comprising a wood-burning stove having a fire chamber that defines the aforementioned combustion region.

23. A method for operating a heating system comprising a combustion region and a flue extending from the combustion region, Combusting fuel in the aforementioned combustion region, To measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue and generate a temperature-time profile, Determining information about multiple different combustion phases using the aforementioned temperature-time profile, and To determine output data for a heating device using the information relating to the plurality of different combustion phases, Methods that include...

24. A method for estimating air quality in a region, Using the method of claim 23, operate a plurality of heating systems in the region to determine output data including data relating to one or more emissions from the heating devices, and To estimate the air quality in the region using the output data, Methods that include...

25. A monitoring system for monitoring a heating system comprising a combustion region for burning fuel and a flue extending from the combustion region, A temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature in the combustion region or the flue, and Receiving temperature measurement values ​​from the aforementioned temperature sensor, To generate a temperature-time profile, Determining information about multiple different combustion phases using the aforementioned temperature-time profile, and To determine output data for a heating device using the information relating to the plurality of different combustion phases, A processing device configured to perform the following: A monitoring system equipped with the following features.

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